Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has fielded his share of odd requests in his 20-year career as a film and TV actor, but even he had to chuckle when students from Damien Middle School, a Catholic institution, asked him to repeat his "Your soul is mine!" line from "Mortal Kombat" during a visit to the school last week.

Tagawa, who plays "The Baron" in the much-anticipated "Memoirs of a Geisha," stopped by the campus last week to share a few stories and encourage the students to make the most of their opportunities.

Always entertaining, Tagawa — sporting a part-shaved head in Halloween homage to the film "Iron Monkey" — even lapsed into a bit of "Camelot" as he urged the students to assert themselves and to never take a back seat in life.

"I told them I grew up in the South and, as an Asian, there were two things you could do," Tagawa said. "Either sit in the back of the class and try not to be noticed so you won't be chastised, or sit up front and volunteer for everything that everyone else doesn't want to do or is too afraid to do."

Organizers had prepared some film clips of Tagawa's movies to prep the students, but they didn't need them. While the middle-schoolers may have missed Tagawa's appearances in "Rising Sun," "American Me," and "Pearl Harbor," they had their own favorite points of reference: Tagawa didn't just play Shang Tsung in "Mortal Kombat," he was "Johnny Tsunami."

Tagawa will join co-stars Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and Ken Watanabe at the Los Angeles premiere of "Geisha" early next month.

While Tagawa thinks the film is strong enough to be an Oscar contender, he said the public's response to it may be even more significant.

"I think it will stimulate an interest in Asia that is overdue," Tagawa said. "Here we are in the 21st century, and Asia is a such an important part of the world — we're all going to have to learn Chinese at some point — yet we in America know next to nothing about it."

Tagawa, who was born in Japan, said Western audiences will be drawn by the spirituality that permeates "Geisha," if not in story than in performance.

"I think the West is spiritually lost," he said. "People turn to religion to fill that need, but maybe what is needed is spirit itself. I think this film will spark some questions."

Tagawa said the film reminds him of "The Last Emperor" in its ability to immerse audiences in a different world. Yet, while many expect the film to help the three Chinese actresses, Zhang in particular, position themselves for Hollywood productions, Tagawa is skeptical.

"How much attention did 'The Last Emperor' get, and how much attention did John Lone and Joan Chen not get?" Tagawa asked. "This is not the kind of film that Hollywood will make 20 more of. It's sad but true: America doesn't have a place for Asian actors to grow."

Tagawa said he enjoyed working on the production, particularly with director Rob Marshall ("gracious and polite") and Li, but he said he was better off trying to tap into the Asian market than "waiting around for the next 'Geisha.' "

The 55-year-old actor said he's especially impressed by the range of male leads in South Korean film and television.

"I can relate," he said. "Those young Korean guys clarify and bring into focus Asian male sensuality and sexuality. That's something you won't see coming out of Hollywood."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.