This girl has this as an extra credit question. And for some reason I don't know the answer...I'm assuming one of you does.

"According to George Lucas, who was Obiwan Kenobi's character based on?"

Clue: Kagemusha, The Seven Samuri, The Hidden Fortress.

No idea man, sorry.

I'd say The Hidden Fortress.

Edit: Oh wait, the particular character, that I don't know.

He was based on Kambei. From Kurasawa's "Seven Samurai".

Thank you.

I knew I could count on Massassi.

He was based on Mr. Miyagi from the karate kid.

"Wax on, wax off"

"Remember to breathe, very important"

Those are three of Akira Kurosawa's samurai films, of them The Seven Samurai and The Hidden Fortress feature Toshiro Mifune, but Kagemusha was made after Star Wars and has nothing to do with Toshiro Mifune.

Star Wars is inspired by The Hidden Fortress' plot. It is told from the viewpoint of two bumbling peasants in a civil war, they attempt to escape an enemy general with the aid of a rebel general (played by Mifune) and a princess. That's pretty much were the similarities end.

Apparently the word "jedi" also comes from "jidaigeki", which is the japanese word for a period drama set in the 16th to 18th century, also sometimes called a "chambara" or swordfight-movie.