How many movies have you done, off the top of your head?

I think including T.V. movies about 50.

Can you think of any embarrassing moments on set?

Yeah, Rising Sun, when I was working with Sean Connery and you know how he's bigger than life?  So, I was talking to Wesley Snipes, in the scene, and I turned around, and Sean Connery was standing there right next to my face.  And, it just kind of shocked me I went ah! (makes shocked face).  And Wesley said "ah, no worries he does that to everybody."

What was it like working with Sean Connery?

He's, you know, one of those few real men left in Hollywood.  Not to say that get  'funny kine' men in Hollywood... so it was just good to work with one of the last real guys.

Do you have a favorite moment on the set?

You know, it was just generally working with him (Sean Connery)I knew it was real special because he's getting old too.  I think the best thing about my whole career is having worked with certain people and he was my favorite besides Peter O'Toole.

Where were you born?

Tokyo, Japan

Where were you raised?

Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina.  We spent two years here (Hawaii) when my brother was born.

Where was your dad from?

Here (Hawaii), Kalihi, Farrington.

Where was your mom from?

Tokyo

Anything else you can think of growing up?

Yeah, it was really strange growing up in Texas.  In the south, especially, because being the only Japanese around, it just really taught me to be proud of who I am and, you know, never back down from the racist sort of stuff.

So it seemed to have an empowering effect on you to be the only Japanese guy around?

Oh yeah, totally.  I had to.  It was either that or give up, and that's one thing... I was raised Japanese style, yeah?  It was like "never give up."  And so I was really clear that they weren't right (laughing).  If I thought they were right then I might have listened more.  But, not one time did I think anything they said was anything good or right.

Did moving around a lot inspire you to act?

It helped because you know, one thing that I heard from a casting director was that a lot of actors come from that kind of background "Army brats."  And it makes it easier 'cause we're kind of used to thinking on our feet, moving every two years, making new friends.  So, new situations it's kind of like a movie, yeah?   You get sort of the script and then you go work with people for two or three months and you get really close and then you leave.  So, something felt natural actually the moving helped.

Do you prefer doing t.v. series or movies?

Yeah... t.v. series what happens is you sort of lose your whole life.  You have no life if you do a series.  So, a movie is always more preferable, where you go for a certain time and then you go relax.  I think the only way I would do a series is if it was my own, I owned it and not only acted as a lead but produced it and it was in Hawaii.  Otherwise, it's not really worth it.

Have you produced any movies?

Yeah, "Balls of Fury" that was the most recent.

Are you interested writing?

Um, always have a lot of ideas but I'm looking more for people to write my ideas rather than me.

How about directing?

Directing takes too much time to think about it for the next, I don't know, quite a while because I have too many other interests.  So, it's too much time really to devote for one thing.

Interview Continued Below....

We talked about embarrassing moments, but do you have a worst moment?

It was pretty awful one time when they changed the order of the scenes from a day the next day to the next scene and I wasn't ready because I hate not to be prepared and I hate not to be in control, so those two things.  In fact, what I learned from it was instead of really letting it shake you, just to go with it and relax behind not having control all the time.  Then, I started practicing being totally out of control which was to not be prepared you know, like especially on Nash Bridges I watched Don Johnson and he never really prepares.  He kind of just comes on to the scene and he kind of reads and plays with it and then he kind of fakes it and I thought, that's kind of interesting.  I never did that before so I tried it and I got used to it.  What it does is it makes it more fresh.

So, is that how you do it now?

Sometimes.  More times than not.  Part of it, I hate to say, is because I'm not as excitedly interested as I was in the beginning and so it kind of works for this moment.  But if it was something really important I would certainly prepare a lot more.

Do you ever plan on retiring from acting?

Um... wow.  I can see a time when that would happen.  Although, I think I'll always be involved somehow.  I almost feel like a responsibility not to (retire).  Only because there are so few Asian-American actors that are known globally and so I feel kind of, I don't know it's kind of like old school Japanese style where you don't want to give up the position until somebody... you either train somebody to take your place or somebody really is qualified to take your place.

