Here's an interview with TakaC from back in May of this year regarding the filming of The Longest Night in Shanghai and other stuff. It's interesting to get some insight into the guy behind the eyecandy. I like his honesty, although it almost got him into some hot water.
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Chinese Reporter (R): Can you tell us how it felt to work with Zhao Wei?
TakaC (T): Actually, we don't have much screentime together. Before coming to China, I had no idea how popular she is. *smiles*
R: You've made alot of Japanese series; for instance...*mentions a couple*. How did you get into the acting business? Was it like alot of Japanese idols, via discovery?
T: Actually, I've never considered myself an idol. I'm only an actor. At first I didn't really think about pursuing an acting career. My parents were the ones who pushed me in this direction (*smiles*), perhaps because they thought I'm gifted in this area. It was after I finished filming Battle Royale that I found acting to be very interesting and decided to pursue this field seriously.
R: You will be portraying young
Kitano Takeshi in a serial based on his autobiography. How do you feel about him?
T: Kitano Takeshi is both Japan's and the world's. From playing him, I realized how hardworking he is. He's studied tap dancing and xiang sheng (a form of Chinese comedy), and it's endeavors like these that have made him who he is today. I've learned alot about human experiences from him.
R: You will also be filming a movie based off of our classic Hong Kong film C'est la Vie, Mon Cherie. How will they differ?
T: Yan Pai's film is called A Song to the Sun. I haven't seen the Hong Kong version, so I can't say.
R: Then what kind of Chinese movies do you like to watch?
T: I haven't watched any.
R: You haven't watched any films directed by Zhang Yi Mou, Chen Kai Ge, or ones starring Zhang Ziyi?
T: Nope. I don't watch movies because of directors or how popular a thespian is. I only watch the ones I'm interested in.
R: So are you saying you're not interested in our Chinese movies?
T: That's not what I meant. Maybe it's because I have so few opportunities to see Chinese movies in Japan. The Chinese films highly publicized in Japan don't really interest me.
http://ent.enorth.com.cn/system/2006...01303909.shtml
I wish I knew Japanese, as it's so hard to find English or Chinese interviews with TakaC.