Stephen Chow Told Japan to Stop Aping Kung Fu, Says Boss of Film Fund Behind Kore-eda Hirokazu’s ‘Look Back’

Hong Kong star-director Stephen Chow once told K2 Pictures founder Kii Muneyuki that Japanese filmmakers should stop imitating kung fu and build action films on their own martial arts instead, Kii said Saturday at Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF) in Taipei.

“He said, ‘You have karate, judo, jujitsu and kendo. That is Japanese culture. Only you can turn it into action films, so you should be the ones doing it. Stop aping kung fu,’” recalled Kii, who said he has shared drinks with Chow in Tokyo a few times. He added that he agreed with Chow, pointing to Netflix sumo drama “Sanctuary” as the kind of project that draws on culture unique to Japan.

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Kii’s K2P Film Fund I, which backed Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Look Back,” could also open its doors to new investors. The fund closed its $33 million equity round in February. Kii said more companies approached K2 about investing after the close, and that the round could reopen if existing backers agree. He has not yet decided whether to do so.

Some 30 companies have invested so far, led by MUFG Bank, Japan’s biggest lender. Other backers include Bandai, Dentsu, the government-backed Development Bank of Japan…