Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2010

Will Smith is one of the few Hollywood stars who knows how to handle the press in Japan. When he bursts into the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton and greets the assembled reporters with a full-throated “YEAH!,” the ice is immediately broken. His son, 12-year-old Jaden Smith, strolls in after him with a face that says, “I know he’s a big star, but he’s still my dad—and he’s just as embarrassing to me as yours is to you.”

Father and son have come to Tokyo to promote Jaden’s new film, The Karate Kid (released as Best Kid in Japan), along with wife/mom Jada Pinkett-Smith and co-star Jackie Chan. The movie is a remake of the 1984 box office jot that starred Ralph Macchio and featured Pat Morita as the iconic Mr. Miyagi. In the new version, the action has shifted from California to China, with Chan playing a janitor who helps Jaden’s character defeat the bullies and win the girl.

Chan, 56, is well-known for his martial arts ability and for performing his own stunts, but this film provided an opportunity to showcase his acting skills instead. He admits being cast in the mentor role was “really awkward for me. I realized—I’m that old now!” But there were also some perks to being on the less-physical side of things. “I see Jaden sweating, and I tell him, ‘Jacket on, jacket off! Again!’ Then it’s ‘Cut!’—OK, time for lunch.” He laughs.

Young Jaden has been lauded for his own chop-socky skills in the film—in fact, Jada explains that the idea for the remake came from her son’s love of the sport.

“Jaden had been studying martial arts since he was three. And I told his manager, ‘We need to find him a movie where he can use his martial arts…’ And then Will came up with the idea [for the] remake.”

As co-producers of the film, both Will and Jada were constant presences on set. So, did the young actor get any advice from his famous father?

“Well, there was one thing, and I’m still not sure if you were kidding or not,” Jaden says, looking over at his father. “But [in the kiss scene], you told me not to keep my mouth open.”

“Mommy actually gave me that advice,” Will explains, but Jaden quickly interrupts.

“I didn’t need to know that.”

“It’s good advice,” Jada says, turning to her husband. “You really should keep your mouth shut.”