<Note:  We have translated the following articles to help English speaking reader understand Sanada-san better.  The accuracy of the translation is not guaranteed.  No copyright infringement is intended.>

May 7, 2004
http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2004-05-07/1006383136.html

<Translation from Chinese to English is done by Feline on Aurora’s Fanlist.  Big thanks to Feline and Aurora!>

Perhaps influenced by the friendliness of the people in Yunnan, yesterday the work unit finally allowed reporters to have an interview with Sanada san for 5 minutes. Although it's only 5 minutes, it is already very generous as the work unit has always been very strict. It is very precious since it is the first time for an interview with Sanada san after he arrived China and it's the first time for the main cast to tell their thoughts.

(Reporters as R; Sanada san as S)
R: This is your first time to Yunnan, how do you feel?
S: Very happy and blessed. The vegetable (food) here is very nice, which I've never seen before. The most unforgettable is the scenery of the journey from Kunming to Yuan Mou (both in Yunnan, west China). Made me have a "missing" feeling.

R: Why did you use the term "missing"?
S: Because the villages and field scenery along the road are so similar to the ones in Japan. Especially for the roofs of some houses, it's exactly the same as Japan's! It's a surprise and very excited! Here, I can deeply feel the culture passed from China a long long time ago that still being kept in Japan nowadays.

R: Does this make you miss Home?
S: No, I just especially want to grasp the true real feeling here and go back to tell them.

R: This is your first time to work with Chen Kaige. How did he make you feel?
S: I'm very delightful and happy with him. He's a very creative director. Although his ideas on the script is already very explicit, there are often many extemporaneous thoughts and ideas on the set. This makes us very excited.

R: Is the relationship with Cecilia Cheung, Nicholas Tse and Jang Dong Kun and other main cast harmonious? How do you see them?
S: The communication and exchange with them are very good. During resting time, we'll go to play ping-pong (table tennis), have meals together. The coordination is very good. Before I came to China, I've seen the films they starred in and they are outstanding actors. For each of them, the films they made in their home country all have a lot of "taste/flavour" (sorry I don't know how to translate);but in this movie, we have to face the challenges that have never done before. And what's more special for me, is that this is the first film I'll use Chinese (mandarin) dialogue.

R: Your Chinese progress a lot?
S: (Use standard Mandarin unexpectedly, makes reporters all laugh) A bit.

R: The wife of Chen Kaige has the beauty of oriental ladies. What's she like in your eyes?
S: After coming to China, I often see her on tv, feel she's a very famous actress. She's beautiful, but on the set, she's very serious into work and I admires her.

R: <Wuji> has been in the spotlight of all media in China right after it started shooting. But because of the blockade by the work unit, reporters have been trying all kinds of method to search densely on any information. This makes both parties very tiring. Will you come across such cases when filming in China? How do you see such phenomenon?
S: Sometimes same occurs in Japan. I have no particular feeling towards this. It's only an arrangement by the work unit. If it's a time for interview, I'll definitely take part.

R: Having been in China for so long now, how do you kill time apart from filming?
S: Learning Chinese, doing exercise to keep the body fit. I have fighting scenes in the film so it's very important to keep the body healthy.

R: Do you have much share of the shooting in Yunnan?
S: There are 12 scenes in Yuan Mou. Will be more in Xiang Ge Li La ("Shangri La", north of Yunnan). I yearned for the place. I heard it's a mysterious and mystical place.