I think I actually enjoy practicing now more than seven years ago because you're really doing something totally specific.

237

He's just so much a master of the material, and that's also based on the deep knowledge of the jazz world, of the American musical theater. By having had such a wide and deep history in all these different musical genres he can pick and choose at any moment what needs to be and it's always organic, it's always him, because all of these worlds are a part of him.

165

Early on he was thinking somehow in the recesses of his mind that 'Hey, maybe we should do that,' and I know he was interested in the possibility of setting the book to music.

158

He made a score that in some ways is very spare, which fits with the period that is represented in the film, which is actually a unique period in Japanese history because it was a period of transition. Hence, you have all these instruments in transition as well.

156

Our (nation's) cultural strength has always been derived from our diversity of understanding and experience.

155

It was just so sweet. It was personally sweet but what he did was actually emotionally right, for the score.

138

I think it's pretty rare to have the opportunity to work with so many people that I admire in one project.

137

After reaching 50, I began to wonder what the root of life is.

129

There is no culture in the world that we have not benefited from.

115