After the Asian premiere of Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Inferno held last August 6 in SM Megamall,
the film's star Takeru Satoh also attended the public presscon of the movie
held the following day at the Glorietta center in Makati city along with
co-star Munetaka Aoki and director Keisho Otomo. Fans of the film waited
outside as early as 8 am even before the mall opened and reserved their spot
for the 6 pm event. Takeru arrived to hordes of screaming fans whom he greeted
in Tagalog, “Masaya ako nakita ko kayo!”
The 25-year-old Japanese actor reprises the role of Himura Kenshin, a former assassin who becomes a wanderer in the second installment of the Japanese live action film trilogy based on a popular manga and anime. Playing the role of the legendary swordsman, Takeru said is the most major role he has ever played and cannot think of what roles he wants to take on next. “Having been given this major role in my life, it's really difficult for me to think of what I can do next but if I were to wish something I would want to work again with director Otomo and create some great movies with him again,” he said through an interpreter.
Takeru also admitted that working on the Rurouni Kenshin movies and the fight scenes were a big challenge. “I got injured a lot of times so I really can't specify one (specific) incident. But my favorite battle scene would be in the Legend Ends and it's the last fight scene I had. That's really the part where I bring out everything out of all the scenes I have done. In the fight scene where I fight against Shishio that is something that you definitely have to watch out for,” he added.
Takeru also shared that the role also taught him a lesson he applies to himself. “In my daily life, with what I do when I'm not sure of my decision making, I always ask myself, 'If I was Kenshin what would I decide to do?' So he's already like someone that I respect and look up to and I refer to him my decisions in life,” he said.
Takeru said the movie teaches the viewers a better way to
live life. “It teaches the fact that you cannot really diminish or delete the
past. I'm going to dwell into something very philosophical, some people may say
just forget the past and just think it never happened but in my case I think
Kenshin still let the past influence his decisions in his life. I feel that it
is very admirable that he still remembers and looks back on his past and tried
to live a better life based on that past. For me and hopefully everyone can
also learn to live that way of looking at the past and living and moving
forward,” he explained.
Apart from the epic battle scenes, Takeru said the movie also showcases how beautiful the Japanese culture is. “We were putting that in mind and we wanted people to appreciate and understand something that is distinctively Japanese as a culture as we created this action movie for everyone to enjoy. “I hope that Rurouni Kenshin will pave the way for more and more Japanese movies to come to the Philippines. And with that I really hope that I could come back again to the Philippines,” he said.
Takeru said he was overwhelmed and shocked by the warm reception he received from all his Filipino fans who came to see him in person. “This is my first time to visit the country. I'm glad I came. I am now in love with the Philippines,” Satoh said during the Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno presscon.
Watch Takeru Satoh in Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno as it opens nationwide on August 20 and in The Legend Ends when it premieres September 24.