"If you shut your eyes to a frightening sight, you end up being frightened. If you look at everything straight on, there is nothing to be afraid of."

"Narrative in films normally depends on dialogue, but I find this boring. I try to remove unnecessary dialogue. If you watch early silent films, you can appreciate this. I still like watching silent films. And when I'm making a film, I try to imagine what a scene would be like if it were silent ... and I try to leave out unnecessary dialogue."

"In the years which followed Kurosawa was to make a succession of masterpieces which focused on individuals trying to live virtuous lives amidst hardship and adversity. ...

Self-sacrifice and moral commitment are the central themes running through many of Kurosawa's films, and they resonate with his own samurai background. 'The characters in my films try to live honestly and make the most of their lot in life. I believe you must live honestly and develop your abilities to the full. People who do this are the real heroes.'"

"I was born into a samurai family and had a formal upbringing. So I don't know much about the townspeople. That's the reason I find it hard to write about them."

"In order to write scripts, you must first study the great novels and dramas of the world. You must consider why they are great. Where does the emotion come from that you feel as you read them? What degree of passion did the author have to have, in order to portray the characters and events as he did? You must read thoroughly, to the point where you can grasp all these things."