The Last Samurai

Assistant Military Advisor
Japanese VO Supervisor
Historical Consultant

Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Hiroyuki Sanada/Koyuki

I was hired as the Assistant Military Advisor for this film that takes place in 1870's era Japan when she was transforming from a Samurai culture nation in to a Westernized power.

Filming took place in Japan, New Zealand and Los Angeles. The Technical Advisor, Sgt.Maj. James Dever (USMC-ret) and I set up a 1 week boot camp for the 500 Japanese extras from Japan whom for the most part had never even seen a rifle! In addition to the bootcamp and handling of the Japanese soldiers, we assisted with many historical aspects of the film including period language, buildings, uniforms and other military aspects.

I found Tom Cruise to be very intense and focused on the task at hand. I was impressed that he took the time to thank the 500 extras for their hard work personally at least once a week (through me as translator).

The Japanese stars of the film, Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada were equally professional and dedicated to the project.

SgtMaj Jim Dever and I had several cameos in the film as German Officers, American Businessmen in Yokohama and as Cavalry Sgt's but unfortunately nearly all of it wound up on the cutting room floor. That's showbiz.

Windtalkers

Japanese Technical Consultant

Japanese VO Supervisor

Director: John Woo

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Christian Slater

I was the Japanese Military Technical Advisor on this film directed by John Woo starring Nicholas Cage and Christian Slater. The movie is about the Marine's Navajo code talkers' important contribution to the invasion of Saipan in June 1944.

I have been to Saipan 3 times and was always fascinated with this particular little-known battle.

On the film I was involved wtih 4 months of pre-production in which authentic Japanese uniforms, equipment and gear were assembled and reproduced. Filming was done on the north shore of Oahu and at Santa Clarita, California. We conducted a 1 week Japanese bootcamp for the "Japanese soldiers" (Hawaiin born Japanese-Americans). I also assisted with post-production audio and Japanese voice-over dialogue.

One of the most interesting incidents that arose from the film was my meeting of Mr. Shiro Shimoda, one of the 5 surviving members of the 5th Tank 's banzai charge that occured on July 7th, 1944. Of the 800 men from the 5th that drove their Type 97 and Type 95 tanks into the Marine and Army lines at Tanapag that night, only 5 men managed to survive the battle. When we fabricated the Type 95 tanks for the movie, I did used the correct colors and markings for the 5th Company. When the movie played in Japan, Mr,. Shiro Shimoda, recognized his tank commander's tank markings! This led to a meeting in Osaka Japan where he gave me a boxed military sake cup he received from Emperor Hirohito.

The movie "Windtalkers" is one of the most historically accurate films to date regarding WWII Japan and USMC uniforms, equipment and weapons.

Battleship

Researcher

Director: Peter Berg

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson

In the movie, a modern day Japanese Self Defense Force warship joins the U.S. Navy in a battle to defend the earth from aliens. I had the pleasure of working as a researcher for both the Art Dept. and the Wardrobe Dept. using my knowledge of the Japanese Navy in order to help create authentic JMSDF uniforms and interior Japanese sets. The movie is set in current day so I contacted friends in Japan who were actual serving members of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force for information on the correct uniforms, insignia, ranks. I don't want to spoil anything so that's all I will say for now. The shirt and hat are my crew swag.

The Last Samurai

Windtalkers

Battleship

The Great Raid

Jarhead

Memoirs of A Geisha

Only the Brave

Into the Sun

Flags Of Our Fathers

Letters From Iwo Jima