You got to work with Ken Watanabe in "Memoirs of a Geisha," he seems like the current go to guy when a male Japanese actor is needed, what's your take on him?

He's really a great actor.  He mostly came from a t.v. background and he's well qualified to play any kine role.  I know he's played really heavy, you know, he's played good guys, bad guys.  So, he has the qualifications but the good thing for me in my career about Ken Watanabe is that he'll get the parts that require Japanese.  I'd rather have it be that way.  I certainly don't have to speak with an accent%u2026it's not a role or category that really is available right now, but because of the amount of time that I've been speaking accents and playing in films, for twenty years, I think I have a shot to bring a new Asian-American kind of character.  And I really want to make him local I think even more so than playing Asian-American from the mainland, you know, I more interested in playing a local guy.

You had mentioned before that working with the powerful actresses on "Memoirs (of a Geisha)" such as Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Li Gong, was kind of intimidating

Especially when you know they can kick your butt... nah.  But, they had a kind of intensity that I hadn't felt from American actors, male or female.  And, to have them all in one place, I really felt sort of outgunned.  I felt, actually, in one way really comfortable because I'm kind that way, intense and ready for anything.  But, it was kind of a trip to be with all three of them in one place.  I'd like to work with them individually.

Do you have any ideas or advice on how we can get more filming projects in Hawaii?

You know, they seem to be coming whether we try to or not.  At this moment, there seems to be a flood of independent films finally coming in%u2026some important and some totally worthless, meaningless kind of junk.  But that's, you know, that's always the pattern.  This act 221 is finally kicking in and local rich people are realizing the tax breaks and stuff.  So, that's the first rush of stuff and in the meantime not only films are being made like that but I think the technology is coming so that we can do our own a lot cheaper.  I'm looking certainly in that independent direction and using 221 and hooking up, trying to support anyone I can who's already using that format.  I'm excited about the prospects, they're really, really good.

What about advice for aspiring local actors?  Should they stay here or go to the mainland?

You know, um, I'd say there's a big difference between men and women because women have a bit of a shorter shelf-life because of their looks and age and that kind of stuff.  Men don't, so I would say for men it's a little easier not to go over than it is for women.  And at the same time, whatever the case, whether you make it or not over there still the roles are not all that great.   It's really about developing your craft so if you find that you can develop your craft here then I would say stay.  One big thing about Hollywood is that it's overrated and it's dying right now.

A lot of filming seems to be going overseas?

Oh yeah, way over seas.  And people need our kind of stories, stuff that isn't typically white-bred and Hollywood.  So we do need to, although I just told you I don't write anything, but we need to as actors create our own stories and characters.  Especially here (Hawaii), there are so many different possibilities and choke projects that could happen.

What movie or movies do you think you're most recognized for?

Rising Sun, Mortal Kombat, American Me.

Interview Continued Below...

Do you have a favorite movie that you've worked on?

Yeah, actually the most fun I had was on Disney's "Johnny Tsunami."

Speaking of that, your latest project is the sequel to "Johnny Tsunami", can you tell us about that?

It's where Johnny grows up and goes off to college.  He becomes the wise one in this one and has a little step-brother and becomes kind of like his mentor.  This one is about mountain boarding.

You created your own martial art called Chu Shiin.  Can you talk about that a bit?

It means center or core and it's really a system developed from leaving fighting martial arts.  And, I wanted to find something 'cause I knew the way the fighting was going to go.  Everyone was going to be fighting over what system is best and I wasn't interested in fighting over somebody else's system.  I'm the kind of guy that's always into creating my own thing.  What I came up with is an idea, kind of looking forward, that if I had a style that everyone could study then that's the direction that I would want to go.  That's what Chu Shiin is all about.  It's about learning principles of centering, of balance, of breathing, concentration all the things that you would think are naturally part of the arts.  But, most teachers either don't know it or don't teach it.  This whole system is devoted to the essence of the feeling that you need to do martial arts without the fighting aspect of it.

