By Chris Betros

Arts & Culture Sep. 07, 2009 - 06:40AM JST ( 13 )

TOKYO —

Visiting stars often walk the red carpet at the Japan premiere of their movies, but not Hugh Jackman. The 40-year-old Aussie showman roared into Roppongi Hills Arena on a Harley-Davidson and spent 40 minutes shaking hands and signing autographs with fans before the premiere of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (titled “X-Men: Zero” for Japan). He also clowned around with actors Ryuta Sato (“Rookies”) and celebrity Naomi Kawashima, whose patissier husband provided a big cake for the occasion.

Jackman is certainly having a great year. In the last six months, he has hosted the Academy Awards, and surprised passersby in New York City by popping into cafes and restaurants unannounced with a camera crew to ask them what they know about products from developing countries for a documentary. He visited Ethiopia in August in his capacity as world ambassador for the Global Poverty Project, and this week, he will host New York’s Fashion Night Out to raise money for two charities (The September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center and the NYC AIDS fund). After that, he will appear in a Broadway play with James Bond star Daniel Craig, in his return to the stage there following his electrifying performance in “The Boy From Oz” six years ago.

Jackman said he is at a great time in his life, but acknowledged that in show business, “you never know how long you will last.” For now, though, he’s in Wolverine mode.

In “X-Men Origins,” the fourth in the Marvel comic series about mutants, and a prequel to the first three, we learn about Wolverine’s relationship with his fierce half-brother (Liev Schreiber). “There’s drama, there’s action and there’s me naked. Well, there was me naked, but they cut the nude scenes out,” Jackman laughed. “I’m shirtless a lot, though.” Jackman said audiences will find the story intense. “The relationship between the two brothers is at the heart of the movie and as you all know, nobody can push your buttons like family,” he said. “It’s a good study to see how the character got to where he did in the first ‘X-Men’ film.”

Ever busy, Jackman has at least 10 other projects in the works, among them “The Greatest Show on Earth,” in which he will play P.T. Barnum, and the musical “Carousel.” Nor is the “X-Men” franchise over. Jackman has already signed on for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2,” which is partly set in Japan. “’X-Men’ fans know that this story is one of the greatest parts of the series and I have longed to bring it to the big screen,” said Jackman. “It looks at Wolverine’s inner torment as he battles his animal instinct and tries to make his way as a samurai warrior. We’ll be coming to film here a few years down the track and I invite all of you to audition. I’m looking forward to it. In fact, I think Wolverine’s claws will come in handy eating sashimi.”

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” opens in Japan on Sept 11.