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Interview with Samurai Actor Keita Arai

Today, I would like to introduce you all to someone very special... If you've been following my blog, you know I'm very passionate about Japanese culture, and you also know that I am fascinated by historical Japan, and Samurai. So, it's with great pleasure that I give the warmest of welcomes to Samurai actor Keita Arai!

Welcome to my blog, Keita-san! Could you please introduce yourself and tell Life is a Box of Mochi readers a little bit about what you do? 

Hi everyone, my name is Keita and I am a Samurai actor. I'm hoping to share what I'm learning about Japanese culture and what I'm feeling right now with you all!

What made you decide to become specifically a Samurai actor? 

At first, to broaden my range of roles as an actor. Above all, I started learning about samurai and traditional Japanese arts in order to become an actor who can work not only in Japan, but also internationally. I believe knowing one own's culture is a strength as an actor.

I’ve always been interested in historical eras and, after becoming passionate about Japanese culture, I’ve been looking into the Edo period and Samurai, and my favourite film franchise about Samurai is Rurouni Kenshin. What other films would you recommend to someone who wishes to expand their Samurai studies?

I like Rurouni Kenshin too. It's got a solid historical background, but it's also fused with a shonen battle manga!

I really like the drama Ryoma Den by Keishi Otomo, who is also the director of the film Rurouni Kenshin. I have been attracted to Sakamoto Ryoma since I was a boy and went on a solo trip to Kochi when I was a student.

Although I don't know what happened back then, I find Akira Kurosawa's films convincing, making me wonder what it must have been like in the days of the Samurai.

Hirokazu Kore-eda's Hana yori mo nah is a so-called period drama! It didn't feel like a period drama, which was a shock to me at the time. I love the emotional atmosphere.

The Twilight Samurai also reminds me to live life to the fullest, and to do my best in my daily life.

Would you rather be a Samurai hero or a Samurai villain?

Both roles are attractive, but I often lean more towards villains. Understanding how and why they are evil is what draws me to them.

You have a YouTube channel where you share Samurai training videos (which are very fascinating to watch, by the way). Other than this, do you also do in-person classes?

Yes, I do. I'm still working on my training, but recently I've been practising face-to-face as well. I think it is a learning experience for me to further teach what I have been taught. I would like to transmit this further in the future, especially to people around the world.

Samurai training requires a lot of discipline. How long have you been developing your martial art skills? 

I have been training for about 8 years in Chinese martial arts, sword fighting for movies, Iaido, and also other types of swordsmanship.

You also specialise in the art of Kado (Japanese Flower Arrangement). Why do you think this is an important aspect in Japanese culture in connection with the art of Samurai?

I think it is important for actors to be exposed to different kinds of art and to have sensitivity. The reason for this was my mother's love of flowers, so there were flowers around me a lot. In addition to that, I wanted to find a new sensibility that I didn't realise I had. I also recently received a diploma in the art of Kado.

Keita Arai specialises in the art of Kado (Japanese Flower Arrangement)
Image credit: Keita Arai

How did you get into your acting career?

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted a job where I would spend most of my life doing something I absolutely loved! I started acting as soon as I graduated from university because I used to love watching films and thought "it's so cool to be a character in a story". I'm working hard to become one of Japan's leading actors!

You starred in a recently released film called In Another Language, which has just finished its one-week screening. What was your role, and how was the experience for you?

My role is as the heroine's boyfriend, and despite the fact that we are talking about the Corona disaster, it is a very entertaining film. It's going to be available to watch abroad too, so do check it out!

One-Coin English Cafés are a good way for Japanese people to practice their English. Have you ever been to one? And what do you do to practice your English?

I have a routine of doing online English conversations first thing in the morning. Other than that, I also have training in acting in English. I would like to improve my level by communicating more and more.

Are there any other projects you are currently working on?

I was recently contacted by my agent to see if I could be cast in a Hollywood movie! It's my first time filming abroad. You can look forward to a full-fledged global expansion!

What is a typical day in your life like?

I like to learn something every day, so I will practice or film something with other actor friends.

Do you have any hobbies that are not exclusively related to your work?

Most of them might be related to work. However, there is a lot to learn in flower arrangement and tea ceremony and, although there is a hard aspect, I find it calming. The masters are also very kind, which may be the reason why I can continue with them.

Is there anything else you would like to share with Life is a Box of Mochi readers, and with foreigners who want to enrich their knowledge of Japanese culture?

