Sonny Chiba

Sonny Chiba
千葉 真一
"Movie Pictorial", June 1965 issue.
Born
Sadaho Maeda

(1939-01-22)22 January 1939
Died19 August 2021(2021-08-19) (aged 82)
Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan
Other namesShinichi Chiba
JJ Sonny Chiba
Rindō Wachinaga
Alma materNippon Sport Science University
Occupation(s)Actor, martial artist
Years active1960–2021
Spouses
  • (m. 1972; div. 1994)
  • Tamami Chiba
    (m. 1996; div. 2015)
Children
RelativesJirō Yabuki (brother)
Websitechibashinichi.com
Signature

Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi, born Sadaho Maeda; 22 January 1939 – 19 August 2021), known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience.

Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984.

Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had starred in Kill Bill: Volume 1, and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Chiba died from the complications of COVID-19 Delta variant on 19 August 2021, at age 82.

Names

Born Sadaho Maeda (前田 禎穂, Maeda Sadaho), he used the stage name "Chiba Shinichi" throughout his professional career. When New Line Cinema released the film Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken (激突! 殺人拳) in the United States in 1974, they retitled it The Street Fighter and billed its star as Sonny Chiba. Later, Chiba modified the name to "JJ Sonny Chiba", wherein the initials stood for "Justice Japan". After appearing in the taiga drama Fūrin Kazan in November 2007, he announced the retirement of the stage name "Shinichi Chiba"; henceforth he was billed "JJ Sonny Chiba" as an actor and Rindō Wachinaga (和千永 倫道, Wachinaga Rindō) as a film director.

Early life

Chiba was born in Fukuoka, the third of five children. His father was a pilot for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service; his mother, originally from Kumamoto Prefecture, had competed in track and field in her youth. When he was four years old, his father was transferred to Kisarazu, Chiba, and the family moved to Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture.

After Chiba went to junior high school in Kimitsu, the physical education teacher advised him to do artistic gymnastics. He also was passionate about track and field sports, baseball, and volleyball. He participated in those four sports championships of Chiba Prefecture. In high school, Chiba dedicated himself to artistic gymnastics and won the National Sports Festival of Japan while in his third year. He enjoyed watching movies, including Western movies such as Shane and High Noon.

Chiba went to the Nippon Sport Science University in 1957. He was a serious candidate for a place in the Japanese Olympic team in his late teens until he was sidelined by a back injury. While he was a university student, he began studying martial arts with the renowned Kyokushin Karate master Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama (whom he later portrayed in a trilogy of films), which led to a first-degree black belt on 15 October 1965, later receiving a fourth-degree on 20 January 1984.

Career

Sonny Chiba studio public photo 1961
Chiba in Invasion of the Neptune Men, 1961
Chiba in 2019

Sometime around 1960, he was discovered in a talent search (called "New Face") by the Toei film studio, and he began his screen career soon after.[citation needed] The CEO of Toei at the time gave him the stage name "Shinichi Chiba".[citation needed]

His acting career began on television, starring in two tokusatsu superhero shows, first replacing Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/ Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro kamen) in the second half of the series and then starring as Gorō Narumi/Messenger of Allah in Messenger of Allah (Allah no Shisha). He starred in the 1961 science fiction movie Invasion of the Neptune Men and the first Kinji Fukasaku film, Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley, which marked the beginning of a long series of collaborations for the two. Over the next decade, he was cast primarily in crime thrillers. By 1970, Chiba had started his own training school for aspiring martial arts film actors and stunt performers known as JAC (Japan Action Club) [ja], in order to develop the level of martial arts techniques and sequences used in Japanese film and television. Today the organization is known as Japan Action Enterprise (JAE). He starred in Karate Kiba (Bodyguard Kiba) in 1973, which was his first martial arts movie.[citation needed] Chiba's breakthrough international hit was The Street Fighter (1974) which was brought to Western audiences (dubbed in English) by New Line Cinema. The film and its sequels established him as the reigning Japanese martial arts actor in international cinema for the next two decades. It was New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye who gave Chiba the English name "Sonny", which Chiba would adopt as his own (mostly for non-Japanese projects) from that point on.[citation needed]

Chiba's subsequent projects included such pictures as The Bullet Train (1975), Karate Warriors (1976), Doberman Cop (1977), Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), and The Assassin (1977). He also occasionally returned to the science fiction genre, in movies such as Message from Space (1978). He also began to star on some jidaigeki such as Shogun's Samurai (1978), The Fall of Ako Castle (1978), G.I. Samurai (1979), Shadow Warriors (1980), and Samurai Reincarnation (1981). He was not only actor in but also stunt coordinator for G.I. Samurai, Burning Brave (1981), and Shogun's Shadow (1989). He was executive producer and director for Yellow Fangs (1990) and also directed and starred in Oyaji (2007).

