I've done a lot of Samurai film in Japan, and sometimes done the choreography by myself.

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.

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.

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.

I've been wearing kimono for several years, and armor.

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

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