But it was cinema, not just animation, that opened a door to the complexity and diversity of Japanese culture. Cinema as StruggleFor Shima, cinema is not just entertainment but a space of struggle. Japanese cinema becomes a tool to help them see the “image world” that defines modern life, where commercial imagery and algorithms shape how we see ourselves and reality. Samurai, Cowboys, and the Desire for JusticeAnother focus of his teaching is samurai cinema. What the f*ck am I even looking at?