Simon Graham

Simon Graham is the tritagonist of the 2003 action drama film The Last Samurai. A former British interpreter in Japan, Graham became the translator between the Imperial Japanese Army and their American advisors. Over the course of the film, Graham developed a sympathy for Captain Nathan Algren and abandoned his position to help him and the samurai cause.
== History ==
At some point in Graham's life, he joined a British trade mission to Japan as an interpreter, but he was quickly fired due to his brutal honesty "in a country where no one ever says what they mean". He later found employment under Omura as a translator between the Imperial Japanese Army and Colonel Bagley and Captain Algren. Graham guided Algren and Bagley every step of the way, teaching them the basics of Japanese culture and customs and introducing them to Emperor Meiji. Graham was excited when he found out Algren was a veteran of the American-Indian Wars and asked about their scalping, as he was weirdly obsessed with it. However, he quickly shut up when Algren almost physically demonstrated it on Graham himself.
Graham was present when Bagley and Omura informed Algren that Moritsugu Katsumoto had sabotaged one of Omura's railroads, and that the army was ordered to track down and fight off Katsumoto's samurai rebellion. Algren argued the poorly trained conscripts were not ready, and ordered Graham to tell one of the Japanese soldiers to shoot him to prove his point. When Graham protested, Algren pulled out his revolver and fired a warning shot to let everyone know he was serious. Graham translated the message, and the Japanese soldier, after heavy hesitation, pulled the trigger of his rifle, though, as Algren had predicted, he missed.
Graham later accompanied the army out to the Japanese countryside to find Katsumoto and his forces. During the preparations for battle, Graham informed Algren of General Hasegawa's refusal to fight due to his past friendship with Katsumoto. Afterwards, Graham, under Bagley's orders, joined the colonel in the rear of the army, while Algren stayed behind to lead the army. Graham presumably retreated with Bagley and the surviving forces when the Imperial Army was decimated by the samurai.
Months later, Graham was overjoyed to see Algren return to Tokyo with Katsumoto. Despite being confused on the situation, Graham confirms his loyalty to Algren. When Katsumoto is arrested for carrying a sword at a government meeting, Graham helps break him out by bluffing to the prison guards that Algren is the President of the United States of America. Graham escapes with Algren and the samurai from Tokyo, but not before witnessing the death of Nobutada, Katsumoto's son.
Graham is invited to Katsumoto's village, where he finally gets to take his long awaited photos of the samurai. Just before the final battle between the samurai and the now professional Imperial Army, Algren gives Graham his journal, hoping it contains content useful for Graham's future book. Graham wishes Algren "godspeed" before retreating to a hill to observe the battle.
Graham last appeared accompanying Algren back to the Imperial Palace, where he witnessed Algren returning Katsumoto's sword to the Emperor, and Meiji's rekindled resolve to decline the US-Japanese trade agreement and strip Omura from his power. Graham would go on to publish Algren's journal through his book on the samurai, and as rumors on Algren's fate began circulating, Graham (correctly) speculated that he returned to Katsumoto's village to live out the rest of his life in peace.
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