“Blue Eye Samurai,” which debuted on Netflix on November 3, 2023, immediately won over viewers thanks to its unique and “Gory” animation style, gripping plot, and other features.
The protagonist Mizu was what outshined the most, whether it be her character design, her sword mastery or something else. By the end of the anime, I was wondering if Mizu was a person in real life or was she inspired from a samurai from the actual EDO period in Japan
Itching for answers, I researched if Mizu was based on a real person and here’s what i found
1. Was Mizu a real person?
Mizu, the protagonist of Blue Eye Samurai, was not a real person in the real world, however, the character of Mizu is inspired from an Englishman known as William Adams, who had a similar life during the 17th century in Japan.
Mizu is a blue eyed, half-Japanese, half-Caucasian swordmaster who has sworn herself to a quest of vengeance.
Around 1637–1638, a white Western trader sexually assaulted a Japanese woman, who gave birth to Mizu in Japan. At the time of her birth, Japan had only four such males, and since 1633, entry into the nation had been formally prohibited for Westerners.
She was resolved to kill her father in order to exact revenge on her mother, as she discovered that at the time of her birth, there were only four white men in Japan.
Mizu’s character, while not taken from real history, reflects a blend of different stories, creating a captivating story that leaves you starstruck regardless of time and cultural influences.
2. William Adams
Adams was a navigator who made his way to Japan on an expedition. He held the distinction of being the first Englishman to reach Japan and was responsible for introducing Western designs to Japan’s naval vessels.
Fluent in Japanese, Adams finally rose to the position of principal counsellor to shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and quickly became deeply embroiled in the nation’s politics.
Ieyasu gave him two swords that symbolised the power of the samurai as a token of his loyalty to and dedication to mending Japan’s relations with the West. Adams is now regarded as one of the most significant Westerners in Japan.
3. What Other Things is Blue Eye Samurai Inspired From?
The series took inspiration from a number of things like the director’s daughter’s blue eyes, the movie Lady SnowBlood, the Clint Eastwood archetype.
In an interview, the directors of the show revealed their daughter’s blue eyes were the biggest source of inspiration for Mizu. The supervising director Jane Wu explained that her experiences as a woman navigating the male-dominated space that is Hollywood also inspired her.
The strong and silent Clint Eastwood archetype and the 1973 film Lady Snowblood were also cited as influences on Blue Eye Samurai’s protagonist and themes.
This archetype, combined with Lady Snowblood, make up the complex themes explored in “Blue Eye Samurai.” These inspirations are unique and not connected to one another in any way, but they work together to give the series a fresh look.
4. About Blue Eye Samurai
Blue Eye Samurai is an American adult animated action streaming television series created and written by husband and wife team Michael Green and Amber Noizumi, and animated by French company Blue Spirit.
During Japan’s Edo period (17th century), half-white half-Japanese swordsmaster Mizu quests for vengeance against four white men who illegally remain in Japan during the closing of its borders by the Tokugawa shogunate.
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