We recently connected with Taiju Nakane and have shared our conversation below.

Taiju, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

There are two major risks I’ve ever taken. The first was leaving behind my career in Japan and moving to New York to start over. I began acting as a child, mostly in TV series, but during college, I had the opportunity to be part of an NYU grad school film called A Warm Spell, which was shot in Japan. That experience was a turning point for me. The film ended up being nominated and winning awards at various film festivals, and it introduced me to the way films were made in the U.S. I was fascinated by the director’s approach and the energy on set, which were completely different from what I had experienced in Japan. That’s when I realized that if I moved to the U.S., I could be part of more projects like this and learn new techniques. Even though I didn’t speak English at all, I decided to take the leap and move.

I didn’t have much of a plan—just three months of language school and a shared apartment. I thought I could figure things out once I arrived. But when I got there, I immediately struggled. I didn’t understand basic phrases like “go ahead,” which confused people, and my pronunciation was so poor that people couldn’t understand me when I said “Hollywood.” I once ordered coffee at a café and ended up with orange juice and tea instead. I still don’t know how that happened. Adjusting to life in the U.S., especially with the language barrier, was incredibly tough. Acting seemed out of reach for a while, but somehow, I managed to get by for three years.

The second big risk came when I applied for a work visa. The application process was exhausting—both financially and mentally. It took nearly two years of preparation, and when I finally applied, it was rejected. At that point, I had almost no money left and considered returning to Japan. But thanks to some key connections I made, I decided to try one more time. I used the last of my savings to reapply, and fortunately, the second attempt was approved. That risk paid off, and now I’m fortunate to be working on meaningful projects, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Even today, I still face language barriers, and the challenges I’ve experienced were much tougher than I ever imagined. Honestly, if I’d known how difficult it would be, I might not have taken that leap. But at the same time, I wouldn’t have gained the skills and relationships that have shaped my career.

It’s easy to research everything and try to avoid mistakes. But I think there’s value in trusting your instincts, even when you don’t have all the information. If you already know you might get hurt or struggle, you might take a detour. But if you take the tough path, you might meet a savior or find a hidden shortcut. It’s when you face the unexpected that you truly grow, and taking those risks is what pushes you to levels you never thought possible.

Taiju, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born and raised in Tokyo. When I was four, I started learning acting, just like the other kids around me who were starting soccer or piano lessons. My film debut was in After the Rain, a movie written by Akira Kurosawa and directed by Takashi Koizumi. Since then, I’ve appeared in TV series, films, and commercials. One of my major projects after moving to New York was as the lead in The Chicken, directed by Neo Sora. It had its world premiere at the Locarno International Film Festival and went on to screen at festivals worldwide, including the New York Film Festival and AFI Fest. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Sundance Institute Directors Lab in 2022 as an actor for Neo Sora’s project.

I love acting because it’s a great way to learn about people and the world. When I engage in a project and develop a character, I get to explore various topics—like history, culture, social issues, and experiences I haven’t encountered in my everyday life. As a storyteller, I find it rewarding to become part of a narrative and share that with the audience through my performance.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is diving into themes like social issues and war. I want to use my platform as an actor to spread messages of peace and understanding. I’ve been interested in the theme of war since childhood. I spent a lot of time at the library reading about it and often chose war as the topic for my school projects. My grandfather served as a kamikaze pilot during World War II, which adds a personal connection to this theme. I truly believe storytelling can help build empathy and awareness, and I’m eager to be part of projects that inspire positive change.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve faced a lot of rejection, having been through countless auditions. Over time, I’ve built a strong tolerance for stress. When things are out of my control, I try not to dwell on them—I’ll take a bath or get some exercise to clear my mind.

But when it came to my visa application, it felt like a never-ending struggle. I even lost sleep, wandering the streets at night. During the pandemic, projects were canceled, and I couldn’t make any progress because of visa issues. That’s when I realized I couldn’t do it all alone. I started reaching out for help, leaning on friends and connections for advice. They introduced me to people who could help, and I managed to find solutions I never would’ve thought of.

The biggest lesson? Knowing when to stop doing everything myself and seek help. That’s how I’ve been able to push through difficult times.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taijunakane.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taiju_nakane/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taijyu.nakane/
• Other: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3700796/
  MUBI https://mubi.com/en/cast/taiju-nakane

Image Credits

Tess Ayano, Neo Sora and Kei Osada.