“I am a cinematographer. I’ve never had any ambition to become a director. A film is not one individual’s method of personal expression but a matter of teamwork, a cooperative venture.”
“The strongest moments in my life are when I’m filming. It’s an adventure. As an actor I try to seduce someone, try to share something. The rest of my time is spent exploring experiences with women.”
“All of us kids ended up 'doing Mom.' There are four of us who've tried show business. Five if you insist on counting my sister the nun, who does liturgical dance.”
“There are always challenges coming, in life, everyday. You'd be surprise. If I got a good script that would be another challenge. Unfortunately we don't have lot of good writers.”
“You have no specific direction at the very beginning, you don't have a script, you don't know the story. There are little hints, so there's no right or wrong in creating your character. You can do whatever you want. And it's like an adventurous journey.”
“I must confess that I felt I was only the colors with which Ozu painted his pictures, [yet]… today I cannot think of my own identity without thinking of him. I once heard Ozu say, ‘Ryu is not a skillful actor — that is why I use him.’ This is very true.”
“I don't know if there's something in the Japanese spirit that drives that, but as a culture, I know, we're very respectful of artists--more so than in America, or so I've been led to believe.”