Violent Cop vs. The Gracie Hunter

January 11, 2002

Takeshi Kitano vs. Kazushi Sakuraba – November 2000

I found this bizarre interview lying around on the internet. It’s not a fascinating interview or anything, but I find it fairly novel for the two to be speaking to each other, giving their own little insights to violence and entertainment.

For those not familiar with the names, Takeshi Kitano, AKA Beat Takeshi, is a Japanese director/writer/actor known for films such as Hana-Bi, Sonatine and, most recently, Brother. His films generally have mind blowing violence mixed in with a dark, dark sense of humor. He started his fame in Japan as a stand up comic, as part of a duo called Two-Beat.

Kazushi Sakuraba is a middleweight fighter that competes in no holds barred fighting competitions. While Ultimate Fighting is a fringe sport in the United States, similar competitions in Japan are very popular, filling up the Tokyo Dome and selling well on pay per view. In that venue, Sakuraba is Japan’s favorite son, a former pro-wrestler who looks more like the foreman of the Toyota plant than any ass-kicking machine. He is most famous for beating Royce Gracie in a 90 minute war of attrition during the Pride Grand Prix.

The interview is probably only of interest to fans of either gentleman, and is mind numbingly strange for people like myself, who are fans of both.

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