Chiba portrayed Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi multiple times, first in the 1978 film Shogun's Samurai and in its TV series remake The Yagyu Conspiracy, which aired from 1978 to 1979. He then appeared as Jūbei in the TV series Yagyū Abaretabi, which aired from 1980 to 1981 and in the 1981 film Samurai Reincarnation (Makai Tensho) and its theatrical musical version Yagyu Jubei Makai Tensho. He then reprised his role as Jūbei in the second season of Yagyū Abaretabi, this time entitled Yagyū Jūbei Abaretabi, which aired from 1982 to 1983. A few years later he returned to play Jūbei in Iemitsu, Hikoza, and Isshin Tasuke: A National Crisis, a TV movie that aired in 1989. His final appearance as Jūbei was in 2 direct-to-DVD films entitled Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3: Wind Chapter and Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4: Fire Chapter in 2005. Other notable Japanese television roles for Chiba were the ninja leaders Hattori Hanzō III, Tsuge Shinpachi, Tarao Hanzō, and Hattori Hanzō XV across multiple seasons of the Shadow Warriors TV series and Hattori Hanzō I in the 2003 direct-to-DVD series follow-up Shin Kage no Gundan (New Shadow Warriors).[citation needed]

Chiba was even busier in the 1980s, doing dozens of movies as well as making forays into television, and with roles in such high-profile adventures as the popular Hong Kong comic-based movie The Storm Riders (1998), starring alongside Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok. His fame in Japan remained unabated into the 1990s.[citation needed]

In his fifties, the actor resumed working as a choreographer of martial arts sequences. At the dawn of the 21st century, Chiba was as busy as ever in feature films and also starring in his own series in Japan. Roles in Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and his work with directors Kenta and Kinji Fukasaku in Battle Royale II effectively bridged the gap between modern day and yesteryear cinematic cult legends. Chiba's enduring onscreen career received a tribute when he appeared in a key role as Hattori Hanzo, the owner of a sushi restaurant and retired samurai sword craftsman, in director Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge epic Kill Bill: Volume I in 2003.

Chiba starred in more than 125 films for Toei Studios and has won numerous awards in Japan for his acting.

Personal life and death

In 1994 Chiba divorced his first wife, actress Yōko Nogiwa. Their daughter Juri Manase is also an actress.

He married Tamami Chiba in 1996, with whom he had a 28-year age difference. They had two sons, Mackenyu Arata (新田真剣佑, Arata Makken'yū) and Gordon Maeda (郷敦), who are both actors. Chiba and Tamami Chiba divorced in 2015.

Also in 2015, Weekly Shincho reported that Chiba was romantically involved with a 22-year old female university student. At the time, his divorce with Tamami Chiba was in the process of being finalised.

His younger brother, Jirō Yabuki (also known as Jiro Chiba), was also an actor.

In early August 2021, Chiba became ill with COVID-19 Delta variant. Initially, he was treated at home, but was hospitalized a few days later on 8 August when he developed pneumonia. He died on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82. Chiba had not been vaccinated, according to his agency. His body was cremated on 20 August 2021.

In Western popular culture

Christian Slater's character Clarence Worley in True Romance is a fan of Chiba. In a pivotal early scene he watches a Sonny Chiba triple feature. The writer of True Romance, Quentin Tarantino, worked with Chiba ten years later in Kill Bill: Volume I.

A modified version of the opening scroll to the English-language version of 1973 movie Karate Kiba (English title: The Bodyguard) was used in the script of Quentin Tarantino's 1994 movie Pulp Fiction. Tarantino's script changed the Ezekiel 25:17 speech, swapping out "I am Chiba the Bodyguard" for "my name is the Lord".

The character Takayuki Chiba from the shōnen manga series Kengan Ashura is based upon Chiba and Hiroyuki Sanada.

