Koichi Sakamoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
-born stunt actor, and producer for films and television. He is best known for his work as executive producer, as well as fight coordinator and frequent director, for the long running Power Rangers
franchise.
and Super Sentai
, Sakamoto worked to become a stunt performer for Blue Mask on Hikari Sentai Maskman
at live stunt shows, performing at Kōrakuen Stadium
and Tokyo Dome
.
He came to the United States
in 1989 as a foreign student to learn English and became a stunt actor.
His first major stunt role was in 1994 with Guyver: Dark Hero
as "Sakai." Sakamoto eventually married the film's unit production manager, Tamara Noland with whom they had one daughter, Matilda, prior to their separating. He went onto marry stuntwoman and suit actor
Motoko Nagino in 2002.
. This led him to eventually replacing Jeff Pruitt and Isaac Florentine as stunt director for the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
, along with his Alpha Stunts team. Sakamoto would then go on to become the 2nd Unit Director for the remainder of the Saban-era Power Rangers
series, eventually filling the roles of Producer, Executive Producer, even completing the final storyboard for "Countdown to Destruction
", the two-part series finale episode of Power Rangers in Space
(originally drafted to be three episodes).
He also made an appearance as Tritor (uncredited) in the 2-part Power Rangers: Zeo
episode, "King For a Day" (he only moved his lips, however, while character voice over work was performed by an uncredited Paul St. Peter
). Sakamoto became one of the few original crew members from MMPR Productions to remain with the production following its move to New Zealand
in 2003 when the franchise was transferred from Saban Entertainment to Disney
. However, while the Alpha Stunts team were replaced among the few crew member not laid off after the changeover and stayed on, particularly for second unit work, Sakamoto was replaced as stunt coordinator by Mark Harris, although Sakamoto continued directing through Ninja Storm, thereafter, he stayed on as executive producer, no longer choreographing or directing.
Disney dropped the franchise after season 17, selling it back to Saban. In 2011, Sakamoto returned as an action director for Power Rangers Samurai
.
. He recently trained The Jonas Brothers
for a week and a half, in preparation for filming J.O.N.A.S.
In 2008, Sakamoto and the Alpha Stunts team provided stunt training for Captain Tankboy and the Tankboy Crew for the reality TV series Tankboy TV
. Sakamoto also directed fight scenes in Operation Stuntman for Tankboy TV.
Sakamoto would go to do tokusatsu TV shows and films for Toei and Tsuburaya, including Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
, Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate and Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy. He will be directing the series Kamen Rider Fourze
. Sakamoto is known for adding elements of Hong Kong-style martial arts and stunts into traditional tokusatsu weapons battles and effects.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
-born stunt actor, and producer for films and television. He is best known for his work as executive producer, as well as fight coordinator and frequent director, for the long running Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
franchise.
Early career
Sakamoto graduated from Adachi ward Higashiayase junior high and high school, and went on to graduate from Matsudo Senshu University. A fan of Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
and Super Sentai
Super Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
, Sakamoto worked to become a stunt performer for Blue Mask on Hikari Sentai Maskman
Hikari Sentai Maskman
is Toei's eleventh entry of the Super Sentai Series. It aired on TV Asahi from February 28, 1987 to February 20, 1988, with a total of 51 episodes. Its international English title as listed by Toei is simply Maskman.-Plot:...
at live stunt shows, performing at Kōrakuen Stadium
Korakuen Stadium
was a stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Completed in 1937, it was primarily used for baseball and was home to the Yomiuri Giants until 1988 when they moved next door, to the Tokyo Dome, which sits on the site of the Velodrome. The ballpark had a capacity of 50,000 people. In 1942 Korakuen Stadium played...
and Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
.
He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1989 as a foreign student to learn English and became a stunt actor.
His first major stunt role was in 1994 with Guyver: Dark Hero
Guyver: Dark Hero
Guyver: Dark Hero is the 1994 sequel to The Guyver. It is based on the Guyver manga and anime. It was directed by Steve Wang, and stars David Hayter, Kathy Christopherson, and Bruno Giannotta...
as "Sakai." Sakamoto eventually married the film's unit production manager, Tamara Noland with whom they had one daughter, Matilda, prior to their separating. He went onto marry stuntwoman and suit actor
Suit actor
A is a member of a Japanese tokusatsu production who works similar to a stunt performer. However, the suit actor does all of his or her stunts while in a full costume that normally obscures their identity from the viewer and performs pantomime, as an actor's voice will generally be dubbed during...
Motoko Nagino in 2002.
