Award-winning director Joel Lamangan has filmed many stunning scenes, but he believes that female newcomers may find one scene challenging.

During an advance screening for his upcoming movie, "Apo Hapon (A Love Story)" under GK Productions, held in San Juan recently, Lamangan mentioned that performing an on-screen kiss would be challenging for any female newcomer.

Lamangan was referring to Japanese actress Sakura Akiyoshi, the lead star in "Apo Hapon," which is scheduled to be shown in March. It is written by Eric Ramos and line-produced by Dennis Evangelista.

"First time siyang humalik on screen. Kahit sino mahirap yun. It's not easy to tell the actress to kiss another person. And she has to cry. 

"But she was able to do that very well later on. It's not easy to kiss somebody on screen. Tapos kapag may halikan, ang dami-daming tao nanonood. So it's not easy," Lamangan also said.

Akiyoshi's on-screen partner in the film was actor JC De Vera.

Asked about De Vera as an actor, Akiyoshi said: "Alam niya na marami akong hindi alam pero nagtuturo pa rin siya sa akin." (He knows that I don't know a lot but he still teaches me.)

Direk Lamangan said he's amazed at Akiyoshi as an actress in "Apo Hapon."

"I was so amazed (at her). Hindi ko ine-expect na ganun siya kahusay na actress. Very sensitive. She's telegenic. Maganda ang projection niya sa screen," the director said.

(I was so amazed (at her). I didn't expect her to be such a good actress. Very sensitive. She's telegenic. Her projection on the screen is beautiful.)

The acclaimed director advised Akiyoshi about pursuing a showbiz career in the Philippines.

“Aba’y kilalanin niya muna ang takbo ng showbiz sa Pilipinas para maintindihan niya kung papaano ang nangyayari sa showbiz sa Pilipinas.

(She should first get to know the trend of showbiz in the Philippines so she can understand how things are going in local showbiz.)

“Iba ang showbiz sa Pilipinas kaysa sa Japan, kaysa sa Austria, kaysa sa iba pang mga bansa. Iba dito sa atin.

(Showbiz in the Philippines is different from that in Japan, Austria, and other countries. It's different in the Philippines.)

“Ibang-iba. May kakanyahang kanyang-kanya ang takbo ng mga pangyayari sa lokal na industriya. And yun ang gusto kong maintindihan niya," Direk Lamangan said.

(Very different. The course of events in the local industry has its own characteristics. And that's what I want her to understand.)

Lamangan thanked GK Productions for coming up with an inspiring film despite the current state of the movie industry in the Philippines. 

"Maganda ang storya nito kasi tungkol ito sa isang hapon na naiwan sa Pilipinas pagkatapos ng World War II. Then naging hero siya ng isang town kung saan siya nanatili," said Lamangan. (It's a good story about a Japanese who stayed in the Philippines after World War II.  Then he became a hero of the town where he stayed.)

Akiyoshi plays a blogger in "Hapon," and showcases her acting skills by delivering lines in Tagalog and Japanese.

She said she has been living in the Philippines for five years. She was discovered while doing charity work in Tondo, Manila.

"Nagbakasyon lang ako rito. Tapos pumunta ako ng Tondo para mag charity work. Nagbigay ako ng mga pagkain at damit. Napamahal sila sa akin. Every month punta ako ng punta sa Tondo. Pero ngayon sa ibang lugar naman," she said.

(I just took a vacation here. Then I went to Tondo to do charity work. I gave them food and clothes. They loved me. Every month I go to Tondo. But now I'm in a different place.)

Akiyoshi said she idolizes Kapamilya stars Kim Chiu and Vice Ganda. "Sana makasama ko sila sa project." (I hope to work with them for a future project.)

The other cast of "Apo Hapon" are Lianne Valentin, Fumiya Sankai, Nella Dizon, Perla Bautista, Jim Pebanco, Marcus Madrigal, Rico Barrera, Yoshiko Hara and Kapuso hunk Prince Clemente.