Editing Samurai (section)

==In popular culture==
{{Further|Samurai cinema}}

Samurai figures have been the subject for legends, folk tales, dramatic stories (i.e. ''[[gunki monogatari]]''), theatre productions in [[kabuki]] and [[noh]], in literature, movies, animated and [[anime]] films, television shows, [[manga]], video games, and in various musical pieces in genre that range from ''[[enka]]'' to [[J-Pop]] songs.

''[[Jidaigeki]]'' (literally historical [[drama]]) has always been a staple program on Japanese movies and television. The programs typically feature a samurai. Samurai films and [[Western movie|westerns]] share a number of similarities, and the two have influenced each other over the years. One of Japan's most renowned directors, [[Akira Kurosawa]], greatly influenced western film-making. [[George Lucas]]' ''[[Star Wars]]'' series incorporated many stylistic traits pioneered by Kurosawa, and ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars: A New Hope]]'' takes the core story of a rescued princess being transported to a secret base from Kurosawa's ''[[The Hidden Fortress]]''. Kurosawa was inspired by the works of director [[John Ford]], and in turn Kurosawa's works have been remade into westerns such as ''[[Seven Samurai]]'' into ''[[The Magnificent Seven]]'' and ''[[Yojimbo (film)|Yojimbo]]'' into ''[[A Fistful of Dollars]]''. There is also a 26-episode anime adaptation (''[[Samurai 7]]'') of ''Seven Samurai''. Along with film, literature containing samurai influences are seen as well. As well as influence from American Westerns, Kurosawa also adapted two of [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] plays as sources for samurai movies: ''[[Throne of Blood]]'' was based on ''[[Macbeth]],'' and ''[[Ran (film)|Ran]]'' was based on ''[[King Lear]]''.<ref>Roland Thorne, ''Samurai films'' (Oldcastle Books, 2010).</ref>

Most common are historical works where the protagonist is either a samurai or former samurai (or another rank or position) who possesses considerable martial skill. [[Eiji Yoshikawa]] is one of the most famous Japanese historical novelists. His retellings of popular works, including [[Taiko]], [[Miyamoto Musashi|Musashi]] and ''[[The Tale of the Heike]]'', are popular among readers for their epic narratives and rich realism in depicting samurai and warrior culture.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} The samurai have also appeared frequently in Japanese comics (manga) and animation (anime). Examples are ''[[Samurai Champloo]]'', ''[[Shigurui]]'', ''[[Requiem from the Darkness]]'', ''[[Muramasa: The Demon Blade]]'', and ''[[Afro Samurai]]''. Samurai-like characters are not just restricted to historical settings, and a number of works set in the modern age, and even the future, include characters who live, train and fight like samurai. Some of these works have made their way to the west, where it has been increasing in popularity with America.

In the 21st century, samurai have become more popular in America. Through various media, producers and writers have been capitalizing on the notion that Americans admire the samurai lifestyle. The animated series, ''Afro Samurai'', became well-liked in American popular culture because of its blend of hack-and-slash animation and gritty urban music. Created by [[Takashi Okazaki]], ''Afro Samurai'' was initially a ''[[dōjinshi]]'', or manga series, which was then made into an animated series by [[Studio Gonzo]]. In 2007, the animated series debuted on American cable television on the [[Spike TV]] channel. The series was produced for American viewers which "embodies the trend... comparing hip-hop artists to samurai warriors, an image some rappers claim for themselves".<ref>Charles Solomon, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-02-et-afrosamurai2-story.html "Way of the sword" ''Los Angeles Times'' Feb 2, 2009]</ref> The story line keeps in tone with the perception of a samurai finding vengeance against someone who has wronged him. Because of its popularity, ''Afro Samurai'' was adopted into a full feature animated film and also became titles on gaming consoles such as the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox]]. Not only has the samurai culture been adopted into animation and video games, it can also be seen in comic books.

The television series ''[[Power Rangers Samurai]]'' (adapted from ''Samurai Sentai Shinkenger'') is inspired by the way of the samurai.<ref>*{{cite news|url=http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/wolverine/160466/villains-of-the-wolverine-silver-samurai-and-viper|title=Villains of The Wolverine: Silver Samurai and Viper|website=Den of Geek|date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109145318/http://www.denofgeek.us/books-comics/wolverine/160466/villains-of-the-wolverine-silver-samurai-and-viper|archive-date=9 January 2015|author=Marc Buxton}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Denison |first1=Rayna |author-link=Rayna Denison |title=Transcultural creativity in anime: Hybrid identities in the production, distribution, texts and fandom of Japanese anime |journal=Creative Industries Journal |date=27 May 2011 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=221–235 |doi=10.1386/cij.3.3.221_1|s2cid=143210545  |issn = 1751-0694 }}
* {{cite magazine |last=King |first=Kevin |date=December 1, 2008 |title=Afro Samurai |department=Youth Graphic Novels in Brief |magazine=Booklist |volume=105 |issue=7 |page=44 |id={{ProQuest|235647197}} |ref=none}}
* {{cite web |last1=Manion |first1=Annie |title=Global Samurai |url=http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr45/pdf/ap.pdf |publisher=Japan Railway & Transport Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911002417/http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr45/pdf/ap.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2010 |pages=46–47|date=August 2006}}</ref><ref>*{{cite web |last1=Moscardi |first1=Nino |archive-date=19 March 2014 |title=The "Badass" Samurai in Japanese Pop Culture |url=http://www.samurai-archives.com/bsj.html |publisher=Samurai-Archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319104000/http://www.samurai-archives.com/bsj.html }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Ravina |first1=Mark |title=Fantasies of Valor: Legends of the Samurai in Japan and the United States |journal=ASIANetwork Exchange |date=1 October 2010 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=80–99 |doi=10.16995/ane.200 |url=http://www.asianetworkexchange.org/jms/article/view/200 |doi-access=free }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-02-et-afrosamurai2-story.html|title=American, Japanese pop culture meld in 'Afro Samurai'|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Solomon, Charles|date=2 February 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20150118054553/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/02/entertainment/et-afrosamurai2|archive-date=18 January 2015}}</ref>