What Does A Samurai Do When He Loses His Job?

I just finished watching the George Clooney movie “Up In The Air” and somehow I asked myself what a samurai would do if he were to lose his job.

Well, first of all I believe there is this fascination for samurai in general.

So, what actually is a samurai?

Samurai is a term for the so-called military nobility during pre-industrial Japan (yes, there was such a thing!).

By the end of the 12th century, only 10% of the total population were considered samurai who served in the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class.

Samurai followed the Bushido or “Way of the warrior” and basically they were loyal to their master unto death.

But what happens to a samurai who loses his job resp. master?

He becomes a so-called “Ronin” whose main motivation is no longer honor and duty, but money and survival.

A modern-day depiction was put on display in the 1998 Robert De Niro movie “Ronin“, also starring Jean Reno.

Several former special forces and intelligence service agents team up to steal a mysterious suitcase while dealing with shifting loyalties and alliances.

The movie’s trademark is the jaw-dropping car chases like this one: