[PR]ŠΕŒμŽt‚̍DπŒ‚Θ‹lξ•ρ–žΪ:”NŠΤ30,000l‚Μ“]EŠΕŒμŽt‚ͺ—˜—p’†

English by mfu-1

Japanese@@@@

[TBS RADIO/gSTREAMh/12.17.2003]

personality:Tomoko Matsumoto(female) and Haruhiko Sato(male)

guest: Ken Watanabe

Matsumoto

This is TBS Radio Stream UCC Super Session, hosted by Sato-san, and I, Matsumoto.

Today, we have one of the hottest guy these days.  Here, at Stream, we call him "Ken-sama" <'sama' indicates higher respect than 'san'>.  Here is the world famous Ken Watanabe.

Ken

Hello, how are you.

Matsumoto

Again, very pleased to talk to you.

Matsumoto

It has really been about a year since you came here.  It was in winter...

Ken

Yes., (laughter) it seems.  I fail to recall at all ... (laughter)

Matsumoto

Please, try to look back into your memory...

Ken

Yes, I will.

Sato

I suppose things have been changed much during this one year, in many aspects.

Matsumoto

I grew taller (laughter).

Ken

Well ... I might have shrunk a little.  (laughter)  Guess not.

All

(laughter)

Matsumoto

By the way, Ken-san, on 27th of December last year, ...

Ken:

Yes, I seemed to have visited here close to the last day of the year.

Matsumoto

Back then, we met you for the first time, and had a pleasure listening to your talk over various subjects.  It was the time for Samurai...

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Tom Cruise came to Japan for the publicity <of the movie>, and to tell people "This is what we are doing now."  That was why we had an interview with you, Ken-san ...

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

People were wondering what you said to Tom Cruise, looking at the photo of you whispering in his ear.  It was the time those kind of things were among the topics.

Sato

So, it was before the actual shooting., right?

Ken

No, we were already shooting..

Sato

Really?  You were?

Ken

Yes, we were.  We had done the locations in Himeji, then in Himeji and Kyoto, then in LA for a month.  It was after I came back to Japan, and was the time for "I'm gonna go to NZ now."

Sato

Really, it was so, hum.

Matsumoto

But, for us, it was the time we were just wondering what kind of movie it was.  Tom Cruise in the movie titled "The Last Samurai."  Hum...  That was about it.  Like "Oh, Tom has long hair."  Like "Wow, he has grown beard."

Sato

We were wondering what would come out of it.

Matsumoto

I suppose there are people who already have seen the movie, "The Last Samurai," while there are also people who are planning to see it in the future, among the listeners today.

Sato

Yes.

Ken

Yes, I suppose so.

Matsumoto

Today, we are getting to know more about this TLS.  Ken-san, we are counting on your kind help.

Ken

Pleased to be of your service.

Matsumoto

By the way, we decided the title for today's talk should be "News Break - The Thorough Examination!... (laughter)

Ken

Don't make me laugh.  Please.  (laughter)

Matsumoto

(laughter)  Is world famous Ken Watanabe <with echo> a liar? ...

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

Or an honest man?"

Ken

(laughter)

Matsumoto

Well, now.  Now that the movie has been made, the time is ripe, isn't it?  Since you are the person himself ...

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

What were you whispering to him, Ken-san?

Sato

I see.

Matsumoto

He does not seem to remember.

Ken

No, I do not remember at all ...

Matsumoto

In this studio.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

You were sitting here.

Ken

I started to remember some, in the mist of my memory.  (laughter)

Matsumoto

Ha ha ha.

Ken

(laughter)  I am looking into my memory now, yes.

Matsumoto

Well then.  Now, we would like to ...

Ken

Yes.

Mastumoto

The tape of the interview recorded a year ago, ...

Ken

Huh?  Are we going to listen to it?

Matsumoto

Yes.

Ken

Wow!

Matsumoto

First of all, you spoke really a lot of English in this one, right?

Ken

Yes, about 80 percent of the lines were in English.

Matsumoto

I asked about this a year ago because I thought it would be a tough job.  You wouldn't remember what your responses were like, would you?

Ken

Nooot at aaall.  (Not at all.)

Matsumoto

"Nooot at aaall."  Well, let's find it out!  Here is the "Thorough Examination No. 1" for you!

@@@@@@@

@@@@@ @@

Matsumoto:80 percent of the lines are in English?

Ken:Yes.

MatsumotoFIt have to be that way?

Ken:Yes, it is like a dialect, in a sense.

Matsumoto: (laughter)

Konishi@: (laughter)

MatsumotoFIs it, really?

Ken:Yes.  (laughter)

KonishiFI see.

MatsumotoFIs it possible to look at it that way?

Ken:Yes.

KonishiFI'm impressed.

Matsumoto

You said "It is like a dialect."

Ken

Yes, I thought so.  I thought so, and ...

Matsumoto

(laughter)

Ken

The thing is, at that time in the last year, I had seven long scenes to do -- two of them were cut later due to the time issue -- and the most of the big long scenes had been already finished.  By the December, at Himeji.

Matsumoto

Aha.

Ken

Aha. So, it was like "Huh?  I was able to do it, wasn't I?"  As for the lines, I could really understand the meanings when I listened to.  The pronunciation was the issue, being a Japanese after all.  The difficulty in the pronunciations of ''r' and 'th', and the difference between 'r' and 'l' were there for sure.  But, thought "It's still like a dialect." 

Mastumoto

Ha ha ha.

Ken

I could do it.

Matsumoto

Yes, yes.

Ken

So, in that sense, as for this comment, I will stick to what I've said, even now.

Matsumoto

No change?

Ken

No.

Matsumoto

Aha ...

Ken

Something like a dialect in American region.

Matsumoto

Really?  (laughter)

Ken

(laughter)

Sato

If a Japanese spoke perfect modern American English, then it would have been <strange> ...

Ken

Yes.  Also, ah, basically we put the hint of British style English, or rather Queen's English in it.

Sato

Oh, I see.

Matsumoto

You said you had finished five to seven big scenes.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Were they with Tom Cruise?

Ken

Most of them were conversations with him.

Matsumoto

Let's say, has it ever happened that Tom Cruise himself changed the lines on the spot?

Ken

Well, everyday, the lines were changed.

Matsumoto

Wow.  Gee, sounds scary.  (laughter)

Ken

I remembered the lines beforehand so that it would come out almost automatically; then, well, suddenly they would give me like two sheets of paper.

Matsumoto

Aha.

Ken

I was like "One more?!"  It was like that.  So, rather than coping with it, how do I say, it was like playing in a live theater on the spot.

Sato

Have you been studying English for a long time?

Ken

Nooot at aaall.

Matsumoto

Nooot at aaall?

Ken

Yes.  (laughter)

Matsumoto

Was it something like if you act, then somehow you could do it...?

Ken

The measure of expression is different.  I mean, I was still in a search for how to and how much to express myself in English.  But, thought maybe what I had to do is basically the same.  In that sense, I somehow managed to do it.

Matsumoto

Nooot at aaall?

Ken

Yes.

Sato

Japanese and English have totally different style.

Ken

Yes, they do.

Sato

The accents and how we put the breaks in between words for the purpose of expression are totally different.  Yet, when we see you on the big screen, you looked so natural...

Ken

Well, furthermore, he was samurai.  I usually play a samurai role without changing my facial expression too much and with little body language.  So, it was hard to do it in English.

Sato

suppose so, too.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

His response was same as the one a year ago.

Sato

He turned out to be an honest man.

Matsumoto

He turned out to be an honest man.

Ken

I'm glad.

Matsumoto

(laughter)  Well, "News Break - The Thorough Examination!  Is Ken Watanabe a liar? ...

Ken

(laughter)

Mastumoto

or an honest man?" continues on.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Could you please listen to this one?

 

MatsumotoFIt is exciting.  Going to Hollywood.

Ken:Well, .. not too much.

MatsumotoFIsn't it great that they will show the movie simultaneously <in Japan and U.S.>?

Ken:What I felt was not that special.  It was like one more working place beyond Kyoto.

MatsumotoFThen, you were not overly excited, and did not find the different environments difficult, when you went over there.

      Ken:Yes, that's right.

Matsumoto

"One more working place beyond Kyoto"...  The way you look at things is amazing.

Ken

Yeahp.

Matsumoto

Us, who just invite you to come, are overly (laughter) excited, you know.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Ken-san, you were very calm then, saying "one more working place."

Ken

It was like that.  You see, once, on my way to the Narita Airport, I realized I forgot my passport.

Matsumoto

Sato

(laughter)

Ken

"Oh no, I am going to a foreign country!"  (laughter)  It was like so.

Matsumoto

I think people tend to get nervous or even change their clothes when they know they are going into a different environment.  But, you are not like that, Ken-san., are you?

Ken

Or rather, you know, things are casual over there.  They receive me casually.  For them, it didn't really matter whether you came from Europe, South America, or Africa.  That's what I felt.  Also, in this business, we meet new people very often in any case.