Martial arts ranks

Chiba held black belts in the following martial arts:

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1961 Police Department Story: Alibi
(警視庁物語 不在証明(ありばい))
Detective Nakagawa
Police Department Story: The 15 Year Old Woman
(警視庁物語 十五才の女)
Detective Nakagawa
Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley
(風来坊探偵 赤い谷の惨劇)
Gorō Saionji
Drifting Detective: Black Wind in the Harbor
(風来坊探偵 岬を渡る黒い風)
Gorō Saionji
Invasion of the Neptune Men
(宇宙快速船)
Shinichi Tachibana/Iron Sharp
Hepcat in the Funky Hat
(ファンキーハットの快男児)
Ichirō Tenka
Police Department Story: Twelve Detectives
(警視庁物語 十二人の刑事)
Detective Nakagawa
Hepcat in the Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm
(ファンキーハットの快男児 二千万円の腕)
Ichirō Tenka
Shinto Boss Series: Employee Ishimatsu Is the Man
(進藤の社長シリーズ 石松社員は男でござる)
Nagashima
1962 The Kamikaze
(南太平洋波高し)
Yūki
Love School
(恋愛学校 ラブ・スクール)
Shinichi Kogure
Escape: The 2/26 Incident
(二・二六事件 脱出)
Private First Class Shinohara
For Love, the Sun, and the Gang
(恋と太陽とギャング)
Yamauchi
Higher Than the Stars in the Sky
(あの空の果てに星はまたゝく)
Yoshio Horimoto
Tragedy of Twins
(残酷な月)
Masaki
Four Sisters
(山麓)
Shinkichi Hayami
Mid-August Commotion
(八月十五日の動乱)
Dr. Ōmori
Gang vs. G-Men
(ギャング対Gメン)
Osamu Kaji
The Gambler
(王将)
Mōri
The Terrifying Witch
(恐怖の魔女)
Daisuke Shirono
1963 Twins Searching for Mother
(こまどりのりんごっ子姉妹)
Ume-san
President Jiro and Employee Ishimatsu: Yasugi Bushi Road
(次郎長社長と石松社員 安来ぶし道中)
Hiroshi Shiomi
The Violent Underworld
(暴力街)
Kazuo Ichinoki
Special Tactical Police
(特別機動捜査隊)
Detective Naitō
Twins in the Meadow
(こまどり姉妹 未練ごころ)
Kenichi Tomizawa
Judo for Life
(柔道一代)
Shirō Hongō
Special Tactical Police 2
(特別機動捜査隊 東京駅に張り込め)
Detective Naitō
Lure of A Killer
(殺人鬼の誘惑)
Daisuke Jōno
Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge
(八州遊侠伝 男の盃)
Satarō
The Chivalrous of Asakusa
(浅草の侠客)
Shinsuke Hayama
The Navy
(海軍)
Takao Mutaguchi
Song of the Yakuza
(やくざの歌)
Shunji Nitta
Gang Chusingura
(ギャング忠臣蔵)
Shichirō Yatō
White Ball
(白い熱球)
Yōta Ogiwara
Life of Blackmail
(わが恐喝の人生)
Gorō Ozawa
1964 Decree from Hell
(地獄命令)
Shinichi Ōmatsu
Judo for Life: The Devil of Kodokan
(柔道一代 講道館の鬼)
Shirō Hongō
Tokyo Untouchable: Prostitution Underground Organization
(東京アンタッチャブル 売春地下組織)
Yoshio Hamada
Here Because of You
(君たちがいて僕がいた)
Makoto Yabuki
Dragon and Tiger Generation
(竜虎一代)
Shinichi Matsuhashi
1965 Singing to Those Clouds
(あの雲に歌おう)
Jun Tonomura
That Cute Girl
(可愛いあの娘)
Morimoto
Hey, Clouds!
(おゝい、雲!)
Saburō Tatsumi
Tale of Japanese Burglars
(にっぽん泥棒物語)
Attorney Ōki
The Fugitive
(逃亡)
Saburō Tateishi
Yakuza G-Men: Meiji Underworld
(やくざGメン 明治暗黒街)
Tōru Shibayama
A Villain's Code Of Honor
(無頼漢仁義)
Sōichi Jinnai
Abashiri Prison: Hokkai Territory
(網走番外地 北海篇)
Hayama
1966 Bitches of the Night
(夜の牝犬)
Tatsuo Ōtsuki
Kamikaze Man: Duel at Noon
(カミカゼ野郎 真昼の決斗)
Ken Mitarai
Terror Beneath the Sea
(海底大戦争)
