Tag Archives: Hiroyuki Sanada

by Stoic Taco | May 25, 2011 · 11:48 PM

Keanu Reeves Talks 47 Ronin

Written by: Stoic Taco

Thanks to Hero Complex, we have an update on 47 Ronin directly from the leading man himself, Keanu Reeves.

Playing Kai, the son of an English sailor and a Japanese woman, joins the 47 ronin, led by Hiroyuki Sanada, out to avenge the death of their master at the hands of an evil lord.

The locations used in the shooting of the film are worldwide as outlined by Mr Reeves, “We just wrapped. It was our last day here in Hungary, we’re in Budapest…We had about 34 shooting days here. Then off to England. It’s been amazing so far.”

In the article Mr Reeves goes on to state just how immensely important this story is to the Japanese people and that there is a responsibility to treat the story with care and reverence.

“It’s a story of honor, revenge and impossible love. It’s famous in Japan….Japanese kids grow up with this story told to them. They hear it from family and they learn it in school, it’s part of the culture… It’s been made into movies many times and on television. It’s like our westerns, the story keeps being told. It’s been reworked in some ways but with great care and respect.”

In addition to the taking care with the storyline, working in various countries and weather conditions, Mr Reeves has faced another challenge with the need of learning to handle and use a traditional Japanese two-handed sword, “I haven’t done two-handed sword before so it was pretty cool to learn the basics and I’ve been building on that…There’s a definite style to this sword and it’s very fast I’m trying to keep up and learn as I go.”

Make sure you check out the full story at Hero Complex, it’s a great read.

The filming is currently taking place in London now, and is scheduled for release in November 2012.

47 Ronin London Press Conference

Written by: Stoic Taco

At a recent press conference for 47 Ronin in London, the cast fielded several questions from eager reporters about how they felt working on the film and how they planned on tackling the very famous Japanese story.

Director Carl Rinsch explained that even though he does not come from a Japanese background he can understand the story’s themes.

“I can understand love, I can understand hate, I can understand revenge, and these are ideas and these are emotions that translate not just in Japan and not even just in America or England but all over the world so these are universal ideas…what drew me to [the story] are the universal themes and these larger than life characters that I can relate to on an emotional level and of course the world I was drawn to and the culture of Japan I was drawn to”

The film’s leading man, Keanu Reeves (playing Kai) explained that it was an exciting project to be a part of;

“Really happy…it’s a special situation, in the sense of the story, the script, and how it’s going to be told. The ambition of the film, in scope and scale, physical production but also the storytelling, for me is very exciting.”

Co-star Hiroyuki Sanada (playing Oishi) said that this was his first 3D film and a first for a Japanese story and is very interested in seeing how the rest of the world will react to it. Sanada explained that his role of Oishi will be different to any other role he has played before.

“Everything is a beautiful blend of Western, Oriental, and Asian cultures”

47 Ronin is scheduled to be released in November 2012.

47 Ronin

Greetings all,

The Japanese cast of 47 Ronin has been announced.

According to THR Joining star Keanu Reeves will be Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) as clan chief Oishi; Rinko Kikuchi (Babel) as the mysterious Lady Mizuki; Tadanobu Asano (Mongol) as Lord Kira and Kou Shibasaki (One Missed Call) as love interest for Reeves’ character on her Hollywood debut.

47 Ronin is a chushingura of the famous Japanese story which details the revenge taken by 47 ronin for the death of their master in the early 18th century. This story could be considered national legend in Japan and has been retold in various formats 80 times.

This latest incarnation stars Keanu Reeves as a Kai, the half Japanese half British Samurai who, I imagine, makes up one of the 47 master-less Samurai. Since this is a character who is not part of the original story it is safe to say that the character has been added in order to have an American leading man star.

If director Carl Rinsch (Lovely Weather for Rain) is able to craft a Samurai movie, in the same vein as The Last Samurai, then I think we are in for a treat.

I like Keanu Reeves as an actor. I really do. I think that he is capable of a lot and has delivered in quite a few roles, the stand out being The Gift alongside Cate Blanchett and Hilary Swank.

I am also a big fan of Hiroyuki Sanada who portrayed quiet intensity and a subtle rage in his role in The Last Samurai and managed to hold his own against Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe.

This film will be a welcome return to the American big screen for Rinko Kikuchi who has been sadly missing since her Oscar nominated performance as Chieko Wataya in 2006’s Babel.