Matsumoto

Yes.

Ken

We meet people whom we do not know at all, then starting from "Pleased to meet you," we build up relationships.  Then, we become friends.  That what we always do.  So, it was just some extension of that process.  It's just many of those people you met were speaking English. ...

Matsumoto

(laughter)

Ken

It was something like that, I think.

Matsumoto

The communication would not have been as smooth as in Japan.  For example, large number of people in the staff on the scene, right?

Ken

Yes, yes.

Matsumoto

Didn't you feel difficulty that you wanted to talk with them, but could not?

Ken

No.

Matsumoto

No?

Ken

Right.

Sato

Well, then how about the budget.

Ken

Yes.

Sato

In Hollywood, they have much more budget than the Japanese movie industry.

Ken

Yeah.

Sato

For example, the movie making environment is excellent.

Ken

Oh, regarding that matter, something was definitely different.  There was a press junket for the promotion of this movie.

Sato

Aha.

Ken

That's when I felt "This is Hollywood after all." because, I understood that the news about this movie immediately goes all around the world.  Basically, there were interviewers from many countries, including the ones from all over the U.S.  "Oh, so it is.  If we open the channel, then this movie will be watched all over the world immediately."  After all, if you make a movie in Japan, even inside Japan, there will be steps to take, like you bring it over some place then over some other place, and so on.

Sato

Right, right.

Ken

No such steps at all.  It was the first time I realized that just one motion of opening the channel makes the movie be presented in the worldwide market.

Sato

Yeah.  (Impressed)

Ken

Maybe I am a little bit slow.  (laughter)

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

(laughter)  Until that moment...

Ken

(laughter)  "You didn't know?" is it?  Ha ha.

Sato

You have been just being natural.

Ken

Yeah.  After all, the level of ability of an actor cannot be changed.  No matter how hard you try.  So, just going to the right place does not make you do much better.  Since there are many people who would support you in the process, your talent might come out in different forms and in various forms.  But, all you could do is just to do your best, what else could you do, right?

Sato

I see.

Ken

So, as for that matter, I do not think too much.

Sato

As for us, we think of the situation of Japanese baseball players going to the New York Yankees and play.  So, we tend to think there should be some over excitement, but it is not so.

Ken

You know, they play in front of audience after all.  I do not have an audience until they see it on the screen.

Sato

Right.

Ken

So, when I was just working with the staff, there was no uncomfortable feeling.

Sato

I see.

Ken

So, when we had a premier in LA, I really felt the high quality of the culture surrounding American movies, the high recognition of them as a part of culture.  That was overwhelming.

Matsumoto

Ken-san, you were answering questions from the press of foreign countries.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

What kind of questions was the most popular?

Ken

Let me see.  I found it interesting that domestic press in U.S. tend to ask questions like, "What did you think of Tom?" (laughter) or "What did you think of Hollywood?" (laughter)  The subjects were not heavy ones.  But, those two days were amazing.  I met about 150 people a day.

Matsumoto

That is really many.

Ken

The second day was an international day.

Matsumoto

Aha.

Sato

Yeah

Ken

It was really international, Europe, South America, Asia, and so on.  Those people are more interested in how the U.S. and its foreign countries would get along, to begin with.  So, with that in their mind, they were looking at this movie like it is really their business.  Because of that, there were more questions that were in serious nature.

Sato

I see.

Matsumoto

For example, were there any questions that made you thought "Woo, this one is hard to answer..."?

Ken

Oh, well, for example, there were questions like "What is America for you?" or "What do you think of an encounter of different cultures, one being U.S.?"  Some were so serious that I thought "Am I going to answer such questions in English?" (laughter)

Matsumoto

How did you actually respond to them?

Ken

In English.

Matsumoto

In English?

Ken

Yes.

Sato

Amazing.

Matsumoto

It's different from speaking given lines.

Sato

At the level of TOEIC 700 points?

Ken

So, it was really tough.  Very much.  Since it was spontaneous.

Sato

Right.

Ken

It's just that sometimes, even with the English that is not fluent, what I wanted to say was conveyed better when I use my own words than speaking via a translator.

Matsumoto

If the question was something like "Playing a role in The Last Samurai, what did you think about the cultural exchange between U.S. and Japan?", then, I think, there could be many ways to respond to it, right?

Ken

Yes, there could be.  So, it was easier with Europeans.  For example, if the question is "What do you think of the spirit of Samurai?" or "What do you think of Bushido?", and if I just say "Same as knights," then they would go "Oh, really?"  It is because they have a long history themselves, a very deep one, I thought.

