“Rajini dhan number one...adhuku approm dhan ellam,” says Yasuda Hidetoshi, who was bowled over by the actor’s style and persona when he first watched Arunachalam on a DVD player. Everything about the film — action, emotion and drama — was so engaging that Yasuda started revisiting Rajinikanth’s classics such as Thillu Mullu, Baasha, Annamalai and Padayappa to name a few. “Thalapathi is my all-time favourite,” says the 44-year-old over phone.

The year was 1998, when the Japanese economy had hit a new low. Ironically, it was also the same year when Rajinikanth’s Muthu opened to phenomenal response from Japanese fans, becoming a runaway hit at the box office. According to Yasuda, Muthu completed a 100-day run in Japan — a rare feat for a South Indian film. “When Muthu released, I used to watch it almost everyday.”

So what makes Rajinikanth relevant in Japan? “Everybody loves him. People like his demeanor, his swagger and performance. That actress (Meena), too, was equally loved by fans here,” he says. Of all Rajinikanth’s films, Muthu has achieved a cult following in Japan. So much so, that the film had a re-release last month in Tokyo.

Learning curve

A resident of Osaka, Yasuda comfortably switches between English and Tamil during the course of conversation. “I have to say, Tamil romba kashtam,” he laughs. With the help of the Internet, Yasuda made an effort to learn the language, hoping to converse with the actor some day. And finally, in 2002, Yasuda visited Chennai for the first time, during the release of Baba. The trip turned out to be one of his best experiences, for he met the man himself at his Poes Garden residence.

Even after all these years, Yasuda still finds it hard to describe his meeting with the superstar. “I showed him photos of Japanese people celebrating his films. I also enacted few popular scenes from his Baasha and Shivaji,” he says, adding that Rajinikanth was smiling and laughing throughout the meeting. Yasuda says he was fortunate to have met him once again, in 2014, during the release of Lingaa.

It’s a ritual

In fact, Yasuda makes frequent trips to Chennai, just to catch Rajinikanth’s films. He says that he enjoys the festive atmosphere created by fans on the first day, “Japanese culture is totally different from Indian. I particularly like the Tamil audience. I love how they celebrate films.” Though he likes watching other actors’ films, Yasuda opines that nobody can match Rajinikanth and the aura he’s built around him. “Kamal’s Nayakan is one of my favourite films. I also liked Apoorva Raagangal.”

Japanese fans celebrating Rajinikanth’s birthday  

Every year on December 12, Yasuda makes sure to have a reunion with fellow Japanese fans, to celebrate their star’s birthday.

“After cutting cake, we dance to some of Rajini’s songs and devour South Indian food. We typically end the day by watching our favourite Rajinikanth film,” he adds. There’s a reason why Yasuda, who’s now part of the Japanese division of Rajini Makkal Mandram, hasn’t watched 2.0 yet. Through the Mandram volunteers, Yasuda has been involved in raising funds for those affected by the recent Gaja cyclone.

‘Marana Mass’ from Petta is Yasuda’s current earworm. Describing it as a “superb” song, Yasuda says that he has plans to visit Chennai once again on Pongal, which will see two big releases — Petta and Viswasam.