I think the reason why I have so many movies to my credit is that I never say no to any project, I never veto anything. I sort of challenge myself to….

Filmmaking is not a balancing act, although some directors think it is. I don't believe in it. I like ups and downs. They're the best way to translat….

The reason I like incorporating the Yakuza into my movies - all their actions, everything they do, you can say 'It's ok because he's a Yakuza'. Chang….

When you are completely satisfied with what you have made, you're pretty much done as a director. So when that happens, that'll sort of be the end..

I don't know if I would call it therapy, but filmmaking is really the only thing I know how to do. For me, making movies is a way to bring on change ….

I believe that every director's films reflect their lifestyle..

I don't think about the audience, I don't think about what makes them happy, because there's no way for me to know. To try to think of what makes for….

You can't really make something or make a movie and feel all through the process that it's a painful thing. It's not possible to do that..

For me, trying to expand the energy to make one movie in Hollywood would be the equivalent in terms of energy to making 10 movies in Japan..

It's not really important to make skillful movies. I think expressing yourself really well, skill-wise, is not as important. I want it to be sort of ….

I go to the dentist, not a shrink..

I'm not a big fan of violent movies, it's not something I like to watch. And it's not my aim or goal to make a violent movie. My characters are very ….

Everyone has complexes about their body or their ability and skills and dream of a rebirth into something different. I myself have always had that se….

I believe that when people try to live their life at the fullest, there's a certain laughter that comes out of it. The more they try to live their li….

As a filmmaker, you've got to have a nose for what's going on culturally. You have to feel it. It doesn't have to be manga or music, but you need som….

In terms of making TV drama, not everything has to make sense. In cinema, you usually strive for reality and a natural environment, but in TV, it's m….

You can't really change somebody completely, deep inside your nature. But I think what I did was admit to myself what kind of a person I was, and sor….

If you're trying to be realistic and bring real life to the screen, you are going to have different elements. That's what I'm trying to do. As I make….

Bigger-budgeted films have more restrictions and less freedom to create. Because of this, I try to find freedom in the people I work with. I often wo….

In Japan, violence isn't as controversial as it is in the West. Pornography is more restricted, but it's not hard to make a crazy, extremely violent ….

And if I'm running away from something, I try to make myself face it and overcome that initial fear. As a director, I don't think it's possible to ma….