KEEP SHINING: Koji Yano attends the celebration of his 10th year with Beijing Golden Pond Film Company on August 28. He renewed his contract on the same day (MIAO XIAOYANG)

Koji Yano from Osaka, Japan, came to Beijing in 2001 to follow his dream of stardom.

Before, Yano had lived and struggled in Tokyo for eight years, working as a bar tender, an actor's assistant and occasionally as an extra. "I wanted to become a great actor, but I couldn't make it in Japan at the time," the 43-year-old said.

In 2000, by a stroke of luck he landed a part as the main character in the Chinese TV drama Permanent Lovers. "Many people told me that I would become famous. I doubted if it would be as easy as that. In China though, it could be. I could achieve my Chinese dream!" said Yano.

Unfortunately, Yano didn't manage to launch a career for himself on the back of the show, but he realized he could have a future in China. He returned to Tokyo before moving back to Beijing with the 60,000 yuan ($7,246) he had saved during his year away.

At the beginning it was difficult for him, especially since Yano only knew three basic Chinese phrases: "Hello", "Thank you" and "Sorry." He had to live as frugally as possible to afford his rent and Chinese classes, as he couldn't find any acting opportunities. In spite of this hardship, Yano persevered.

His hard work paid off eventually. In 2003, Yano met Yang Yang, a famous female director in China, and starred in her TV drama The Proof of Memories. The character he played was Japanese, so Yano's performance was more natural and authentic compared to his Chinese counterparts'.

"It was a turning point in my life," Yano recalled. He went on to sign with Beijing Golden Pond Film Company after appearing on the show. Thereafter, his popularity grew after parts in several TV dramas based on China's war of resistance against the Japanese invasion between 1937 and 1945.

However, Yano was not satisfied with constantly playing similar characters and attempted to diversify his image on screen.

In 2008, he began co-hosting the popular Chinese TV talk show Tian Tian Xiang Shang (literally means "Making Progress Everyday") and became even more popular. In 2012, he played a Japanese executive and a member of the Communist Party of China in another two TV plays, all met with critical acclaim.

Behind the screen, Yano is well-liked and has a large number of Chinese fans. His Sina Weibo micro-blogging account had nearly 1.31 million followers as of November.

"In China, I found my stage and I have begun to feel valued. It has inspired me to keep working hard to earn even more recognition in the entertainment industry here," Yano noted.

Perseverance

The path to success is not an easy one. For Yano, it became even harder in 2012, when the dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands blew up and anti-Japanese sentiment erupted nationwide consequently.

Anxiety and confusion in the industry put a lot of pressure on Yano, as few were willing to hire a Japanese actor. He lost work arrangements, including his co-host part. Yano's fading out worried his fans. They posted messages on Sina Weibo supporting him and calling for his return to the talk show.

"In spite of strained relations between our two countries, my Chinese fans still accepted and supported me. This moved me, and I am grateful to have friends and fans that support me in overcoming any difficulties and help me hold onto my dream," Yano said, recalling that time with a smile. "If I had to choose, I would be a salmon. They fear neither loss nor danger. They fight their way upstream, to their destiny, till the very end."

On top of his rising career, Yano married a Chinese woman and has a daughter and he feels that having a family has given him a new perspective on the bilateral relations. "I hope the two countries' friendly relationship can continue for generations, not only for my career but also for my daughter's future," he said.

"As an actor, I can play the role of a messenger for both Japan and China, promoting people-to-people relations," he added.

Currently, Yano's acting work has recovered. He extended his contract with his company and played a role in drama that was shot in August. Shortly after that, he landed himself a part in a movie.

"I'm looking forward to seeing cultural exchanges between Japan and China return to how they were before the dispute," Yano said. "For the sake of good relations between our nations, I'll keep trying to spread a positive message."