Tagawa’s Latest

Honolulu-based actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa knows a lightning rod when he sees it. The new film “Memoirs of a Geisha,” in which Tagawa plays the virile but oh-so-sukebe (somewhat pervy) “Ba-ron,” will likely qualify.

Tagawa says the film is faithful to Arthur Gordon’s original novel about a girl who becomes one of the most famous geisha of the 1930s – and that will be enough to draw the ire of those who view the film as “a story about child prostitution.”

Tagawa also predicts others will object to the all-star trio of Chinese actresses who play lead roles as Japanese characters. The film stars Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li.

Yet while their Chinese mannerisms may be apparent to a discerning eye, the three actresses acquitted themselves well in roles that were particularly challenging, Tagawa said.

Tagawa’s scene with Zhang was itself difficult. It called for Zhang, playing the 14-year-old lead character, to stand still as Tagawa undressed her.

But Zhang balked, saying she couldn’t imagine herself not fighting back. Director Rob Marshall tweaked the scene to make it more palatable to Zhang, but without turning it into what Tagawa feared – “a rape scene.”

The film will be released this winter, in time for Oscar consideration. It’s that good, Tagawa said, regardless of the criticism it draws.

“It has the feel of an independent art film but with a Hollywood budget,” he said. “Cinematically, it’s a work of art.”