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Bushido, a Generational Story

posted July 5, 2018 #

Natalie Rinn is an old co-worker of mine that recently launched a site for a documentary called Bushido. The story of the film is a fascinating one that spans generations. Her grandfather Jack Rinn, a captain of a US destroyer in charge a Japanese military base at the end of WWII, was given a samurai sword as a token of gratitude for the humane and pleasant treatment the US soldiers bestowed on the Japanese captors. Years later, Scott Rinn (Natalie's father), sought out Minoru Kohata, the rightful owner of the sword and returned it, sparking a new relationship between the families some 40 years later. A note from Natalie on the film:
Before my grandpa died in 1994, Kohata surprised him with a visit to Oklahoma. The two men who had met as enemies more than 40 years earlier even played a round of golf together. There's footage of them on a putting green, at sunset. Kohata is tending the flag while my grandpa puts and misses; they share a heartfelt laugh. Then my grandpa tends the flag for Kohata. It's the simplest moment shared between these men, but it's also profound. Symbolically, you're watching love and respect triumph over war.
Natalie transferred the film from its physical version to digital and has given the story a home on the web for anyone to enjoy, free.