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 actor, martial artist 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 martial arts ninja films produced by Cannon Films (Enter the Ninja, Revenge of the Ninja and Ninja III: The Domination), before starring in the primetime television series The Master.[4] His work helped establish ninjas in popular culture, leading to a "ninja boom" or "ninjamania" during the early-to-mid-1980s.[5][6]
Sho Kosugi | |
|---|---|
 Sho Kosugi in 2018 | |
| Born | 小杉 正一 (Shōichi Kosugi) June 17, 1948 Minato, Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, martial artist, writer |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse |
Shook Gim Chan
(m. 1973; div. 2009) |
| Children | Kane Kosugi, Shane Kosugi, Ayeesha Kosugi |
Life and career edit
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 xingyiquan, Korean taekwondo and Japanese Shitō-ryū and Shotokan-ryū karate.[7]
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).[8]
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 edit
Films edit
| 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 edit
| 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"[9] |
| 1987 | Wide Show 11 PM (11PM) |
Himself | Episode: "USA Latest Information! Ninja Boom, Landing in Japan! $1 Million Star Sho Kosugi Visit!!"[10] |
| 1991 | Subarashiki Nakama (すばらしき仲間) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 42nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (第42回NHK紅白歌合戦) |
Himself | TV special | |
| 1992 | Super Jockey (スーパージョッキー) |
Himself | 1 episode [11] |
| 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 |
| 1996–1998 | Sho Kosugi Self-Defense and Ninjaerobics | Himself | Producer Instructor |
| 1996 | Bang! Bang! Bang! (BANG! BANG! BANG!) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Legend of St. Dragon (聖龍伝説) |
Shūsaku Sendō | Episode: "Episode 7" | |
| 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 | |
| Tunnels no Namade Daradara ika sete!! (とんねるずの生でダラダラいかせて!!) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2000–2003 | Sōzetsu batoru! Hana no geinōkai (壮絶バトル!花の芸能界) |
Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Romihii (ろみひー) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Still, I like Japan! (土曜特集 それでも,ニッポンが好き!) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2001 | Kagai Jugyō Yōkoso Senpai (課外授業 ようこそ先輩) |
Himself | Episode "Hollywood Star: The Way To Realize Your Dreams" |
| Tiger's Gate (虎ノ門) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Kanbai Gekijō (完売劇場) |
Himself | 2 episodes | |
| Channepu (ちゃんネプ) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Warau Inu (笑う犬の発見 Go with flow!) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2002 | Muscle Battle Preview Special (筋肉バトル直前特集) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Sunday Big Variety (日曜ビッグバラエティ) |
Himself | Episode "Famous Foreign Talent: Homecoming Trip" | |
| Super Friday (スーパーフライデー) |
Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 2003 | Aitai! Onegai Kamisama Mōichido Dake! Special (逢いたい！お願い神様もう一度だけ！ＳＰ) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| Quiz $ Millionaire (クイズ＄ミリオネア) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| Tokumitsu Kazuo no Jōhō Spirits (徳光和夫の情報スピリッツ) |
Himself | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | Zenigata Kintaro (銭形金太郎) |
Himself | 1 episode |
| 2005–2007 | Seikatsu Hot Morning (生活ほっとモーニング) |
Himself | 2 episodes |
| 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 | Zubari Iuwayo! (ズバリ言うわよ！) |
Himself | 3 episodes |
Home videos edit
| 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 edit
| 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 edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Tenchu: Stealth Assassins | Rikimaru | motion capture |
Bibliography edit
Non-Fiction edit
| Authors | Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 978-4-5280003-5-3 | Autobiographical |
| Kosugi, Sho | 1993 | American Survival (アメリカンサバイバル) |
Kodansha | 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 | 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 | 978-4-8284067-6-3 | Biographical manga |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 978-4-14-827154-6 |
Fiction edit
| Authors | Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaney, Warren Kosugi, Sho |
2017 | Yin-Yang Code: The Drums of Tenkai-Bo[12] | MindStir Media | 978-0-9990698-5-1 | |
| Chaney, Warren Kosugi, Sho |
2018 | Yin-Yang Code: Shadow of Tenkai-Bo[13] | MindStir Media | 978-0-9995121-4-2 |
Notes edit
- ^ Sho Kosugi's Let's Towelcise is a follow-up to Anytime Anywhere! Sho Kosugi's Towel Exercise.
References edit
- ^ "Sho Kosugi Vs Shook Gim Kosugi - Marriage Dissolution/Divorce Case". Retrieved May 30, 2018.
- ^ "'Ninja' Knockin' 'Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1986. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Beale, Lewis (April 20, 1986). "Martial Arts Pics—packing A Hard Punch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "'Ninja' Knockin' 'Em Dead". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1986. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ Vandehey, Tim (May 1989). "The Ninja Phenomenon". Black Belt. Vol. 27, no. 5. Active Interest Media, Inc. pp. 36–40. ISSN 0277-3066.
- ^ Donovan, Barna William (September 17, 2014). The Asian Influence on Hollywood Action Films. McFarland & Company. pp. 133–4. ISBN 978-1-4766-0770-2.
- ^ "'Sho Kosugi Profile". Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ "Interview with Sho Kosugi" ZigZag Asia, January 1, 2001
- ^ "Honda Hurricane - "Hiding Ninja"". YouTube. 1986. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. 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". YouTube. March 17, 1987. Retrieved September 3, 2021.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "スーパージョッキー ガンバルマン". nicovideo.jp. 1991. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Yin-Yang Code Novels". Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ "Yin-Yang Code Novels". Retrieved May 2, 2019.
External links edit
- Official website
- Sho Kosugi at IMDb
- Sho Kosugi: The Ninja (archived)
- Find me a Ninja