“This is almost the most famous story The last samurai - Samurai story - in Japan.” Quote by Hiroyuki Sanada
“Carl Rinsch has a good balance between the visual and the drama and action, so I thought if he's going to direct, we can make a new, epic film. My fear was gone when I met him.” IfsActionFilmGoneBalanceDramaMetsDirectVisualsEpic Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“When I was eight or nine years old, I saw the TV version of 47 Ronin, played by Toshiro Mifune. He played Oishi. That was my first experience. I watched every week with my brother. "Who plays Oishi tonight? Who will play Kira tonight?" And we fought every week.” YearsFirstsPlaySawsWeekBrotherTvsEightNineVersionsMy BrotherTonightNine YearsKiraRonin Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“I saw a lot of 47 Ronin on the TV, in the films, and I've done Chushingura Gaiden Yotsuya Kaidan [Crest of Betrayal, 1994] directed by Kinji Fukasaku.” DoneFilmSawsTvsBetrayalRonin Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“It's very difficult to introduce the world to our culture.” WorldCultureDifficultIntroducing Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“I've done Last Samurai in Japan, in LA, in New Zealand. Even in Japan it is very hard to shoot, because there's been so many changes. Only around a temple can we shoot.” HardDoneLastsTemplesJapanNew ZealandSamurai Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“Keanu Reeves learned a lot, respecting the culture. I was surprised when I first met him. He knew a lot already and he learned a lot. And also he learned Japanese. It's incredible. On the set, switching between the Japanese and English, even for us, is very hard. It's complicated. But the first time Keanu spoke in Japanese it was a very important scene between us, and more than the dialogue's meaning, I was moved. His energy for the film, completely perfect Japanese pronunciation. It was moving, surprising, respecting.” FirstsImportantHardFilmMovingCultureEnergyPerfectMetsSceneFirst TimeMovedIncrediblesComplicatedDialogueSpokesSurprisingSwitchingPronunciation Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“I think it's very hard to direct foreign language actors, but Carl Rinsch found a great way. A special super visional way.” ThinkingWayHardActorsFoundLanguageSpecialDirectForeign Language Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“When i've done camera test, after we've shot and I've seen the monitor with the glasses (wearing a Kimono) and looking by myself in 3D. Oh my god. Especially for a Samurai film. I've never seen that. It's kind of a culture shock.” KindDoneFilmCultureShotsTestsCamerasGlassesShockSamuraiCulture ShockKimonos Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“I was a child actor, so when I started filming when I was five years old, it was a long time ago.” YearsChildrenLongActorsFiveLong TimeFive YearsLong Time AgoFive Year OldsChild Actors Author:Hiroyuki Sanada
“It was a black and white film [at first]. And then it changed to colour film, and I was surprised and culture shocked when I was six or seven years old. And then HD, then 3D now. So what's going? What's coming next? It's so exciting.” YearsFirstsFilmCultureNextBlackWhiteChangedSixExcitingSevenColourBlack And WhiteShockedSeven Years Author:Hiroyuki Sanada