“I was roaming in the dark and you were like the beacon of light leading the way with your smile and everything.”
At the time of recording Snatcher (1992) Kojima was not in good health and was moved from hospital to hospital for about six months. He says that during his most desperate moments the kindest person to him was Kikuko; the next kindest were Mami Koyama and Mina Tominaga, and he says he will never forget their kindness. Kojima adds that Kikuko was the only one who took care of him, that he was not panicking but had to do everything alone, and that on that day he fell in love with her — he says he was roaming in the dark and she was like a beacon of light leading the way with her smile. Years later he bought all the discs and Blu-rays of Taxi Driver when they were released because Kikuko played Betsy, and he says he knew she would become famous.
“I was also not in the best shape at the time. I was passed around from hospital to hospital for about six months. And in my most desperate time, the person who was the nicest to me was you, Kikuko. […] I'll never forget their kindness. […] But I fell in love with you that day. […] You were even Betsy in Taxi Driver. […] I bought all the discs and Blu-rays when it all came out. […] Because it's Kikuko doing Betsy. […] I knew you would become famous.”