Some actors are a little reluctant to take on the role of a despised killer in a high-profile film. Not Dean Fujioka.

The 33-year-old native of Fukushima Prefecture has carved out a successful acting and modeling career in Taiwan over the past decade or so, using his physical attributes and fluency in three languages to earn appearances in a string of television dramas and movies. His busy production schedule has even kept him from spending much time in his homeland, and so when he received an invitation in April 2011 to portray Tatsuya Ichihashi in a biopic based on the convicted killer's book, Fujioka wasn't even aware of the details of the case.

"Everyone warned me about the risks associated with playing the part," Fujioka told The Japan Times On Sunday, "especially the influence it might have on my modeling career."