Rei Kitajima was once a brilliant and introverted young hacker known only by their handle "Zero Cool" on the darknet. They had made a name for themselves by infiltrating and exposing the deepest, darkest secrets of corrupt corporations and governments. But as their notoriety grew, so did the threats against their life. Rei had vanished, only to reemerge years later as the enigmatic heir to the Kitajima Empire.
Kitajima is not afraid of silence. Western actors often fill pauses with "ums" or fidgeting. Japanese actors in period dramas ( jidaigeki ) are trained in stillness, but Kitajima applies it to modern, gritty roles. When he stops moving, the camera leans in. His stillness creates a vacuum of tension that sucks the audience into the screen. rei kitajima