Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a veteran of the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.
Ken Watanabe as Lord Moritsugu Katsumoto, the leader of the Samurai.
Hiroyuki Sanada as Uijo, Katsumoto's military chief.
Shin Koyamada as Nobutada, son of Katsumoto and leader of the village.
Tony Goldwyn as Colonel Bagley.
Masato Harada as Omura.
Shichinosuke Nakamura as Emperor Meiji.
Timothy Spall as Simon Graham.
Koyuki as Taka, the sister of Katsumoto.
Seizo Fukumoto as the Silent Samurai, known by Algren as "Bob".
Billy Connolly as Sergeant Zebulon Gant.
Shun Sugata as Nakao.
Sosuke Ikematsu as Higen.
Scott Wilson as Ambassador Swanbeck.
Togo Igawa as General Hasegawa.