I tend to be pessimistic about everything: If things seem to be going good, I'm worried that it's going to end; if things are bad, then I'm worried that it's going to be permanent. It's not a very comfortable attitude to have all the time.

If you went to Harvard Medical School, chances are you'll be a doctor at some place. There's a career trajectory. Acting, there's nothing. It's constantly trying to procure jobs - it's very disconcerting.

In acting class, you're trained to express yourself as much as you can.

I get very homesick, but otherwise it's a great privilege to get to travel for work.

If you're acting, then there's a prescribed way to behave; whereas in life, there's no prescribed way. So acting feels like a comfortable way to get through the day.

I feel equal parts lucky and scared anytime I get a job.

The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing.

An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.

Art itself is knowledge of the spiritual world. Art is information from higher forces, by those who are talented. I'm not jiving.

In Japan, I am famous in certain special circles - mainly as someone who is trying to break down and enlighten the conventions of Japanese art.

I don't listen to what art critics say. I don't know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.

Right after 'Raymond' I had a world-is-my-oyster attitude, but I found out I don't like oysters. I had this existential emptiness. 'What is my purpose? Who am I?' I had a big identity crisis.