In 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' there were times when I told Eastwood, 'This is just not believable.' Ken Watanabe More Quotes by Ken Watanabe More Quotes From Ken Watanabe The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one and it would not be a wasted life. Ken Watanabe vision perfect dream Don't you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone! Ken Watanabe regret waiting men There are always many sides to the truth. Ken Watanabe sides Do what is right because it is right. Ken Watanabe I'm not a big star in Japan. I'm an actor. I have a very normal life. Four days a week, I cook at home. A star doesn't do that. Ken Watanabe japan stars home The King struggles to work with other countries. It's a warrior's concern, and as current events [demonstrate], the challenges in working with international partners are very serious and far from comedic. Ken Watanabe kings struggle country English is like music. The English language is really fit for singing. The notes match the feelings, and it makes sense. Ken Watanabe singing music language feelings Looks aren't important. It's your life and mind. Ken Watanabe important mind life looks If the script is good, the cast and director good, I'll go anywhere. Ken Watanabe cast director good go Each director is different. Clint Eastwood and Chris Nolan are completely different, and I need to adjust to the story and character and the director and just my duty as an actor. Ken Watanabe need story duty character With 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' then 'Memories of Tomorrow,' I reached a sort of turning point in my acting. I had poured so much of myself into those movies that I really had no idea where to go from there. Ken Watanabe movies myself tomorrow memories About half the scripts sent to me feature characters I just can't identify with, particularly one-dimensional businessmen or, if it's a comedy, some absurd 10-year-old Japanese stereotype, some role related to IT or business... There's no point in getting mad about it; it's just the way things are. Ken Watanabe me comedy business way I have no sense of myself as a sex symbol at all. But the meaning of sex symbol might be a little different in Japan to elsewhere. The Japanese version seems to come with a stronger emphasis on a sort of grownup or mature male charm. And if that's the case, then I guess I'm happy to hear it. Ken Watanabe myself mature happy sex As a Japanese actor, I really want to work with a lot of actors and actresses in the world and many directors who have many different kinds of talents. I feel like nationally doesn't matter at all. Ken Watanabe feel matter work world Musicals are written in English, and then we import them to Japan. When we translate them into Japanese, the sounds of the language are completely different. The Japanese language is not the best for singing, in terms of sound. Ken Watanabe best singing language sound All small countries have the same problems and concerns about being protected from larger countries and their influences. Ken Watanabe problems about small being I can't become another person, no matter how much makeup I wear. Something of your own past, your experiences and personality always comes out in the role, and that makes acting very risky. You're exposed. You always wonder if you can pull it off. Ken Watanabe you makeup personality past When you're sick, you're not thinking 24 hours a day about your suffering, about dying. You want to talk and laugh and think about other things. In the midst of trying to live your life normally, the fear and dread, the realization that it might all end, rises up inside of you. Ken Watanabe day you fear life I try to differentiate between what I need and don't need. I talk to my wife and children before buying things. Ken Watanabe need try wife children If I'm in a restaurant, and someone recognizes me and asks for a signature or a photograph after a drink, that's good for me as an actor. Ken Watanabe restaurant good me drink