Directed by Yojiro Takita, When the Last Sword is Drawn is loosely based on historical events. It takes place in the Meiji Era (from 1868 to 1912), the rise of the modern world from feudal Japan with the coming of the industrial revolution. The story explores the conflict of loyalty with clan, lord, and family.

Kanichiro Yoshimura (Kiichi Nakai) is a samurai who catches his beloved wife trying to end her own life for not being able to feed her children, due to the low salary he receives in his small clan. Driven by love for his family, he decides to go alone to the city and join the notorious Shinsengumi, risking his life daily to get his payment sent to his wife and children. Determined to survive long enough to guarantee a better future for his family, Yoshimura catches the interest of his colleagues: “Don't you want to die? What kind of samurai are you?”

The focus on character development, exploring their internal and external conflicts, adds to the quality of the this film. It won the Best Film award at the 2004 Japanese Academy Awards, as well as the awards for Best Actor (Kiichi Nakai) and Best Supporting Actor (Koichi Sato), besides eight other nominations.