Sho Kosugi
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]
Sho Kosugi | |
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![]() 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 |
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 |
1976 | Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave | Suzuki | |
1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | Kata demonstrator | Extra |
1981 | Enter the Ninja | Hasegawa | |
1983 | Revenge of the Ninja | Cho Osaki | |
1984 | Ninja III: The Domination | Goro Yamada | |
1985 | 9 Deaths of the Ninja | Spike Shinobi | |
Pray for Death | Akira Saito | ||
1987 | Rage of Honor | Shiro Tanaka | |
1988 | Aloha Summer | Yukinaga Konishi | |
Black Eagle | Ken Tani | ||
1989 | Blind Fury | The Assassin | |
1991 | Journey of Honor | Daigorō Mayeda | |
1993 | Drug Connection | Larry Matsuda | |
1994 | The Fighting King | Director | |
The Fighting King 2 | Director | ||
2002 | The Scorpion King | Taiko choreographer | |
2009 | Ninja Assassin | Ozunu | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | The Richard Pryor Show | Samurai | Extra |
1984 | The Master | Okasa/Master" double | 13 episodes |
1986 | Honda Hurricane | Ninja | TV commercial |
1993 | Dragon Spirit | Shintenpū | 10 episodes |
Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Ultraman (voice) | 1 episode Japanese version | |
1994 | Sanma no Nandemo Derby | Himself | |
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger | Gali | 2 episodes | |
1996 | Legend of St. Dragon | Shūsaku Sendō | 1 episode |
Sho Kosugi Self-Defense and Ninjaerobics | Himself | Producer Instructor | |
1999 | Madamunmun | Himself | 1 episode |
2000 | Celebrity Survivor Battle XVI | Himself | |
Muscle Elite | Himself | 3 episodes | |
Still, I like Japan! | Himself | ||
2001 | Tiger's Gate | Himself | 1 episode |
2006 | Anytime Anywhere! Sho Kosugi's Towel Exercise | Himself | |
2007 | Seikatsu Hotto Motto Shiritai | Himself | |
Zubari Iuwayo! | Himself |
Home videos
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Master Class | Himself/Ninja | |
1986 | Ninja Theater Hosted by Sho Kosugi | Himself/Ninja | 13 segments |
2000 | SKI (Sho Kosugi Institute) | Himself | Producer |
2008 | Sho Kosugi's Let's Towelcise[lower-alpha 1] | Himself/Ninja | |
2017 | The Art of Hollywood Ninja Action Film Making | Himself/Ninja |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | The Ninjas From Hollywood Japan Tour 2001 | God of War and Peace | Director Producer Writer |
2002 | The Ninjas From Hollywood Japan Tour 2002 | God of War and Peace | 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 [7] | 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
- "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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Kosugi, Sho (1993). American Survival (アメリカンサバイバル). Kodansha. ISBN 978-4-0620627-7-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)