There was an interview with you talking about the healing aspects of martial arts

Especially when I first started there weren't things like chi gong and tai chi and yoga(they) were kind of new.  I think there's such a need right now to understand that martial arts is both sides and that all martial artists in my estimation should be studying some form of healing just to balance their own energy.  Otherwise, it's all about aggression or defensiveness.  So, healing really kind of spreads that energy out to balance sort of conflict energy in your head.

Are you still living in Hawaii?

Actually, I just left Kauai and I'm staying sort of temporarily in Honolulu.  I don't know where the next move is going to be but I'm certainly always going to keep my foot here.

What made you move to Hawaii originally?  I believe it was in '93?

Yeah '93.  It was always really clear in my mind that I was going to move to Kauai and that started in '82.  I was walking down the Na Pali Coast and I said, "someday, I'm going to live here."  In '92, during the Rodney King riots in L.A., I said "this it, we're going."  So, I really didn't care what was going to happen with my career.  I just had to get my family to a safe place.  I really pushed and made a lot of effort to get to Kauai and never regretted being there.  It's sad to let it go (and move to L.A.) right now but it was for a lot of good reasons and so my son could go to college in California.  I'll be back to Kauai.  Right now it's kind of temporary on Oahu and it doesn't feel like home.  It doesn't really feel much like Hawaii on this side of the rock (smiles).

Do you having any passions or projects outside of acting?

Yes, teaching martial arts, training for sports, and athletes like I did with U.H. called Ninjah Sportz (www.ninjahsportz.com).  That's my next biggest passion.  I want to get that out and I want it to represent Hawaii.

Do you have anything you want to say to all of the Just808 folks?

Yeah, it's part of the principles of Ninjah Sportz, and not only to athletes but I think to all local kids.  One thing that we don't want to lose when we're moving head-long into this sort of hyped up junk, of which I'm a part of because of Hollywood Hollywood has to be at the peak of that junk so, don't forget the local principles of humility, heart and honor.  Otherwise, we'll be as bad off as they are.  I think it's worth really paying attention to that and really making sure that we instill that in each other.  It's not like adults instilling that in kids, the kids have to instill that in themselves, we don't always get the best direction from adults.  In that way, for kids, it's like you are your own hero.  You're making your own destiny, you're on your own in that way.  And, I say, more power to people who think differently.  Don't be a follower, be a leader.  That doesn't mean you have to lead other people, but be a leader in your own life and your own destiny.  Always be looking for new ideas and be open-minded.  Try to have tolerance and learn about yourself.  To know yourself is really the most important thing, so that you don't get out of control, because I certainly lived a lot of my life being out of control.  But the principles of humility, heart and honor are really what brought me back to the center.  Everybody has to find their own style of doing that but those three principles are something that I'm always pushing.

Thanks for sitting down with us Cary, do you having any parting things to say?

It's like Shang Tsung said ,"it has begun!"  The second half is going to be better than the first.

Slaughter (2009) .... Takako

Hype Nation (2009)

Hachiko: A Dog's Story (2008) .... Ken

Tekken (2009) .... Heihachi Mishima

Po veleniyu Chingiskhana (2008) .... Bodyguard(Russia)
... aka By the Will of Chingis Khan (International: English title)
... aka By the Will of Ghenghis Khan (International: English title)

Bodyguard: A New Beginning (2008) .... Kai

Duel of Legends (2009) .... Shing

Ghost Voyage (2008) (TV) .... The Steward

Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia (2008) .... Len Burris

Lost Warrior: Left Behind (2008) (V) .... Detective Yoshida

"Heroes" .... The Swordsmith (2 episodes, 2007)
... aka Heroes: Villains (USA: promotional title)
Chapter Seven 'Out of Time' (2007) TV episode .... The Swordsmith
Chapter Six 'The Line' (2007) TV episode .... The Swordsmith

Balls of Fury (2007) .... Mysterious Asian Man

Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board (2007) (TV) .... Grandpa Johnny Tsunami

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2007) (V) (voice) .... Brushogun

Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007) .... Alibek

"Beyond the Break" .... Xander (1 episode)