Ken Abe
Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
(網走番外地 南国の対決)
Tanimura
Dash to the Sun
(太陽に突っ走れ)
Takashi Shindō
Game of Chance
(浪曲子守唄)
Bungo Endō
Ōgon Bat
(黄金バット)
Dr. Yamatone
1967 Soshiki Bōryoku
(組織暴力)
Shinji Takasugi
Game of Chance 2
(続 浪曲子守唄)
Bungo Endō
Diaries of the Kamikaze
(あゝ同期の桜)
Second Sub-lieutenant Hanzawa
The North Sea Chivalry
(北海遊侠伝)
Shūichi Aida
King of Gangsters
(ギャングの帝王)
Matsumoto
Game of Chance 3
(出世子守唄)
Bungo Endō
Kawachi Chivalry
(河内遊侠伝)
Komakichi Sugimoto
1968 Human Torpedoes: Kaiten Special Attack Force
(人間魚雷 あゝ回天特別攻撃隊)
Chief navigator Takiguchi
Army Intelligence 33
(陸軍諜報33)
Kazuo Yamamoto
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
(あゝ予科練)
Second Sub-lieutenant Kodama
1969 Delinquent Boss: Ocho the She-Wolf
(不良番長 猪の鹿お蝶)
Mitsuo Fujiki
Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
(日本暗殺秘録)
Tadashi Onuma
1970 Yakuza Deka
(やくざ刑事)
Shirō Hayata
Yakuza Cop 2: Marijuana Trafficking Syndicate
(やくざ刑事 マリファナ密売組織)
Shirō Hayata
The Last Suicide Squad
(最後の特攻隊)
Captain Mishima
1971 Yakuza Cop 3: Poison Gas Affair
(やくざ刑事 恐怖の毒ガス)
Shirō Hayata
Yakuza Cop 4: No Epitaphs for Us
(やくざ刑事 俺たちに墓はない)
Shirō Hayata
1972 Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder
(狼やくざ 殺しは俺がやる)
Gōsuke Himuro
Vice G-Men
(麻薬売春Gメン)
Yasuo Kikuchi
Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler
(銀蝶流れ者 牝猫博奕)
Ryūji Azuma
Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
(狼やくざ 葬いは俺が出す)
Tōru Ibuki
Vice G-Men 2: Terrifying Flesh Hell
(麻薬売春Gメン 恐怖の肉地獄)
Haruo Kikuchi
1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
(仁義なき戦い 広島死闘篇)
Katsutoshi Ōtomo
Karate Kiba
(ボディガード牙)
Naoto Kiba
Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok Drug Triangle
(東京-ソウル-バンコック 実録麻薬地帯)
Tatsuya Wada
Karate Kiba 2
(ボディガード牙 必殺三角飛び)
Naoto Kiba
1974 The Street Fighter
(激突! 殺人拳)
Takuma Tsurugi
Return of the Street Fighter
(殺人拳2)
Takuma Tsurugi
Military Spy School
(ルバング島の奇跡 陸軍中野学校)
Ichirō Kikuchi
The Executioner
(直撃! 地獄拳)
Ryūichi
Sister Street Fighter
(女必殺拳)
Seiichi Hibiki
The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
(逆襲! 殺人拳)
Takuma Tsurugi
The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
(直撃地獄拳 大逆転)
Ryūichi
1975 Killing Machine
(少林寺拳法)
Doshin So
Young Nobility: Maki of the 13 Steps
(若い貴族たち 13階段のマキ)
Kenichi Hyūga
Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope
(ウルフガイ 燃えろ狼男)
Akira Inugami
The Bullet Train
(新幹線大爆破)
Aoki
Champion of Death
(けんか空手 極真拳)
Masutatsu Ōyama
Detonation: Violent Riders
(爆発! 暴走族)
Tsugami
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head
(新仁義なき戦い 組長の首)
Bartender Uncredited
The Defensive Power of Aikido
(激突! 合気道)
Shinbei Natori
Karate Bearfighter
(けんか空手 極真無頼拳)
Masutatsu Ōyama
1976 Dragon Princess
(必殺女拳士)
Isshin Higaki
Yokohama Underworld: Machine Gun Dragons
(横浜暗黒街 マシンガンの竜)
Keiichi Komatsu
Karate Warriors
(子連れ殺人拳)
