During the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) of this year, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Japanese action star, Tak Sakaguchi. He has now taken on newer titles such as being a director, a street fighter, stuntman, and action choreographer. Tak Sakaguchi appeared at NYAFF to talk about two films: "Be a Man! Samurai School" and "Yoroi Samurai Zombie."
Q. Is this your first trip to New York?
A. This is my second time to New York and I would like to say that I love the burgers here.
Q. Can you differentiate on how Japanese directors evolve their craft in comparison to American directors?
A. To be perfectly honest I’m not sure how American directors evolve their craft so I’m not sure if I can actually give an accurate comparison. I think one main difference is budgets. In Japan budgets are market ably smaller so I think we really do push limits and try to make a really good movie without the help of money. I think because of that also we also have a lot less legal restrictions that bind us by contracts and limit us to what we are able to do. People really push themselves more in Japanese film making.
Q. The essence of your craft is it something that comes from your pure imagination or does it comes from someone or something that inspired you?
A. As a young child I always loved Japanese animation. So I think that’s what influenced me and had a hand in making me the kind of director that I am.
Q. When did you begin in the film industry and what roles have your played in front and behind the camera?
A. The first film that I worked on was when I was 23 years old and I starred in the lead role of a movie called “Versus”. Since then I
continue to work as an actor. Then I worked on “Versus Ultimate” as an action director and that was my first job behind the camera.
Q. How would you describe the genre of movies that you are a part of? Why have you chosen this genre?
A. The genre that I work in is primarily as an action-director and as an action-actor. In Japan right now I’m the only action actor working so that’s very important to me that I keep working as that role as I’m the only one.
Q. How did martial arts become a part of your life and how much time do you dedicate to it?
A. When I was very young I was picked on, I was bullied a lot. So I really wanted to be stronger and that’s why I started studying martial arts which was around fourth grade and by the time I was in sixth grade I was so strong that there weren’t even middle schoolers that could beat me up. The type of martial arts that I practice is Hakkyokuken (Bajiquan) a Chinese martial art.
Check out Tak Sakaguchi comment on his movie "Yoroi Samurai Zombie!"
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