Cast Away (????) TV episode .... Xander

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) .... The Baron

The Sand Island Drive-In Anthem (2005) .... Uncle C

True Love & Mimosa Tea (2005) .... Andreas Kanaka

Faith of My Fathers (2005) (TV) .... Cat

Elektra (2005) .... Roshi

Bushido (2004) (V) .... Tetsuji

"Hawaii" (2004) TV series .... Captain Terry Harada (unknown episodes)

Fallacy (2004)

Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003) (VG) (voice) .... Sin Tzu

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003) (TV) (as Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa) .... Mason Sato

Planet of the Apes (2001) .... Krull

Pearl Harbor (2001) .... Cmdr. Minoru Genda
... aka Pearl Harbour (UK: promotional title)

The Ghost (2001) (as Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa) .... Chang
... aka Code of the Dragon (USA: cable TV title)

The Art of War (2000) .... David Chan
... aka Art de la guerre, L' (Canada: French title)

"Walker, Texas Ranger" .... Master Ko (1 episode, 2000)
... aka Walker (Australia)

Black Dragons (2000) TV episode .... Master Ko

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999) .... Zenhichi Miyamoto

Johnny Tsunami (1999) (TV) .... Johnny Tsunami

Bridge of Dragons (1999) .... Ruechang

"Seven Days" .... Peter (1 episode, 1999)
... aka Seven Days: The Series

Walter (1999) TV episode .... Peter

NetForce (1999) (TV) .... Leong Cheng

Fixations (1999) .... Alex

American Dragons (1998) .... Matsuyama
... aka Double Edge (USA: video title)

"Vengeance Unlimited" .... Aung Myint (1 episode, 1998)
... aka Mr. Chapel

Ambition (1998) TV episode .... Aung Myint

Assignment Berlin (1998)
... aka Babyhandel Berlin - Jenseits aller Skrupel (Germany: TV title)

"Poltergeist: The Legacy" .... Sam Tanaka (1 episode, 1998)

The Internment (1998) TV episode .... Sam Tanaka

Provocateur (1998) .... Captain Jong
... aka Agent provocateur (Canada: English title: video title)

Vampires (1998) .... David Deyo
... aka John Carpenter's Vampires (USA: complete title)
... aka Vampire$ (USA)

"Stargate SG-1" .... Turghan (1 episode, 1997)
... aka Porte des étoiles, La (Canada: French title: dubbed version)

Emancipation (1997) TV episode .... Turghan

"Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" .... King Young-Jin (1 episode, 1997)

The Little Mermaid (1997) TV episode (voice) .... King Young-Jin

Soldier Boyz (1997) (VG) .... Vinh Moc

Danger Zone (1997) .... Monsieur Chang

Top of the World (1997/I) .... Captain Hefter
... aka Cold Cash
... aka Showdown

"Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" .... Tai Wei Tse (1 episode, 1996)
... aka Sabrina (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Sabrina Goes to College (USA: promotional title)

Sweet & Sour Victory (1996) TV episode .... Tai Wei Tse

"Nash Bridges" .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura (9 episodes, 1996)
... aka Bridges
Zodiac (1996) TV episode .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura
Night Train (1996) TV episode .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura
Trackdown (1996) TV episode .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura
The Great Escape (1996) TV episode .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura
Vanishing Act (1996) TV episode .... Lt. A.J. Shimamura

"Cybill" .... Kenji (1 episode, 1996)

Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan (1996) TV episode .... Kenji

The Phantom (1996) .... The Great Kabai Sengh

White Tiger (1996) .... Victor Chow

Soldier Boyz (1996) .... Vinh Moc

"Babylon 5" .... Morishi (1 episode, 1995)
... aka B5 (USA: promotional abbreviation)

Convictions (1995) TV episode .... Morishi

Mortal Kombat (1995) .... Shang Tsung

Thunder in Paradise 3 (1995) (V) .... Mason Lee

Picture Bride (1994) .... Kanzaki
... aka Bijo photo (Japan)