Shūhei Sakata
The Rugby Star
(ラグビー野郎)
Rikio Ōtate
Jail Breakers
(脱走遊戯)
Wataru Kangi
Okinawa Yakuza War
(沖縄やくざ戦争)
Seigō Kunigami
1977 Yakuza War: The Japanese Don
(やくざ戦争 日本の首領)
Tsuneyoshi Sakota
Soul of Chiba
(激殺! 邪道拳)
Mu Yun Tek Planning
Hokuriku Proxy War
(北陸代理戦争)
Hachirō Kanai
Karate for Life
(空手バカ一代)
Mas Oyama
Gambler's Code of Japan
(日本の仁義)
Katsuji Kogure
Doberman Cop
(ドーベルマン刑事)
Jōji Kanō
Torakku Yarō
(トラック野郎・度胸一番星)
Jōji Niimura
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
(ゴルゴ13 九竜の首)
Golgo 13/Duke Tōgō
Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye
(ブラック・ジャック 瞳の中の訪問者)
Drunk
1978 Shogun's Samurai
(柳生一族の陰謀)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Message from Space
(宇宙からのメッセージ)
Prince Hans
Okinawa: The Ten Year War
(沖縄10年戦争)
Chōyū Inami
The Fall of Ako Castle
(赤穂城断絶)
Kazuemon Fuwa
1979 Dead Angle
(白昼の死角)
Yōsuke Ōta
Hunter in the Dark
(闇の狩人)
Samon Shimoguni
The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf
(蘇える金狼)
Mitsuhiko Sakurai
G.I. Samurai
(戦国自衛隊)
Lt. Yoshiaki Iba Action director
1980 Virus
(復活の日)
Dr. Yamauchi
Shogun's Ninja
(忍者武芸帖 百地三太夫)
Shōgen Shiranui Action director
1981 The Bushido Blade Prince Ido
Chanbara Graffiti
(ちゃんばらグラフィティー 斬る!)
documentary
Samurai Reincarnation
(魔界転生)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Roaring Fire
(吼えろ鉄拳)
Shunsuke Tachikawa Action director
The Kamikaze Adventurer
(冒険者カミカゼ -ADVENTURER KAMIKAZE-)
Daisuke Kamikaze
The Blazing Valiant
(燃える勇者)
Action Director
1982 Fall Guy
(蒲田行進曲)
Himself
Ninja Wars
(伊賀忍法帖)
Yagyū Munetoshi
1983 Kabamaru the Ninja
(伊賀野カバ丸)
Saizō Igano Planning
Legend of the Eight Samurai
(里見八犬伝)
Dōsetsu Inuyama
1984 Kotaro to the Rescue
(コータローまかりとおる!)
Moore County colonel Planning
1985 The Last True Yakuza
(最後の博徒)
Ryōzō Kanō
1986 Cabaret
(キャバレー)
1987 Sure Death 4: Revenge
(必殺4 恨みはらします)
Bunshichi Warabeya
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Large Spiritual World
(丹波哲郎の大霊界 死んだらどうなる)
Shogun's Shadow
(将軍家光の乱心 激突)
Shōzaemon Iba Action director
Sensei
(せんせい)
Makoto Ushiyama Producer
1990 Yellow Fangs
(リメインズ 美しき勇者たち)
Director
Producer
1991 Gokudo Wars
(極道戦争 武闘派)
Takatsugu Kasai
1992 Fighting Fist
(HAKEN 覇拳 ふりむけば修羅)
Superintendent Yamada Director
Aces: Iron Eagle III Colonel Sueo Horikoshi
A Mine Field
(地雷原)
Hiromichi Takagi Original idea
The Triple Cross
(いつかギラギラする日)
Shiba
1994 Immortal Combat Jiro 'J.J.' Jintani
1995 Body Count Makoto
1998 The Storm Riders
(風雲 ストームライダーズ)
Lord Conqueror
2000 The Legend of the Flying Swordsman
(小李飛刀之飛刀外傳)
'Dagger' Yuan-ba Li
Born to Be King
(勝者為王)
Ichio Kusakari
Chinchiromai
(ちんちろまい)
Takeshi Kuroda
2001 The Melancholy Hitman
(悲しきヒットマン 蒼き狼)
Direct-to-video
Akumyoh
(悪名)
Tōyōzō Kuroshima Direct-to-video
Koroshi no Gundan
(殺しの軍団)
Miyoshi Direct-to-video
Koroshi no Gundan 2
(殺しの軍団 関西制圧への道)
Miyoshi Direct-to-video
2002 Akumyoh 2
(悪名2 〜荒ぶる喧嘩魂〜)
