Sho Kosugi
Sho Kosugi | |
|---|---|
 Sho Kosugi in 2018 | |
| Born | 小杉 正一 (Shōichi Kosugi) June 17, 1948 |
| Occupation | Actor, martial artist |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse(s) | Shook Gim Chan
(m. 1973; div. 2009) |
| Children | Kane Kosugi, Shane Kosugi, Ayeesha Kosugi |
| Website | shokosugi |
Sho Kosugi (ショー・コスギ, Shō Kosugi, born Shōichi Kosugi (小杉 正一, Kosugi Shōichi) on June 17, 1948) is a Japanese martial artist, actor, filmmaker and writer with extensive training in Shindō jinen-ryū Karate, Kendo, Judo, Iaido, Kobudo, Aikido and Ninjutsu. A former All Japan Karate Champion,[2][3] he gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, often playing ninjas. He starred in a trilogy of ninja-themed martial arts films produced by Cannon Films, before earning a starring role in the primetime television series The Master.[4]
Life and career[]
At the age of 19, Kosugi 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.[5]
He is the father of Kane Kosugi and Shane Kosugi, who are both actors and martial artists and Ayeesha Kosugi, a former 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 (A.K.A. Kabuto, Shogun Mayeda and Shogun Warrior).[6]
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[]
Films[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Godfather: Part II | Passerby | Extra |
| 1975 | Six Killers | ||
| 1976 | Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave (아메리카 訪問客 Visitor of America) |
Suzuki | |
| 1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | Kata demonstrator | Extra |
| 1981 | Enter the Ninja | Hasegawa | |
| 1983 | Revenge of the Ninja | Cho Osaki | Fight choreographer |
| 1984 | Ninja III: The Domination | Goro Yamada | Fight choreographer |
| 1985 | 9 Deaths of the Ninja | Spike Shinobi | Fight choreographer |
| Pray for Death | Akira Saito | Martial arts choreographer | |
| 1987 | Rage of Honor | Shiro Tanaka | Martial arts choreographer |
| 1988 | Aloha Summer | Yukinaga Konishi | Special kendo choreographer |
| Black Eagle | Ken Tani | Fight choreographer | |
| 1989 | Blind Fury | The Assassin | Sword duel choreographer |
| 1991 | Journey of Honor (兜 KABUTO) |
Daigorō Mayeda | Producer Story |
| 1993 | Drug Connection (極東黒社会) |
Larry Matsuda | |
| 1994 | The Fighting King (ザ・格闘王) |
Director | |
| The Fighting King 2 (ザ・格闘王２) |
Director | ||
| 2002 | The Scorpion King | Taiko choreographer Writer of "Marching-In" theme | |
| 2009 | Ninja Assassin | Ozunu |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | The Richard Pryor Show | Samurai | Extra |
| 1984 | The Master | Okasa | 13 episodes Also fight double, stunt coordinator, ninja choreographer and technical advisor |
| 1986 | Honda Hurricane | Ninja | TV commercial: "Hiding Ninja"[7] |
| 1987 | Wide Show 11 PM (11PM) |
Himself | Episode: "USA Latest Information! Ninja Boom, Landing in Japan! $1 Million Star Sho Kosugi Visit!!"[8] |
| 1991 | Subarashiki Nakama (すばらしき仲間) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK紅白歌合戦) |
Himself | TV special | |
| 1992 | Super Jockey (スーパージョッキー) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Dragon Spirit (琉球の風) |
Shintenpū | 10 episodes |
| Itsumitemo Haranbanjō (いつみても波瀾万丈) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero (ウルトラマンパワード) |
Ultraman (voice) | Episode: "On a Mission from M78" (Japanese dub) | |
| 1994 | Sanma no Nandemo Derby (さんまのなんでもダービー) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Waratte Iitomo! Tokudaigō (笑っていいとも!特大号) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Oltre i Cinquanta (オルトレ・イ・チンクワンタ) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Tetsuko's Room (徹子の部屋) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (忍者戦隊カクレンジャー) |
Gali | Episodes: "A Super Big Figure Coming to Japan!!", "History's First Super Battle" | |
| 1995 | Friday Lively Time (金曜いきいきタイム) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Bang! Bang! Bang! (BANG! BANG! BANG!) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Legend of St. Dragon (聖龍伝説) |
Shūsaku Sendō | Episode: "Episode 7" | |
| 1996-1998 | Sho Kosugi Self-Defense and Ninjaerobics | Himself | Producer Instructor |
| 1997 | Cooking Banzai! (料理バンザイ!) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Madamunmun (マダムんむん) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Pro Sportsman No.1 (スポーツマンNo.1決定戦) |
Himself | TV special: "Celebrity Survival Battle XVI" |
| Muscle Elite (筋肉精鋭) |
Himself | 3 episodes | |
| Still, I like Japan! (それでも,ニッポンが好き!) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2001 | Tiger's Gate (虎ノ門) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Kagai Jugyō Yōkoso Senpai (課外授業 ようこそ先輩) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Barber Young (バーばーヤング) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 2006-2007 | Anytime Anywhere! Sho Kosugi's Towel Exercise (いつでもどこでも!ショー・コスギのタオルエクササイズ) |