Matsumoto

If your response is that short, what was your actual response in English?

Ken

(laughter) Come on.  Don't you try to test me, please.  I do not have to <speak English>, we are in Japan.  (laughter)

Matsumoto

Please, why not?

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

See, all the staff here is waiting.  (laughter)

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

Ken-sama.  (laughter)

Ken

(laughter) The circuit in the brain is not standing by right now.

Matsumoto

Does it work that way?  (laughter)

Ken

Yes, I am not that much bilingual.

Matsumoto

I see.  That's why you said "Nooot at aaall."

Sato

RIght, right.

Matsumoto

The fact that you had never have learned English before is ...

Sato

...something that keeps coming back..

Matsumoto

Well... we still would like to go on questioning you.

Ken

Please, do.

Matsumoto

"Thorough Examination! ,,

Ken

Whew, I am glad I have answered right so far.  (laughter)

Matsumoto

Ha ha ha.

Sato

Yes, you turned out to be an honest man.

Matsumoto

...Is world famous Ken Watanabe...

Ken

(laughter)

Matsumoto

... a liar? ...

Ken

I say "That's enough."  (laughter)

Matsumoto

... or an honest man?"  The last question is this.

 

KonishiFIf you see something wrong in the eyes of Japanese, please point it out without hesitation, would you?

Ken:I have been doing it, eventually.  I am definitely not 'fighting' with them, it is just a part of the process to make the movie really good.

 

Matsumoto

Back then, at that stage, we were wondering "What would you do if a part of the image of Samurai they create is wrong?"  Konishi-san asked you what your thinking was at that point of time, a year ago.

Ken

would say exactly the same now

Matsumoto

Are there some episodes, with Tom Cruise or with some other people in the staff?

Ken

You know, ah, we had been practicing hard for a battle scene, the final battle in Yoroi (the war costume).  But, you see, when we practice, we wear casual clothes, like a  jersey cloth.  Tom and I had been practicing a extremely complicated choreography.  Well, of course, there were many others, too, like 20 to 30 people together, and it lasted for about two weeks.  Then, when the time for shooting came, I realized that I had forgotten about <mentioning> the fact that "We wear a short sward."  For us, it was not something to talk about because "we wear it" without thinking about it.

Matsumoto

Yes..

Ken

When you wear Yoroi

Sato

Together with a short sward.

Ken

That short sward, which always comes with Yoroi, is to have an important meaning at the end.  The short sward that Tom has, that is.  So, <I told them> but, he said "That's ok.  Since it hampers my movements., I will wear it later."

Sato

Oh.

Ken

"No, just wait a minute.  If you are not ready <to fight> in a 'perfect' way the moment you come out of that house, it is very strange." I said.  "In Japanese sense, it is definitely wrong."

Sato

Yeah.

Ken

Then Tom said "Yeah. But, this is relatively wide, or rather long. If I wear it, then I wouldn't be able to perform those complicated movements." <Needless to say, this is Ken's translation of Tom's English from his memory, which then translated back to English.  So, not exact.>  I thought, "Oh, no.  What shall I do?"

Matsumoto

(laughter)

Ken

I said "But, how about this.  If having this makes it too troublesome of makes it impossible to do some of the movements, then we can practice again.  We will do all over.  I will definitely give you enough time.  Could you please do it in a perfect way?  If you still have some trouble, then I will talk to Ed and the coordinator(s).  Let's make it perfect..."  I mean, if you wear a Yoroi for a battle, you would never have time to put the sword on and off.

Sato

I guess not.

Matsumoto

I see.

Ken

I said "So, could you please just do it?"  "I will do it and see." he said.  We had such a rather long talk, so to peak, before the shooting.

Matsumoto

How long the talk lasted.  Exactly?

Ken

Well, after I said "Could you please come over here." it lasted like ten minutes.  But, at the end, he said "I understand.  If you insist that much, I will try it."

Matsumoto

He understood it.

Ken

Yes.  So, as for those kind of issues, I could have a talk, or rather, they had a capacity to listen to what I said ...

Sato

One more thing that I would like to ask...

Ken

Yes.

Sato

Since you, Ken Watanabe-san, has been in many Samurai dramas, I assume you know very well <about those things>.

Ken

No, not much.

Sato

For example, Bushi <or Samurai> in Kamakura Era and Edo Era were totally different

Ken

Yes, they were different.

Sato

Yes, they were, right?

Ken

Yes.

Sato

But, you are living "now."

Ken

Yes.

Sato

Living in Heisei Era.