Tōyōzō Kuroshima Direct-to-video
Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
(実録 安藤昇侠道伝 烈火)
Yasunori Hijikata
Yakuza of Legend: Chapter of Raging Fire
(伝説のやくざ ボンノ 烈火の章)
Don no Michi 6
(首領の道6)
Takagi Direct-to-video
2003 Don no Michi 7
(首領の道7)
Takagi Direct-to-video
Don no Michi 8
(首領の道8)
Takagi Direct-to-video
New Shadow Warriors
(新・影の軍団)
Hattori Hanzō I Planning
Yakuza of Legend: Chapter of the Setting Sun
(伝説のやくざ ボンノ 落日の章)
Direct-to-video
New Shadow Warriors II
(新・影の軍団II)
Hattori Hanzō I Planning
Don no Michi 9
(首領の道9)
Takagi Direct-to-video
Battle Royale II: Requiem
(バトル・ロワイアルII 鎮魂歌)
Makio Mimura
True Kyūshū Yakuza 1
(新実録・九州やくざ烈伝 兇健と呼ばれた男)
Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
New Shadow Warriors III
(新・影の軍団III 地雷火)
Hattori Hanzō I Executive producer
Kill Bill: Volume 1 Hattori Hanzō Kenjutsu Choreographer
Namishō no Yamamoto-ja! Kenka Yakyū-hen
(浪商のヤマモトじゃ! 喧嘩野球編)
Direct-to-video
2004 New Shadow Warriors IV
(新・影の軍団IV 地雷火) 
Hattori Hanzō I Executive producer
Kill Bill: Volume 2 Hattori Hanzō
Zenidō
(銭道)
Kōjirō Shinkai
Zenidō 2
(銭道2 借金地獄抜け道指南)
Kōjirō Shinkai
Zenidō 3
(銭道3 なにわ金融指南)
Kōjirō Shinkai
New Boss of Japan
(新・日本の首領)
Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
New Boss of Japan 2
(新・新・日本の首領II 非情篇)
Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
New Boss of Japan 3
(新・新・日本の首領III 激闘篇)
Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
Survive Style 5+ Kazama
Zenidō 4
(銭道4 男と女の金融講座)
Kōjirō Shinkai Direct-to-video
Explosive City
(爆裂都市)
Otosan
Zenidō 5
(銭道5 無限連鎖講)
Kōjirō Shinkai Direct-to-video
2005 Zenidō 6
(銭道6)
Kōjirō Shinkai
New Shadow Warriors V
(新・影の軍団V 服部半蔵VS陰陽師)
Hattori Hanzō I
New Shadow Warriors VI
(新・影の軍団 最終章)
Hattori Hanzō I
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3: Wind Chapter
(猿飛佐助 闇の軍団3 風の巻)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4: Fire Chapter
(猿飛佐助 闇の軍団4 火の巻 完結篇)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Boss Kamata
Master of Thunder
(マスター・オブ・サンダー 決戦!! 封魔龍虎伝)
Genryū
The Winds of God: Kamikaze Nobutada Ōta
True Kyūshū Yakuza 2
(実録九州やくざ抗争 誠への道)
Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
2007 True Kyūshū Yakuza 3
(実録九州やくざ抗争 誠への道 完結編)
Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
Oyaji
(親父)
Ryūmichi Numata Director
2009 Sennen no Matsu
(千年の松)
Direct-to-video
Sennen no Matsu 2
(千年の松 完結篇)
Direct-to-video
2012 Shura no Hanamichi
(修羅の花道)
Yoshio Sutama
Shura no Hanamichi 2
(修羅の花道 2)
Yoshio Sutama Direct-to-video
Gokudō no Monshō Part 18
(極道の紋章 第十八章)
Direct-to-video
Sushi Girl Sushi chef
2013 Nihon Tōitsu
(日本統一)
Seizō Gonda
Nihon Tōitsu 2
(日本統一 2)
Seizō Gonda Direct-to-video
2014 Shura no Denshō Araburu Kyō Inu
(修羅の伝承 荒ぶる凶犬)
Shūhei Akiyama
Kabukichō High School
(歌舞伎町はいすくーる)
Hakkaisan board chairman
Kanto Gokudo Association Part 1
(関東極道連合会 第一章)
Direct-to-video
