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My life was very Japanese.

Japanese women have always loved my films, even when no one else did. Ever since I made 'Maurice' in the 1980s, I've been getting hundreds of letter from Japanese girls. They definitely have a special place in my heart.

I took Japanese in high school. I'm Chinese, though, and I just fell in love with the language and the culture.

I know just enough Japanese to get by if I get lost and greet an audience properly, just from having a lot of Japanese friends and being there over the years.

I grew up in Japan. It's my first memories of life are Japan.

I was totally into cartoon babes when I was a little dude. Cheetara from the 'Thundercats,' then Jessica Rabbit, and finally I moved onto a real-life human being and was into Punky Brewster, and then Christina Applegate on 'Married with Children.'

I'm just very obsessed with Japanese stuff in general.

Growing up in California, I obviously knew about our deep connections with the Japanese.

I liked the girly cartoons. I was very much a girly-girl.