2012-06-17

Fukuyama Masaharu: Enthused by Warm Welcome to Shanghai

Fukuyama Masaharu，Guest of the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival

With his tall stature and charming smile, Japan\'s Fukuyama Masaharu can always create a stir among the fans, whether it\'s with a "hello" in Chinese that he just learned, by singing his popular song "Most Beloved" in the closing ceremony of Shanghai TV Festival, or by stepping onto the Shanghai International Film Festival red carpet for the first time. Yesterday, Fukuyama Masaharu told Daily News how much he\'d like to do a concert in Shanghai and work with Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

Daily News: How was your return to Shanghai this time?
Fukuyama Masaharu: There were many enthusiastic fans at the airport and it\'s been sunny since I arrived, so I think Shanghai welcomes me.

Daily News: You sang "Most Beloved" in the closing ceremony of the Shanghai TV Festival. Why did you choose to sing that in Shanghai?
Fukuyama Masaharu: In fact any song will do, but we did some homework beforehand that indicated "Most Beloved" is popular in Shanghai, so I chose it.

Daily News: Have you got any performance plans for the rest of 2012 that you can share with us?
Fukuyama Masaharu: At this point, no. In the next year, though, there will be a movie, but I can\'t tell you the name. I have also worked with the famous Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda on a new film. We worked well together on Suspect X five years ago and I hope this time to bring the new film to Shanghai International Film Festival.

Daily News: It seems that you haven\'t produced much in the past two years. Are you trying to slow down your pace or do you prefer to live a quieter life style?
Fukuyama Masaharu: It is because I am actually not only an actor, but I also produce songs. I am a musician who can write songs. I need to work on single songs, albums and concerts, as well as films and TV series, which in total have already doubled my work compared with my colleagues. I haven\'t intentionally reduced the production work, but I really cannot take too much time to act in more films and TV series.

Daily News: From Galileo to Ryomaden, you don\'t seem to have many romantic parts in TV series. Why is that?
Fukuyama Masaharu: It is not because I avoid romantic parts on purpose. Everybody thinks that I should try more of them after reaching the marrying age, but I don\'t have such luck. I\'d like to try more in the future.

Daily News: Do you plan to use this visit to Shanghai to branch out into the Chinese market?
Fukuyama Masaharu: I have always had a plan to do a concert in Shanghai. It\'s just a matter of time. I have worried about the popularity of my work in Shanghai in the past, but now that there are so many enthusiastic fans, I am very glad to return.

Daily News: Do you have any plans to cooperate with Chinese film-makers? Or do you have any suggestions for Chinese film-makers who want to get into the Japanese film market?
Fukuyama Masaharu: There should be no boundaries between nations in either music or films. You would limit yourself by developing a career in only your home country so in this sense I need to be more international. As for Chinese film-makers or musicians who want to go to Japan, my advice is to keep your own style as a Chinese musician, film-maker or actor/actress.

Daily News: Is there any Chinese director or actor/actress that you like most?
Fukuyama Masaharu: I have watched the films directed by Zhang Yimou. I think he is a fantastic director and I would like to get the chance to work with him. In the future I will look for more opportunities to come to China. I hope that more Chinese films and TV series can be recommended to me.