2015 Take a Chance Miyamoto Musashi
Kanto Gokudo Association Part 2
(関東極道連合会 第二章)
Direct-to-video
April Fools
(エイプリルフールズ)
Bōryokudan leader
So-On: The Five Oyaji
(騒音)
2017 Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 1
(極道天下布武 第一幕)
Motonari Mōriya
Teppen
(頂点(てっぺん))
Direct-to-video
Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 2
(極道天下布武 第二幕)
Motonari Mōriya
Teppen 2
(頂点(てっぺん) 2)
Direct-to-video
Teppen 3
(頂点(てっぺん) 3)
Direct-to-video
Shashin Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
(写真甲子園 0.5秒の夏)
Chair workshop craftsman
Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 4
(極道天下布武 第四幕)
Motonari Mōriya
2023 Bond of Justice: Kizuna Posthumous release; Final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1960 Seven Color Mask
(新七色仮面)
Seven Color Mask II/Kōtarō Ran 26 episodes
Messenger of Allah
(アラーの使者)
Gorō Narumi 26 episodes
Wanted: Demon Fire
(指名手配 悪魔の火)
1 episode
1963 The Light of Asakusa
(浅草の灯)
TV film
1964 JNR Inspector No. 36
(鉄道公安36号)
Railway Inspector Hayakawa 4 episodes
1965 Flag of Glory
(栄光の旗)
Lieutenant Yamanaka Part 1
1965-1966 Blind Black Belt
(くらやみ五段)
Tatsuya Kurami
1965 Special Tactical Police
(特別機動捜査隊)
Detective Komatsu 1 episode
1965-1966 Kiiroi Fūdo
(黄色い風土)
1968-1973 Key Hunter
(キイハンター)
Yōsuke Kazama
1969 Special Investigation Office
(特命捜査室)
1 episode
1970 Judo Straight Line
(柔道一直線)
Washio 3 episodes
1972-1974 The Young Detective
(刑事くん)
Detective Yabuki 3 episodes
1973 Robot Detective
(ロボット刑事)
Keitarō Shinjō 2 episodes
Suspense Series: Modern Witch Tale Murderous Love
(サスペンスシリーズ 現代鬼婆考 殺愛)
Shige 1 episode
1974 The Bodyguard
(ザ・ボディガード)
Shūsuke Washimi 26 episodes
1975 The Gorilla Seven
(ザ★ゴリラ7)
Daisuke Kazami 26 episodes
1975-1976 Blazing Dragnet
(燃える捜査網)
Shirō Ōgami 14 episodes
1976 Emergency Line
(大非常線)
Masahiro Godai 10 episodes
Nanairo Tongarashi
(七色とんがらし)
Tetsuo Samejima
1977 Shingo Tondeke Torimonochō
(新伍とんでけ捕物帳)
1978 Crossroads
(十字路)
Junzō Kihara 3 parts
Omoide no Umibe Papa, Boku Shinitakunai!!
(想い出の海辺 パパ、ぼく死にたくない!!)
TV film
1978-1979 The Yagyu Conspiracy
(柳生一族の陰謀)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 39 episodes
1978 Yukiyama Sanka Aru Seishun: Tateta! Subereta!
(雪山讃歌・ある青春 〜 立てた! 滑れた!)
TV film
Southern Cross
(南十字星 コルネリアお雪異聞 わたしの山田長政)
Miyamoto Musashi TV film
1980 Shadow Warriors
(服部半蔵 影の軍団)
Hattori Hanzō III 27 episodes
Tokyo Great Earthquake Magnitude 8.1
(東京大地震マグニチュード8.1)
Kobayashi TV film
1980-1981 Yagyu Abaretabi
(柳生あばれ旅)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 26 episodes
1981 Keishichō Satsujin-ka
(警視庁殺人課)
1 episode
1981-1982 Shadow Warriors II
(影の軍団II)
Tsuge Shinpachi 26 episodes
1982-1983 Space Sheriff Gavan
(宇宙刑事ギャバン)
Voicer 6 episodes, uncredited
1982 Shadow Warriors III
(影の軍団III)
Tarao Hanzō 26 episodes
1982-1983 Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi
