Japan

Tokyo is simply bad ass. Been a few times recently and can’t get enough. Style, food, technology. It’s unlike any place on Earth. We stayed at this place called the Strings that looks over the whole city.

Doing press here was crazy. I had this interpreter that wouldn’t translate certain jokes I said, if she thought they were offensive. She would just give me this funny look and then shake her head “no”.

The film showed at a short film festival called Short Shorts, where we played years ago with our short “In God We Trust”. The screening was a little out there. Everyone seemed to enjoy the film, but they definitely didn’t laugh like they do everywhere else. It’s as if they took the film as a drama. For instance:

When Nick Naylor goes to his son’s career day, a little blonde girl says, “My mom says cigarettes kill.” To which Nick responds, “Is your mom a doctor? A scientific researcher?” She demures and Nick continues “Well, she doesn’t exactly sound like a credible expert.” Normally, audiences find this hilarious. The Japanese response was completely serious. Like, well, he got her there.

One night the festival took us to a restaurant owned by Kurosawa's family, using Akira's favorite recipes. We sat with Jitae Yoo from "Oldboy" and a real deal Sumo wrestler. I asked him if he has issues with these new eatsern European guy strying to crash the sport. He said no and that he respected them. he was very respectful in general. I asked if their body hair got in the way and he started to crack up. he finally settled himself and said that he was too focused to be thrown off by body hair.