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Lauded Japanese auteur Miike Takashi sat down for an in-conversation event with longtime collaborator and producer Misako Saka at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where he is also screening “Blazing Fists.” The duo discussed their partnership as well as the impact of the director’s work in Japanese and international cinema.

On 1999’s “Audition,” Miike said he still believes the film to be “terribly violent” despite not having “set out to make a violent film.” “It became a violent movie as a result of the main character and working with actors who wanted to release this kind of feeling. I wanted to support actors to do more — if you want violence, just please go ahead.”

“Audition”

Speaking of actors, the director recalled working with Tadanobu Asano on the seminal “Ichi the Killer,” which, upon release, saw movie theaters offering sick bags to audience members due to the extreme content. Asano...

Veteran Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike has been at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) for the international premiere of his new sports film Blazing Fists. He also featured in the festival’s ‘big talk’ this week alongside producer and frequent collaborator Misako Saka.

Speaking to Deadline, Miike pointed out that this edition marked his fifth visit to IFFR and highlighted that the first thing he noticed was how the audience for his films has become older. “I’m also getting older, and ageing with the audience,” said Miike. “I first came to IFFR 25 years ago. At that time, everybody was very young, but the audience this year is a lot older.

“I’m aware that I’m getting older and I often think about how many more films I can make in my life. Making a film, while it’s not exactly like being an athlete, it’s still very physically-intensive work.

Billed as “Blue Fight” in Japan, “Blazing Fists” is inspired by Mma fighter Mikuru Asakura’s autobiography “Street Legend” but also retains intense anime/manga elements, as much as a subtle homage to Japanese cinema of the 90s and 00s, including Miike’s own works.

Blazing Fists is screening at International Film Festival Rotterdam

While in juvenile prison, Ryoma meets the strongest individual there, Ikuto and the two soon become best friends, even though their relationship owes a lot to the fact that the latter does not know the role the former played in his arrest. Inspired by a lecture by martial artist Mikuru Asakura, the two soon decide to join Breaking Down, a fighting tournament he organizes. Before they do that though, they have to train, pass an audition, and deal with Jun, the guy who has taken Ikuto’s place as the strongest in the area, and his gang.

It’s hard to say what’s more endearing about Takashi Miike these days: that the director of Audition and Ichi The Killer is still out there producing work at the same, alarming rate or the clear sense that he’s still enjoying himself. Miike’s one-hundred-and-somethingth film, Blazing Fists, is a story about honor and loyalty that opens on Ikutu (Danhi Kinoshita), a youth punching another through a glass door. We’re in a juvenile detention center, and this showdown will lead Ikutu and the man he’s defending, Ryoma (Kaname Yoshizawa), on the road to becoming best friends. This relationship will continue in the outside world, where a shared dream of competing in a televised UFC style event called Breaking Down awaits. Yagura is the film’s sometimes narrator. He is also, unbeknownst to his new pal, serving time for holding up Ikutu’s dad with a flick knife.