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<"Aegis" directed by Sakamoto Junji starts with the Terrorists taking over the Aegis ship and how Sengoku from the Self-defense force tries to take back this huge ship. This is an ambitious endeavor to produce what course Japan will take 60 years after the end of the World war II.>
I thought this was an emblematic theme of present-day Japan. There is no other country in the world like the present Japanese society nor is there a Self Defense Force like ours. And if one feels the danger in the subject matter, I did not want to join the cast. But as I read the script, this man Sengoku portrays a casual attitude, almost like a "salary man" and not like a soldier but just a sailor, an average Joe with a compassion. This movie might stir an argument from some quarters, but the movie is not pushing for an answer nor trying to preach. But I felt confident that it will be a gutsy and bold entertainment.
At the same time, where this movie is taking it's course depended on the character of Sengoku. For the actor, it is a great part but a risky one at the same time. During the filming of this movie, the director Sakamoto and I were at odds often, thus creating misunderstandings and mistakes. The very last scene where Sengoku screams at both friends and the foes with these words, "Live, try to stay alive. So what if it's a disgrace!! (to live)" The director Sakamoto, gave me a script with only 5 words that day. Between the words, there were ... I understood then that each word had a deep meaning. I nurtured and squeezed the words one by one, so it took only one take for this scene.
Since I played in the "Last Samurai", which came out in 2003, I became keenly aware of Japan. Last year, I made "Aegis" and "The Promise" with Chinese director, Chen Kaige and "White Countess" by James Ivory. I, and the audience, could feel those three movies had showed the true Japan in Asia. I felt I was compelled to do them even if they were beyond my abilities.
When the movie, "Last Samurai" was being shot, I put in my two cents worth because I wanted to show the true (culture) of Japan, thus finding the way to break down the walls of misunderstanding. But I remembered that even in Asia, these walls exist. Then the request for my service for the movie "The Promise" came.
To Be Continued ...
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