Nathan Algren

Nathan Algren is the main protagonist from The Last Samurai. He is a Civil War and Indian Wars veteran haunted by the massacre of Native American civilians at the Washita River. Algren was born in the British Empire but is a naturalized American. Following a dismissal from his job, he agrees to help the new Meiji Restoration government train its first Western-style conscript army for a hefty sum. During the army's first battle he is captured by the samurai Katsumoto and taken to the village of Katsumoto's son, where he soon becomes intrigued with the way of the samurai and decides to join them in their cause. He also falls in love with Katsumoto's sister, Taka. His journal entries reveal his impressions about traditional Japanese culture, which almost immediately evolve to admiration. The character is played by Tom Cruise and inspired by the French officer Jules Brunet.