It’s a wonder how the worst student, which Takashi Miike fully admits he was, managed to get noticed by the right people in order to begin a career. Strange things happen sometimes it would seem, but they tend to do so in a way that benefits not just the individual but everyone that has anything to do with him as well. Takashi had the desire the race motorbikes when he was younger and yet went into directing when the time and opportunity came around. He fully admits that he was as undisciplined as they came and didn’t take anything seriously for a while, but looking at where he’s at now that seems hard to believe. He still has that same attitude that allows him to be loose and casual but at this point is one of the more influential directors in Japan.
How anyone comes from being so unmotivated for something to this level is amazing, but if it works then it works.
5. A lot of his films are based on violence and taboos.
Everyone’s got a hook and Takashi’s is to give people the very things they tend to move away from in real life. It seems more inclined to provide shock and awe but as we’ve seen over the past few decades and more that really does manage to draw a crowd no matter how bad it gets. A movie has to be pretty bad in order to not get noticed or gain attention.
4. His films usually have bizarre endings.
This is an interesting quirk in any film since it allows the director to put a genuine frown of confusion and sometimes anxiety on the face of the viewer. The goal of course isn’t to make them suffer a breakdown when they try to figure out what just happened, but instead get them to think about the many different reasons why such things happened and what they mean.
3. He speaks no English.
There’s no real need to learn a language unless you’re going to be interacting on a constant basis with those from other countries without a translator. Of course it might be difficult if there is no translator but so far Takashi has managed to get by pretty well. Some folks just don’t go in for learning another language in their life, as it might be seen as too difficult.
2. He had a cameo in Hostel.
This is the one time that he actually learned to speak just a little English. This was largely because he is a big admirer of Eli Roth’s and wanted to make the moment special. This exchange happened when Jay Hernandez’s character was about to walk into the site where the victims were taken and asked Takashi just what was in there. The cryptic answer was his only line.
1. He’s not a big fan of change.
Just like anyone else he knows it’s necessary to move forward but Takashi is determined to stay the same person he’s been all of his life. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it simply means that he doesn’t want to lose sight of who he is and what he does.
He’s an interesting man, that’s for sure.
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