Day of Reckoning (1994/I) (TV) .... Prakit

Natural Causes (1994) .... Major Somchai

The Dangerous (1994) .... Kon
... aka Divine Wind (USA: alternative title)

Rising Sun (1993) .... Eddie Sakamura

Nemesis (1993) .... Angie-Liv

"Space Rangers" .... Zylyn (4 episodes, 1993)
Fort Hope (1993) TV episode .... Zylyn
Death Before Dishonor (1993) TV episode .... Zylyn
Banshies (1993) TV episode .... Zylyn
The Replacements (1993) TV episode .... Zylyn

"Renegade" .... Hirotaka (1 episode, 1993)

Samurai (1993) TV episode .... Hirotaka

"Raven" .... Osato / ... (2 episodes, 1992)

Reunion (1992) TV episode .... Osato

Return of the Black Dragon (1992) TV episode .... Osatso

American Me (1992) .... El Japo

"Baywatch" .... Mason Sato (1 episode, 1992)
... aka Baywatch Hawaii (USA: new title)

War of Nerves (1992) TV episode .... Mason Sato

Raven: Return of the Black Dragons (1992) (TV) .... Osato

Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (1991) (TV) .... Hashimoto
... aka Mission of the Shark

Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991) .... Funekei Yoshida

The Perfect Weapon (1991) .... Kai

Not of This World (1991) (TV) .... Shikido

Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991) .... Sanga

Vestige of Honor (1990) (TV) .... Thai Major

The Bakery (1990) (TV) .... Kim Lee

"Hardball" (1 episode, 1990)

Wedding Bell Blues (1990) TV episode

"Jake and the Fatman" .... Raymond (1 episode, 1990)

Chinatown, My Chinatown (1990) TV episode .... Raymond

Murder in Paradise (1990) (TV)

"Mission: Impossible" .... Vang Kai (1 episode, 1989)

Countdown (1989) TV episode .... Vang Kai

"Alien Nation" .... Yamato (1 episode, 1989)

The First Cigar (1989) TV episode .... Yamato

Coastwatcher (1989) .... Imperial Marine
... aka The Last Warrior (USA)

"A Peaceable, Kingdom" .... Coach (1 episode)
Chimp (????) TV episode .... Coach

L.A. Takedown (1989) (TV) .... Hugh Denny
... aka Crimewave (USA)
... aka L.A. Crimewave

Licence to Kill (1989) .... Kwang

"Moonlighting" .... Artist (1 episode, 1989)

Perfetc (1989) TV episode .... Artist

"Knots Landing" .... Mr. Toyo (1 episode, 1989)

Giganticus II: The Revenge (1989) TV episode .... Mr. Toyo

"Superboy" .... Detective Jed Slade (1 episode, 1989)
... aka The Adventures of Superboy (USA: new title)
Terror from the Blue (1989) TV episode .... Detective Jed Slade

"Miami Vice" .... Kenji Fujitsu / ... (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Asian Cut (1989) TV episode .... Tegoro
The Rising Sun of Death (1987) TV episode .... Kenji Fujitsu

Twins (1988/I) .... Oriental Man

Spellbinder (1988) .... Lt. Lee

Bulletproof (1988) (uncredited) .... Thug in Flashback

"Hotel" .... Inspector Chin (1 episode, 1988)
... aka Arthur Hailey's Hotel

Double Take (1988) TV episode .... Inspector Chin

The Last Emperor (1987) (as Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa) .... Chang
... aka Dernier empereur, Le (France)
... aka Modai huangi (China: Cantonese title)
... aka Ultimo imperatore, L' (Italy)

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" .... Mandarin Bailiff (1 episode, 1987)
... aka Star Trek: TNG (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Encounter at Farpoint: Part 1 (1987) TV episode (as Cary-Hiroyuki) .... Mandarin Bailiff

"MacGyver" .... Asian Buyer (1 episode, 1987)

Dalton, Jack of Spies (1987) TV episode .... Asian Buyer

Armed Response (1986) (as Cary Tagana) .... Toshi
... aka Jade Jungle