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I had to trick people into giving me money for my first film. Making a romantic comedy is easier and more expected from a woman than it is to make a drama about a Japanese warrior.

A lot of the characters I play on Japanese shows are actually acted in Japan by women. I don't know what that says about me.

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

All of a sudden, there are great Japanese films, or great Italian films, or great Australian films. It's usually because there are a number of people that cross-pollinated each other.

I always enjoy working with an international crew and director. But on the set of a Hollywood action film - now that's a whole other world. The sheer grand scale of the way things are done over there makes me envious; it's just so different from the way things are done in Japan.

I've always been fascinated by Asian culture, and I love that women can play the lead in a horror film.

We don't put our emotions out there in Japan. I'm Japanese, but I love to be honest.

I always loved Japanese movies. And they had an enormous impact in France - the Nouvelle Vague took so much from them. It taught us how the camera was placed in the centre of the action.

It is impossible to remain indifferent to Japanese culture. It is a different civilisation where all you have learnt must be forgotten. It is a great intellectual challenge and a gorgeous sensual experience.

I went to the Tokyo Film Festival in Japan because I love Japanese cinema.