Power Rangers
Sakamoto had also formed Alpha Stunts Production and was enlisted as 2nd Unit Director for the "battle grid" scenes from Saban Entertainment's short-lived syndicated live-action children's series VR TroopersVR Troopers
VR Troopers was a syndicated live action show produced by Saban from 1994 to 1996...
. This led him to eventually replacing Jeff Pruitt and Isaac Florentine as stunt director for the third season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is an American live-action children's television series based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months...
, along with his Alpha Stunts team. Sakamoto would then go on to become the 2nd Unit Director for the remainder of the Saban-era Power Rangers
Power Rangers
Power Rangers is a long-running American entertainment and merchandising franchise built around a live action children's television series featuring teams of costumed heroes...
series, eventually filling the roles of Producer, Executive Producer, even completing the final storyboard for "Countdown to Destruction
Countdown to Destruction
"Countdown to Destruction" is the two-part finale of the television series Power Rangers in Space. It marks the final appearance of almost all the villains from the previous seasons, and is also the final episode to feature Zordon...
", the two-part series finale episode of Power Rangers in Space
Power Rangers in Space
Power Rangers in Space is a television show that aired in 1998 as the sixth season and fourth installment of the Power Rangers franchise...
(originally drafted to be three episodes).
He also made an appearance as Tritor (uncredited) in the 2-part Power Rangers: Zeo
Power Rangers: Zeo
Power Rangers Zeo is an American superhero television series and the second installment of the Power Rangers franchise that is a continuation of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, that aired in 1996. It is based on the Super Sentai series Chōriki Sentai Ohranger...
episode, "King For a Day" (he only moved his lips, however, while character voice over work was performed by an uncredited Paul St. Peter
Paul St. Peter
Paul Schmidl Peter , better known as Paul St. Peter, is an American voice actor. He also uses the names George C. Cole, George Z. Cole and Francis C. Cole...
). Sakamoto became one of the few original crew members from MMPR Productions to remain with the production following its move to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 2003 when the franchise was transferred from Saban Entertainment to Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
. However, while the Alpha Stunts team were replaced among the few crew member not laid off after the changeover and stayed on, particularly for second unit work, Sakamoto was replaced as stunt coordinator by Mark Harris, although Sakamoto continued directing through Ninja Storm, thereafter, he stayed on as executive producer, no longer choreographing or directing.
Disney dropped the franchise after season 17, selling it back to Saban. In 2011, Sakamoto returned as an action director for Power Rangers Samurai
Power Rangers Samurai
Power Rangers Samurai is the nineteenth season of the American children's television series Power Rangers. With Saban Brands buying back the franchise, the show is produced by SCG Power Rangers and began airing on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons on February 7, 2011...
.
Other works
In 2006, Sakamoto served as action unit director and choreographer in Wendy Wu: Homecoming WarriorWendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is a 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie starring Brenda Song and Shin Koyamada. Koyamada plays a Chinese monk who visits the title character, an American teenager played by Song, claiming Wu is the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior and the only person who can...
. He recently trained The Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
for a week and a half, in preparation for filming J.O.N.A.S.
In 2008, Sakamoto and the Alpha Stunts team provided stunt training for Captain Tankboy and the Tankboy Crew for the reality TV series Tankboy TV
Tankboy TV
Tankboy TV or Tankboy is a reality show based on the antics of Captain Tankboy and his crew as they travel the world, blowing things up, driving tanks over cars, building rockets and generally creating havoc....
. Sakamoto also directed fight scenes in Operation Stuntman for Tankboy TV.
Sakamoto would go to do tokusatsu TV shows and films for Toei and Tsuburaya, including Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger
is a 2011 Japanese tokusatsu drama in the Super Sentai Series. It is the 35th entry in Toei Company's Super Sentai Series, following Tensou Sentai Goseiger. It premiered on TV Asahi on February 13, 2011, joining Kamen Rider OOO and then Kamen Rider Fourze as a program featured in TV Asahi's Super...
, Kamen Rider W Forever: A to Z/The Gaia Memories of Fate and Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy. He will be directing the series Kamen Rider Fourze
Kamen Rider Fourze
is a Japanese tokusatsu drama in Toei Company's Kamen Rider Series, being the thirteenth series in the Heisei period run and the twenty-second overall. It began airing on September 4, 2011, the week following the conclusion of Kamen Rider OOO, joining Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger in the Super Hero Time...
. Sakamoto is known for adding elements of Hong Kong-style martial arts and stunts into traditional tokusatsu weapons battles and effects.
External links
- Koichi Sakamoto at IMDB
- Alpha Stunts - Sakamoto's stunt company