Ken

Yes.

Sato

I wonder if you have studied to the level of specialists about that kind of historical authenticity.  You have studied that much, haven't you...?

Ken

It was rather inevitable, had to study.

Sato

As I thought, hum.

Ken

Yes.  So, in a slightly different point of view, since this was a story about the Meiji Era, you could make some choices according to your preferences.

Sato

Right, right.

Ken

In other words, there were not much "rules" to follow.  And, of course, the setting of the situation was made that way.  Those were the men who wished to live like a Samurai, when the Samurai era was ending.  At that time of the history, there were no need for them to follow any certain fixed formality.  So, in order to imagine what our village would choose to follow, was something you have to analyze very carefully, so that when they <the villagers?> ask us why, we could answer.

Sato

I see.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Finally, to those who are going to see The Last Samurai, what would you like to say?

Ken

After all, I think it provides a high quality entertainment.  Actions, romance, and heartwarming friendships.  The movie is something you can watch and enjoy without having any previous knowledge, I think.

Matsumoto

Without any previous knowledge.

Ken

The bottom line is, I hope you would see it in a big theater with a good sound.

Sato

It's because if you do not see it in a big theater, then at the ending scene ...

Ken

Yes.

Sato

I saw the movie two times.

Ken

Oh!

Matsumoto

Oh!

Sato

Everyone was crying.

Matsumoto

Seriously?

Ken

Wow, I'm glad to hear that.

Sato

Totally crying .

Ken

That was what we have hoped for.  The movie that Japanese could feel proud after watching it, like "Oh, I am glad to be born as a Japanese.", because that was my first motivation to participate.  Now I feel maybe that goal has been achieved.

Matsumoto

I really hope those who are going to see the movie would ..., right?

Sato

Hope they would really see it.

Matsumoto

Well, so he is not a liar.

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

I think I understand more of Ken-sama now.  (laughter)

Ken

(laughter)

Matsumoto

We would very much like to talk to you again, Ken-san, the next year...

Matsumoto

You are going to be in TBS's drama "Suna no Utsuwa" from January next year.  The story was written by Seicho Matsumoto.  Your part is the one who chases down the person whom Masahiro Nakai plays.

Ken

Yes, that's right.  I play a role of a detective.

Sato

The movie "Suna no Utsuwa" was a great movie.

Ken

Yes, it was.  Well, but, the thing is that it was two hours and a half.  It was close to three hours, and the drama this time runs a little more than 11 hours.  So, I wish we would be able to put more details about the greed in life to the deeper degree.

Matsumoto

Ken-san, you don't speak English in this one, do you?

Ken

No, I don't.

Ken

Ha ha ha.

Mastumoto

(laughter)  WIth him as a detective, "Suna no Utsuwa" starts from January.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Well, this is the last question.  His response to this question will be the key word for this week's 'special week present.'  Please listen carefully, everyone.  (laughter)  Now, here goes the question.

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

If you are to describe the year 2003 for Ken Watanabe-san in a word/phrase, what would you say?

Ken

Well ... as you might guess, I would say "It started with Samurai, and ended with Samurai."

Matsumoto

Cool!

Ken

(laughter)  No, no.  It's just the fact.  I had only his job for this year, almost.  Ha ha ha.

Matsumoto

(laughter)  "Ha ha ha" you laugh.

Ken

(laughter)  Yes.  The most part of the last half was spent on the promotion.

Matsumoto

Well, in any case, the movie is amazing.  We are now in the middle the excitement.

Ken

Yeah.

Matsumoto

Ken-san, we hope you would continue on providing great movies ...

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

... to us

Ken

Yes.

Matsumoto

Please bring on them to us.

Ken

Thank you very very much.

Matsumoto

Today, we have the world famous Ken Watanabe, whom we call "Ken-sama."

Ken

(laughter)

Matsumoto

We would be very happy if you could come again.

Ken

Very nice of you.

Sato

We really looking forward to the next one, too.

Ken

Yes, thank you very much.

Matsumoto

Hope to have you next year, at the end of year, as a man in winter ...  Do we really have to wait that long?  (laughter)

Ken

(laughter)

Sato

Maybe around summer?

Matsumoto

Would like to meet you again around summer.  (laughter)  Thank you very much, Ken-san.

Ken

Thank you very much, really.

Sato

Thank you very much.

Matsumoto

That was Ken Watanabe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


[PR]’†ŒΓŽΤ’T‚΅‚Ν€ΆήΨΚή°:έŒΙ‘½”€‘SŽΤ•ۏ؂‚«!