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Headscratchers / Kagemusha

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  • In the beginning, the thief accuses Shingen of being evil, and Shingen actually agrees. So it seems that the thief only goes along with the "impersonate Shingen" scheme because he was going to be executed otherwise. But then, Shingen dies and the chief retainers agree to let the thief go. So he's got no more reason to stay, right? But then at Shinen's secret funeral he begs the retainers to let him be an impersonator again, saying that he doesn't even want a reward, he just wants to do right by Shingen and the clan. But why does the thief care? Shingen is evil. He admitted to being evil. I could understand the thief wanting to be Shingen's post-death double if, for instance, he was attached to the grandson and didn't want to give that up, but he doesn't actually meet the grandson until after the secret funeral. And again, the only motivation he mentions is that he wants to do Shingen a favor. Why is he so passionately devoted to this guy, when before he was so dismissive and accusatory?
    • One, Shingen had his life in his hands, and that may be his way of repaying him. Two, Shingen's charisma probably rubbed off on the man and made him do a 180. Three, what possible benefit could a man who resembles one of Japan's greatest warlords have by leaving the clan of the said lord? For all we know, a gang of thugs could probably kill him and claim that they "killed" Shingen. And besides living as Shingen would mean that he gets to live in the lap of luxury instead of him running around as a nameless thief and getting captured again.

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