Thank you for reading our interview. There are many things you can learn with low hurdles, so please come and experience Japanese culture in Japan! I'll do my best to bring the right kind of Japanese culture to the world too!

Keita Arai

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6225569/
Website: https://keitaarai.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samurai_actor_arayan
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/KeitaAraiSamurai
Black Belt Interview: https://blackbeltmag.com/keita-arai


*All images and video belong to Keita Arai

5 Things I Want to Experience When I Am in Japan

Japan offers plenty of activities for people to take part in whether in group or alone and, since I became passionate about Japanese culture, my list of things I'd like to do once I'm there has been growing a lot, to the point that I decided to share some of the items in my list with you. Obviously there is so much one can think of while being in another country, and I am 100% sure once I am there I will discover a whole new list of things that I want to do. 

I've recommended books about Japanese culture, I've talked about some Japanese cities I'd like to visit, and now I'll share 5 things I want to experience when I am in Japan. 

Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine

Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine
Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

I absolutely make no mystery—when talking about Japan—that one of the things I want to experience is to visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Besides being enamoured with Kyoto as a whole, shrines are one of the things I love most about Japan, so how can I miss one of the most famous? 

I also have this kind of personal goal that I would love to go through ALL the gates. It may not mean a lot to others but, since I am not a sporty person and therefore not very good with physical activity, I feel like this would be a big accomplishment for me. 

Izakaya Hopping

Izakaya Hopping
Photo by natsuki on Unsplash

Now, I have to admit that I am not a massive drinker, so perhaps this may sound a bit strange to you. However, it doesn't mean that I don't enjoy drinking. I also have to admit that it's because of the Ryu Ga Gotoku (known in the West as Yakuza) video games that I've gotten quite interested in Izakayas. 

I also feel they give a nice atmosphere of people bonding and enjoying themselves over drinks, so it's something that I would love to experience at least once. One way or another, I will have my Yamazaki 12!! 

See a Kabuki Play

See a Kabuki Play
Photo by Susann Schuster on Unsplash

Seeing a Kabuki play is one of the 5 things I want to experience when I am in Japan. I've always low-key been interested in theatrical shows and, since this historical type of Japanese dance-drama dates all the way back to the Edo period—my favourite—it's something that is definitely high on my list. 

Attend a Japanese Wagashi Class

Attend a Japanese Wagashi Class
Photo by Vicky Ng on Unsplash

To embrace every aspect of Japanese culture, one other thing that I would like to do is to attend a Wagashi class. I've always wanted to attend a cooking class in general, but when it comes to Japan, one of those I'd be interested in trying the most is the Wagashi class. Don't they look great? It'd be lovely to learn how to make them!

For those who aren't familiar with this, Wagashi—otherwise known as 和菓子—are traditional Japanese confections that are served with green tea. You will likely see these being served during a Japanese tea ceremony. 

Go Hiking

Go Hiking
Photo by Tony Everitt

Like I've stated before, I am not a very sporty—nor outdoorsy—person, and due to some personal health issues I kind of struggle a little with physical activity (as in I'm limited and have to be very careful with what I can do). However, since I've gotten an interest in Japan, I've made no mystery that I would be very open to trying new things, especially when it comes to being out and about. 

Japan has so many wonderful nature spots, so much so that one of the things I'm keeping high on my list is that I'd like to go hiking. And it makes me ever more excited to give it a go knowing that I can combine physical activity with a little bit of Japanese history. How, you ask? By joining a guided heritage hiking tour of the Old Tokaido Highway, of course! Renowned travel expert Tony Everitt founded HIKE Hakone Hachiri in 2020, providing hiking tours to international visitors along the old Tokaido. Hakone Hachiri is a 32-km section of the old highway from Odawara through the mountainous Hakone Pass to Mishima. 

If this sounds familiar to you, it's because it's a setting in the well-acclaimed novel by James Clavell, Shōgun—which I've mentioned in my last post. This makes me extremely happy, because there are different tours one can join (from single-day to five-day trips) and I genuinely can't wait to do them all!


Have you taken part in any of the activities I mentioned today? If so, let me know your experience in the comments, or tell me which one of these you would like to try!

次回まで。♥
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ABOUT ME

Hi, I'm Fran!

I'm a Content writer & huge tea lover, currently self-studying Japanese. I can also be found gaming, watching Asian dramas, or Japanese period films.

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