Biography
You can call him a charter-member of Sonny Chiba's own J.A.C. (Japanese Action Club). He had the moves to become an International star (like his mentor), but somehow seemed to stay within his shadow (not to mention, the shadow of his classmate and friend - Sue Shiomi). An intense actor, with fists and feet to match -- he can command your attention with that Chiba-like stare or he can make you take note, as he mows down a gang of guys trying to take him out. He received his first real notice in the hard-hitting film The Executioner, playing the young Chiba (where he had to flip over a sword during training).
In the film Ninja In The Dragon's Den, he plays a Ninja, who battles Conan Lee (in possibly the best role of his career). While, achieving success in other films like Roaring Fire and Shogun's Ninja (each carefully crafted by Chiba), he enjoyed stardom even in Hong Kong as well. He was very popular in his native Japan, where he, Chiba, and Shiomi often appeared in numerous Samurai productions (Crest Of Betrayal) between martial-arts films, with the best being the (2) popular series The Yagyu Conspiracy and The Shadow Warriors.
In the film Ninja In The Dragon's Den, he plays a Ninja, who battles Conan Lee (in possibly the best role of his career). While, achieving success in other films like Roaring Fire and Shogun's Ninja (each carefully crafted by Chiba), he enjoyed stardom even in Hong Kong as well. He was very popular in his native Japan, where he, Chiba, and Shiomi often appeared in numerous Samurai productions (Crest Of Betrayal) between martial-arts films, with the best being the (2) popular series The Yagyu Conspiracy and The Shadow Warriors.
He's been trained so well by Chiba, that he can fight side by side with him and he looks like a carbon copy of the man, himself. He has made a few modern-day films (The Last Samurai, The Wolverine, and The 47 Ronin), which show that his skills as a martial-artist and an actor, haven't waned one bit. Also, an accomplished musician and singer, he has enjoyed the limelight in various occupations, because of his dedication and hard work. Whether he's in a martial-arts film or cutting an album -- he does so with an unmistakable style, that lets you know, you're watching a master at work.