Himself | |
| 2007 | Seikatsu Hotto Motto Shiritai (生活ほっともっと知りたい) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Zubari Iuwayo! (ズバリ言うわよ！) |
Himself | 1 episode |
Home videos[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Master Class | Himself/Ninja | Fight choreographer |
| 1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi | Himself/Ninja | 13 segments Fight choreographer |
| 2000 | SKI (Sho Kosugi Institute) | Himself | Producer |
| 2008 | Sho Kosugi's Let's Towelcise[a] | Himself/Ninja | |
| 2017 | The Art of Hollywood Ninja Action Film Making | Himself/Ninja | Director Producer |
Stage[]
| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Ninjas From Hollywood Japan Tour 2001 | Genbusui, God of War and Peace Kojiro, NY Ninja Boss Bird-masked Ninja |
Director Producer Writer |
| 2002 | The Ninjas From Hollywood Japan Tour 2002 | Genbusui, God of War and Peace Kojiro, NY Ninja Boss Prior Generation Ninja Leader |
Director Producer Writer |
Video games[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tenchu: Stealth Assassins | Rikimaru | motion capture |
Publication[]
Novels[]
| Year | Title | Author | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Yin-Yang Code: The Drums of Tenkai-Bo [9] | Warren Chaney Sho Kosugi |
MindStir Media |
| 2018 | Yin-Yang Code: Shadow of Tenkai-Bo | Warren Chaney Sho Kosugi |
MindStir Media |
Notes[]
- ^ Sho Kosugi's Let's Towelcise is a follow-up to Anytime Anywhere! Sho Kosugi's Towel Exercise.
References[]
- ^ "Sho Kosugi Vs Shook Gim Kosugi - Marriage Dissolution/Divorce Case". Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "'Ninja' Knockin' 'Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. 15 May 1986. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ^ Beale, Lewis (20 April 1986). "Martial Arts Pics—packing A Hard Punch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "'Ninja' Knockin Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. 15 May 1986. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ^ "'Sho Kosugi Profile". Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ "Interview with Sho Kosugi" ZigZag Asia, 1 January 2001
- ^ "Honda Hurricane - "Hiding Ninja"". YouTube. 1986. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "11 PM「USA最新情報・忍者ブーム」ショー・コスギ氏ゲスト出演 1987年". March 17, 1987. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "Yin-Yang Code Novels". Retrieved 2 May 2019.
Bibliography[]
- Kosugi, Sho (1990). Sho Kosugi: American Dream o Jitsugen Shita Otoko (ショー・コスギ アメリカンドリームを実現した男). Nittō Shoin Honsha. ISBN 978-4-5280003-5-3.
- Kosugi, Sho (1993). American Survival (アメリカンサバイバル). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0620627-7-0.
- Kosugi, Sho (1994). Sho Kosugi no Un o Tsukamu (ショー・コスギの運を掴む). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0620714-0-6.
- Hirao, Yukari; Nemoto, Tetsuya (1996). Sho Kosugi: The Challenge of Hollywood (ショー・コスギ ハリウッドの挑戦). Business-sha. ISBN 978-4-8284067-6-3.
- Kosugi, Sho (1996). Sho Kosugi no Ninja Shiki Jinsei Hissho Ho (ショー・コスギのニンジャ式人生必勝法). Bungeisha. ISBN 978-4-8873700-0-5.
- Kosugi, Sho (1997). Make Dreams Come True (メイク・ドリームズ・カム・トゥルー). Uinet. ISBN 978-4-8728450-0-6.
- kosugi, Sho (1998). Boku no Eigo Musha Shugyo: Atama wa Iranai! Eikaiwa (ぼくの英語武者修行 頭はいらない！英会話). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0626369-3-3.
- Kosugi, Sho (2000). Saikyo no Otoko Kane Kosugi ni Naru 43 no Hisaku (最強の男ケイン・コスギになる43の秘策). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0621032-7-5.
- Kosugi, Sho (2000). Hollywood Cinema Eigo Dojo: Doryoku wa Iranai! Eikaiwa (ハリウッド・シネマ英語道場 努力はいらない！英会話). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0626480-5-9.
- Kosugi, Sho (2001). Kodomo o Takumashiku Sodateru Honmono no Shitsuke: How to raise a child (子供をたくましく育てる本物の「躾」 How to raise a child). Business-sha. ISBN 978-4-8284093-9-9.
- Kosugi, Sho (2006). NHK Marutoku Magazine: Anytime Anywhere! Sho Kosugi's Towel Exercise (ＮＨＫまる得マガジン いつでもどこでも！ショ－・コスギのタオルエクササイズ). NHK Publishing. ISBN 978-4-14-827154-6.
External links[]
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Categories:
- 1948 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Japanese male actors
- 21st-century Japanese male actors
- American male actors of Japanese descent
- American male film actors
- American male karateka
- California State University, Los Angeles alumni
- Japanese emigrants to the United States
- Japanese male film actors
- Japanese male karateka
- Male actors from Tokyo
- Male actors from Los Angeles
- People from Los Angeles
- Xingyiquan practitioners