Interview with Kane Kosugi. Part two

20.09.2013EvilDollaR

You told me that at the time of Revenge of the Ninja you were six years old.

Kane Kosugi: Yes.

For a child, you looked quite convincing as a fighter.

Kane Kosugi: Yes, I started when I was one and a half years old. I was six on set and had already achieved a lot. I trained a lot. In fact, acting in that film was not difficult at all.

Now that you watch it or think about it, doesn't it seem a little awkward? In this film you beat up a grown man.

Kane Kosugi: Looks funny. I recently picked up the DVD of “Revenge of the Ninja” and watched it for the first time in ten years. Surprisingly, the film turned out to be worthy. Not a bad action. My father showed himself very well. Even if it came out in our time, it would still be good. The fight with my participation is also okay. Normal for a six year old.

There is a certain charm in the films you starred in with your father. There was enough action in action films rated R, but, in principle, you are not killed or maimed, so children can watch those films.

Kane Kosugi: It's likely that young children will be inspired after watching it.

You've been part of ninja-themed pop culture.

Kane Kosugi: Yeah, after I moved to Japan and worked there for 20 years, ninjas started coming back in Ninja Assassin and Ninja with Scott. I always wanted to do a ninja movie as an adult because the first movies I did as a kid were about ninjas. It's great to return to this topic again. I was given this opportunity. I am very grateful to Isaac and Scott for taking me on the project.

Do you remember working with Sam Furstenberg, the director of Revenge of the Ninja?

Kane Kosugi: Honestly, I don't remember. I remember the actress who played the main female role.

Blonde?

Kane Kosugi: Yes. I remember the action scenes were difficult. I remember an incident when she beat me with a stick. Sixth. I burst into tears because it was very painful. And we had to re-shoot this episode more than once. This is what I remember very, very clearly. (laughs) I remember every bit from this movie.

Do you remember your feelings when, after the film’s release, you saw yourself on the big screen?

Kane Kosugi: Yes. I went to the cinema with a family friend. He looked after us. He took us to a screening, and that’s when I saw this film for the first time. I remember going to get some popcorn and the guy behind the counter said, “Hey, you look like the boy from the movie.” I remember him saying, “Oh, yeah, all Asian kids look alike.” (laughs) But I didn’t watch the film with my father. He was filming after filming.

Your next film was "Pray for Death", correct?

Kane Kosugi: No, 9 Ninja Deaths.

"9 Ninja Deaths"! I love this movie!

Kane Kosugi: Filming took place in the Philippines. I remember this vaguely. Revenge of the Ninja was more difficult. There were a lot of action scenes, a lot of episodes with my participation. And filming 9 Deaths of a Ninja was like a vacation for me and my brother. We don't have many episodes. We were there just for show. I remember that my father used a crossbow in the film.

When the producers invited your father to the new film, was there an agreement regarding your participation? “So, we need you because your dad is starring in a new ninja movie. We need you to play his children!”

Kane Kosugi: No idea. We filmed if the father thought we could play his sons. If it fit into the plot.

This brings us to Black Eagle, where your father played the protagonist and Van Damme played the villain. Van Damme was just starting his career at that time. How was it working with Van Damme?

Kane Kosugi: I didn’t know about him then. I have not seen a single film with his participation. He was very charismatic. He was in very good physical shape. Good guy. I was little, eating my cookies, he came up to me and said: “Listen, if I wrestle you in my arms, you will give me your cookies.” I agreed to arm wrestle and lost, I couldn’t beat him even with two hands. The film is not particularly memorable, but I remember that it was interesting to work with Van Damme. He was kind to me.

You have filmed with your father several times. What do you think about it?

Kane Kosugi: Growing up, my father was away for a long time due to work, so it was great to film with him. It's nice to do what you love. Interesting. Better than going to school.

Have you ever thought about the fact that you were part of that time and era that you starred in films that influenced the B-movie genre?

Kane Kosugi: When I was growing up, I didn’t really think about it. Somewhere before middle school. I think the first time I realized that my father had become an idol to many people was when we went to a sports shoe store and heard: “Hey, you're Sho Kogugi! Can you leave us your autograph?” Remember those old days when stores often had basketball hoops hanging inside them? One of these had my father’s signature on it, and I realized that my father was famous. Before that, he was just like a father to me. When I was doing Journey of Honor, that was the first time it dawned on me, “Wow, I'm getting paid to do this, it's time to start taking this seriously. Enough of the self-indulgence." Then I realized that I had reached the professional level. We filmed in Malta for at least three months. I remember how we spent a whole summer traveling around old Yugoslavia. Large ships were built, there were a lot of costumes, about two dozen Japanese arrived for the shooting - the film was on a grand scale.

How has your career developed since Journey of Honor?

Kane Kosugi: I was 15 or 16 years old back then. I graduated from high school and then went to Japan. He worked on Japanese television for a long time. I played there in two films that my father directed. One of them was called "King of Fighters."

You came on my radar when DOA: Dead or Alive came out with Eric Roberts and the cute girls.

Kane Kosugi: Yes, I was working in Japan at the time and was very busy, but I liked it. I learned something that I would never have learned if I had stayed in the states. But in my heart I always wanted to work in Hollywood. When I turned 30, I realized that it was time to return. It took me almost six months to find a manager and agent, and then I met with the producers of DOA. I auditioned and got the role. The shooting was interesting, I liked it. Soon after, he starred in War with Jason Statham and Jet Li. DOA was directed by Corey Yuen, and he served as production director on War. The creators wanted me to fight Jet Li, and I had a little fight with him. There are more and more choices for Asian actors these days, but I mostly audition for villain roles. Producers need an actor with the appearance of a villain.

Do you look like a villain?

Kane Kosugi: Well... they want a typical image. You have to look really angry. After all, experience accumulates. My heart belongs to Hollywood, but I decided not to stop working in Asia. I still have a lot to learn.

How often do you train?

Kane Kosugi: Quite often. Since my time in Japan I have practiced various styles. As a child, I studied karate and taekwondo, and after returning to Japan I took up tricks, wushu, breakdancing, no matter what style, as long as it gave my game a uniqueness. Strength training is not uncommon for me. I’m not trying to build muscle like I did after I was 20. I try to develop the necessary flexibility to make it easier to avoid injuries. This kind of training. Before filming a film, I try to train every day as much as possible.

Is there anything else you want to tell us about your career or anything else?

Kane Kosugi: My goal is to improve from film to film. The fight scenes we shot for Ninja 2 are the best of my career to date. I hope everyone enjoys the film.

FIRST PART OF THE INTERVIEW

Author: David J. Moore
Source: outlawvern.com
Translation: EvilDollaR
Thanks for the link Celpaso

Home » Articles » Interview with Kane Kosugi. Part two
Tags: Ninja: Shadow Of A Tear, Isaac Florentine, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kane Kosugi, Sho Kosugi, Scott Adkins

Related materials:

Interview with Pavel Belba for Denis Soldatov’s channel

Re-release of the action movie "American Samurai"

"Darkness of Man" with JCVD, "Breaking the Bank" with Travolta, and "The Crow"

Review of Blu-Ray edition of “Pray For Death”

Hardcore action with Philip Ng and the end of filming "Diablo"

Jean-Claude, karate and "Oc-s"!