Why the Hell Not?

"I'm more classical japanese," says 22-year-old Ayako Fujitani, "than I am an all-American girl." Which must say something about the relative strength of national genes: Fujitani's paternal half is karate-klunker-star Steven Seagal, her mother is Miyako Fujitani, a famous aikido instructor, and their offspring has switched from using brawn to brains to get ahead. After six ditsy roles in movies, Fujitani wrote her first novel, Touhimu, in 1999. It was turned into the aloof and alienated film Ritual, which received an award for Best Artistic Contribution at Tokyo's 13th International Film Festivala double triumph for Fujitani, since she played the lead....

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!