Movie
Description
Ando Shozan is an elderly philosopher and scholar who plays a crucial role in the early part of the story. His character is based on a real historical figure of the same name from the Bakumatsu period. He lives in exile in Ezo, the region now known as Hokkaido, having been banished there from Nagasaki. His banishment was the result of his studies in foreign languages and other activities that the Tokugawa Shogunate authorities deemed suspicious.
In terms of personality, Ando Shozan is portrayed as a blunt and pragmatic individual, describing himself as a hardheaded old fart. He holds a philosophical and somewhat fatalistic view of life, encapsulated in his statement that all people are born naked, die naked, and in between simply work, eat, defecate, and sleep. These beliefs are consistent with his family's intellectual heritage. He is the grandson of Ando Shōeki, an ideologist and doctor who was highly critical of the unproductive ruling samurai class and rejected major contemporary belief systems like Shinto, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Despite his gruff exterior, he shows compassion by offering shelter and care to the wounded protagonist, Jiro, and his Ainu caretaker, Chiomapp.
Ando Shozan's primary motivation stems from his intellectual curiosity and his philosophical alignment with uncovering hidden truths. His most significant contribution to the narrative is his linguistic ability. He is an expert in the English language, a rare and valuable skill in isolationist Japan at the time. When Jiro arrives carrying cryptic notes left by his murdered father, Tarōza, it is Ando Shozan who is able to decipher them. By translating and interpreting the English text, he reveals that the notes contain clues pointing to the lost treasure of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd. This discovery directly shapes the trajectory of the entire story, as Ando Shozan then instructs Jiro to travel to America to continue the search for the treasure.
In his role as a mentor and ally, Ando Shozan becomes a target for the antagonistic forces led by the powerful priest Tenkai. Tenkai dispatches three formidable assassins, known as the Matsumae Three or Three Demonic Ninjas, to eliminate Jiro's supporters. During the ensuing attack, Ando Shozan is killed. His death serves as a pivotal moment that solidifies Jiro's resolve and forces him to flee Ezo. The bond with his caretaker, Chiomapp, is also significant; her deep loyalty to him is demonstrated when she later takes her own life rather than reveal Jiro's whereabouts to Tenkai.
Ando Shozan does not undergo significant development within the story, as his function is primarily that of a catalyst. He is already a fully formed, wise, and world-weary figure when introduced. His abilities are intellectual rather than combative. His expertise in foreign languages, particularly English, is his most notable skill, allowing him to unlock the central mystery of the film. He also possesses a broad philosophical knowledge inherited from his grandfather and a practical understanding of the world that makes him an invaluable, if short-lived, guide for Jiro.
In terms of personality, Ando Shozan is portrayed as a blunt and pragmatic individual, describing himself as a hardheaded old fart. He holds a philosophical and somewhat fatalistic view of life, encapsulated in his statement that all people are born naked, die naked, and in between simply work, eat, defecate, and sleep. These beliefs are consistent with his family's intellectual heritage. He is the grandson of Ando Shōeki, an ideologist and doctor who was highly critical of the unproductive ruling samurai class and rejected major contemporary belief systems like Shinto, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Despite his gruff exterior, he shows compassion by offering shelter and care to the wounded protagonist, Jiro, and his Ainu caretaker, Chiomapp.
Ando Shozan's primary motivation stems from his intellectual curiosity and his philosophical alignment with uncovering hidden truths. His most significant contribution to the narrative is his linguistic ability. He is an expert in the English language, a rare and valuable skill in isolationist Japan at the time. When Jiro arrives carrying cryptic notes left by his murdered father, Tarōza, it is Ando Shozan who is able to decipher them. By translating and interpreting the English text, he reveals that the notes contain clues pointing to the lost treasure of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd. This discovery directly shapes the trajectory of the entire story, as Ando Shozan then instructs Jiro to travel to America to continue the search for the treasure.
In his role as a mentor and ally, Ando Shozan becomes a target for the antagonistic forces led by the powerful priest Tenkai. Tenkai dispatches three formidable assassins, known as the Matsumae Three or Three Demonic Ninjas, to eliminate Jiro's supporters. During the ensuing attack, Ando Shozan is killed. His death serves as a pivotal moment that solidifies Jiro's resolve and forces him to flee Ezo. The bond with his caretaker, Chiomapp, is also significant; her deep loyalty to him is demonstrated when she later takes her own life rather than reveal Jiro's whereabouts to Tenkai.
Ando Shozan does not undergo significant development within the story, as his function is primarily that of a catalyst. He is already a fully formed, wise, and world-weary figure when introduced. His abilities are intellectual rather than combative. His expertise in foreign languages, particularly English, is his most notable skill, allowing him to unlock the central mystery of the film. He also possesses a broad philosophical knowledge inherited from his grandfather and a practical understanding of the world that makes him an invaluable, if short-lived, guide for Jiro.