This is a good thing, mixing culture to make something new, something no one has ever seen. This is kind of a new history.

It's a Samurai story [47 ronin], so if we change too much Japanese audiences will have strong against feelings to the film. It's not good.

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.

Action is just one of my skills.

I think it's very hard to direct foreign language actors, but Carl Rinsch found a great way. A special super visional way.

I am glad to be here to create a new history in our industry. I'm very proud of this.

A lot of country making films in English, but in Japan we are very shy to speak English.