(柳生十兵衛あばれ旅)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 26 episodes
1983 Space Sheriff Sharivan
(宇宙刑事シャリバン)
Voicer 1 episode, uncredited
1984 Wonderful Circus Guy
(素晴らしきサーカス野郎)
Daigaku Maejima TV film
Planning
1985 Shadow Warriors IV
(影の軍団IV)
Hattori Hanzō XV 27 episodes
Shadow Warriors: The End of an Era
(影の軍団 幕末編)
Hattori Hanzō XV 13 episodes
1986 Shinya ni Yōkoso
(深夜にようこそ)
Kōzō Murata 4 parts
1987 Taikoki
(太閤記)
Akechi Mitsuhide TV film
Tomorrow's Snow
(雪の朝に)
Dr. Sakamoto TV film
A Traveling Girl
(旅少女)
Takeshi Ishikawa
Autumn Scenario
(秋のシナリオ)
Tatsumi TV film
1988 Tokugawa Ieyasu
(徳川家康)
Ishikawa Kazumasa TV film
Ryokō keba Renzoku Satsujin
(旅行けば連続殺人)
Tetsuya Nanjō TV film
1989 Oda Nobunaga
(織田信長)
Oda Nobuhide TV film
Iemitsu, Hikoza, and Isshin Tasuke: A National Crisis
(家光と彦左と一心太助 天下の一大事)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi TV film
OL Sennyū! Nippon Fūzoku Meisho
(OL潜入! ニッポン風俗名所)
Iwata TV film
The Days I Saw in My Dreams
(夢に見た日々)
Shinsaku Sekimoto 10 episodes
1990 Minamoto Yoshitsune
(源義経)
Zenrinbō Kakunichi TV film
Shingo's Ten Duels
(新吾十番勝負)
Umei Tamon TV film
Ashi de Miru-yama
(足で見る山)
Kurahashi TV film
Seventeen Ninja
(十七人の忍者)
Iga no Jingoza TV film, assistant director
1991 Takeda Shingen
(武田信玄)
Takeda Nobutora TV film
Saito Dosan: Rage of Power
(戦国乱世の暴れん坊 斎藤道三 怒涛の天下取り)
Akechi Mitsutsuna TV film
1992 Tokugawa Buraichō
(徳川無頼帳)
Matsudaira Tadateru 24 episodes
1993 Mori Ranmaru: Sengoku o Kake Nuketa Waka Jishi
(森蘭丸〜戦国を駆け抜けた若獅子〜)
Mori Sanzaemon Yoshinari TV film
1996 Legend of St. Dragon
(聖龍伝説)
Yūji Saeki 1 episode
1997-1998 Terakoya Yume Shinan
(寺子屋ゆめ指南)
Matajūrō Sensui 23 episodes
2001 Shotgun-Marriage
(できちゃった結婚)
Ittetsu Kotani 11 episode
2002 Wind and Cloud
(風雲)
Lord Conqueror
2005 Legendary Sword fights of Yagyu Jubei
(柳生十兵衛七番勝負)
Miyamoto Musashi 1 episode
Team Astro
(アストロ球団)
J. Shuro
2007 Fūrin Kazan
(風林火山)
Itagaki Nobukata 30 episodes
2011 Secret Agent Erika
(秘密諜報員 エリカ)
Pastor of St. Francisco Church 1 episode
2014 Owakon TV
(おわこんTV)
Genjirō Aramaki 8 episodes

Shorts

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Ninja Theory
(ニンジャセオリー)
Ninja master Voice
2018 Shakespeare in Tokyo Calligrapher

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
1981 Yagyu Jubei Makai Tensho
(柳生十兵衛 魔界転生)
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
Stuntman Story
(スタントマン物語)
1982–1984 The Big Adventure of The Fantastic Pirates
(ゆかいな海賊大冒険)
Captain Daedalus Director
1985 The Drunken Duke
(酔いどれ公爵)
Duke Robert Director
Planning
Original idea
1986 Adventure Youth Departure
(アドベンチャー 青春の出発)
Planning Supervision
Stuntman Love Story
(スタントマン 愛の物語)
Planning Supervision
1987 Shinichi Chiba's Shadow Warriors
(千葉真一奮闘公演 影の軍団)
2008 Furin Kazan: Harunobu Burning
(風林火山 晴信燃ゆ)
Itagaki Nobukata
2015 Biohazard: The Stage Ezra Sennett

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