Joe Odagiri interview by Aiko Ito, interview writer:

In the Middle of Endeavor, I Found Cinema is the Best!

Q. What did you think when you were requested to appear in this film?

Odagiri: I thought it incredible that such a nameless actor like me was offered a major role in the best film like this one.

Q. What did you think about your role, Yuji Nimura?

Odagiri: A hopeless fellow. He does not know how to express his feelings and people around him do not know how to deal with him. Nonetheless, I liked this point and I wanted to play this role by all means.

Q. Did you discuss with director Kurosawa beforehand?

Odagiri: He is not a type to give detailed instructions to his actors… Oh, I just remember. On the first day of shooting, he asked me not try to act too much.

Q. What does it mean?

Odagiri: Before engaging myself in this film project, I had been working for a series of TV dramas and probably I was acting in the television style trying to explain too much. When director Kurosawa told me this, I realized that this is a film and therefore I changed my consciousness.

Q. Could you change it right away?

Odagiri: I had a hard time trying to capture the essence of Yuji’s character. When I asked director Kurosawa whether my acting was all right, he answered that he did not know either (laugh). I began to realize that I should not even think about this, and then I thought I was stepping into another realm. I realized that it was just fine for me to float in the air of Kurosawa’s film.

Q. You co-starred with Asano and other actors. Were you nervous?

Odagiri: When I was together with Mr. Asano, I was shy.

Q. Shy? Why?

Odagiri: This may sound cheap, but I had longed for him. I had wanted to act like him, having the same kind of stance towards acting. However, I had expected him to be high, a strange person in reality. On the contrary when I met him, he was completely opposite. He was so natural, very transparent. Like air, he could float away anywhere…. Moreover, I felt he is similar to me. In terms of sensibility, the way to express ourselves, or if I exaggerate, how to live…. Therefore, when I was with Mr. Asano, I felt shy as if I was with my own family members.

Q. When both of you were acting together, were you all right?

Odagiri: Between shooting, I was shy and could not talk much. However, I did not feel like fulfilling the silence and I felt comfortable when time was passing so naturally between us. Our relationship while shooting became exactly like the one between us in real life. Thus, I believe there is a wonderful feeling between us on the screen. We sat next to each other at the staff preview, and after the film, we start our conversation by saying it was interesting.

Q. What do you think about veteran actor Tatsuya Fuji?

Odagiri: He has such a long career. I had expected him to be scary and I was nervous not to provoke him (laugh). When I met him, he was very natural and kind. For example, during the intermission, he was laying on the lawn by himself. On another occasion while we were waiting for our scenes, he talked about his experience as an actor to me. I had a great time together with him and was much influenced by him.

Q. What did you talk?

Odagiri: I was not happy with myself between television dramas. He was also involved in trendy TV dramas before and he shared with me how he felt back then and how he dealt with these problems.

Q. His talk helped you to get out of your trouble?

Odagiri: I am still in trouble somewhat (laugh). After finishing bright future, I could genuinely feel that cinema is the best. I came to understand the difference between various media, making me realize what is so special about cinema. I want to involve myself more in cinema from now on.

Q. Three of your films that you starred in will be released in Japan soon. What is your vision on the “bright future”?

Odagiri: I do not have large goals. I do not dream about appearing in Hollywood films. I just want to improve my way of expression, and this will make me happy. This may not sound bright (laugh). I do not mind if I’m perceived as a minor actor but I want to portray real human beings. The “brightest future” for me is to get involved in interesting films.
 

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