Sho Kosugi

Sho Kosugi
Born 小杉 正一 (Shōichi Kosugi)
(1948-06-17) June 17, 1948
Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation Actor, martial artist
Years active 1974–Present
Spouse(s) Shook Kosugi
Children Kane Kosugi, Shane Kosugi, Ayeesha Kosugi
Website http://shokosugi.net/shopro

Sho Kosugi (ショー・コスギ Shō Kosugi), born Shōichi Kosugi (小杉 正一 Kosugi Shōichi, born June 17, 1948), is a Japanese martial artist with extensive training in Shindō jinen-ryū Karate, Kendo, Judo, Iaido, Kobudo, Aikido, and Ninjutsu who gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, often playing ninjas.[1] Kosugi is a man that believes and practices his profession as an actor and as a martial art grand master. He was an All Japan Karate Champion.[2][3]

At the age of 19, he left Japan to study and reside in Los Angeles where he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics at CSULA. At the same time, he consistently improved his martial arts skills while learning a wide variety of styles, such as Chinese Xing Yi Quan, Korean Tae Kwon Do, and Japanese Shitō-ryū and Shotokan-ryū Karate.[4]

He is the father of Kane and Shane Kosugi, who are both actors and martial artists; and Ayeesha Kosugi, who is a senior member of the women's golf team at the University of Las Vegas. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a taiko group in California. In Japan, he also ran an internationally oriented group of martial arts acting schools known as the Sho Kosugi Institute. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Films in which Kosugi's sons perform alongside their father include Revenge of the Ninja, Pray for Death, Black Eagle, and Journey of Honor (aka Kabuto, aka Shogun Warrior).[5]

In 2009, Sho made a comeback to films playing the lead villain of Ozunu in the action thriller Ninja Assassin opposite K-Pop star and actor Rain.

Filmography

Movies

Year Title Role Note
1974 The Godfather: Part II Passerby in Coat with Cap Pulled Down Extra
197? Six Killers
1976 Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave Suzuki Villain
1978 The Bad News Bears Go to Japan Kata Demonstrator Extra
1981 Enter the Ninja Hasegawa 3rd Lead and Villain
1983 Revenge of the Ninja Cho Osaki Lead Role and Hero
1984 Ninja III: The Domination Yamada Lead Role and Hero
1985 9 Deaths of the Ninja Spike Shinobi Lead Role and Hero
Pray for Death Akira Saito Lead Role and Hero
1987 Rage of Honor Shiro Tanaka Lead Role and Hero
1988 Aloha Summer Yukinaga Konishi Special Appearance
1988 Black Eagle Ken Tani Lead Role and Hero
1989 Blind Fury The Assassin Special Appearance
1991 Journey of Honor Daigoro Mayeda Lead Role and Hero
1993 極東黒社会 Kyokutō Kuroshakai (Drug Connection) Larry Matsuda 3rd Lead and Hero
1994 ザ・格闘王 Za Kakutō Oh (The Fighting King) Director of film
ザ・格闘王2 Za Kakutō Oh 2 (The Fighting King 2) Director of film
2002 The Scorpion King Taiko Choreographer
2009 Ninja Assassin Ozunu Lead Villain

Television

Year Title Role Note
1984 The Master Okasa Lead Villain Okasa (5 episodes)/Lee Van Cleef's double (13 episodes)
1986 Honda Hurricane Commercial Ninja TV commercial
1993 琉球の風 Ryūkyū no Kaze (Dragon Spirit) Shintenpu Co-Star (Episodes 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,11,12,13)
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero Voice of Ultraman Powered Guest Star (Episode 1 - Japanese-language version only)
1994 忍者戦隊カクレンジャー Ninja Sentai Kakuranger Gali Guest Star (Episodes 28-29)
1996 聖龍伝説 Seiryū Densetsu (Legend of St. Dragon) Shusaku Sendo Special Appearance (Episode 7)
Sho Kosugi Self-Defense & Ninjaerobics Himself Host

Other

Year Title Role Note
1986 Master Class Himself Instructional video (Martial Arts)
Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi Himself VHS Video Host segments (13 in all)
1998 Tenchu: Stealth Assassins Rikimaru Video game (motion capture portrayal)
2001-2002 The Ninjas From Hollywood Japan Tour God of War and Peace Stage show

References

  1. "`Ninja` Knockin`` Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. 15 May 1986. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  2. "`Ninja` Knockin`` Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. 15 May 1986. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  3. Beale, Lewis (20 April 1986). "Martial Arts Pics--packing A Hard Punch". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  4. "`Sho Kosugi Profile". Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  5. "Interview with Sho Kosugi" ZigZag Asia, 1 January, 2001
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.