Shin Koyamada
Encyclopedia
is a film actor, producer
, philanthropist
and martial artist.
Koyamada co-starred as “Nobutada” opposite Tom Cruise
in the Warner Bros.
action epic film The Last Samurai
(2004), with a worldwide box office of $456 million. Koyamada also starred in the action original movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
(2006). Koyamada has produced and starred in the film Good Soil
(2007) and executive produced Wine Road of the Samurai
(2007). Koyamada owns a production company named Shinca Entertainment.
Koyamada was appointed as the International Goodwill Ambassador
of Okayama Prefecture
in February 2010. He created a nonprofit organization named The Shin Koyamada Foundation to empower youth to achieve their goals and dreams, and to promote an Earth-Friendly lifestyle.
Koyamada holds higher ranked Black belts in martial arts
. Koyamada moved from Japan to the United States in June 2000. He is bilingual in Japanese
and English
.
. As a small boy, Koyamada's love of American and Hong Kong
action movies began influenced by his father. Koyamada graduated from Ichinomiya High School located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
. Koyamada is a direct descendant of the Kagenori Koyamada, the lord of the Koyamada clan
which was a Samurai
clan in the Satsuma domain. In September 2000, Koyamada moved to Hollywood alone, not knowing anyone, having no place to stay, and not knowing how to speak English. In 2001, Koyamada enrolled at Los Angeles City College
as a full-time international student where he first began taking intensive acting lessons in the theater academy.
NFL players and Koyamada became involved in the Muwanba Family Foundation, which focuses helping the lives of the children throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, Africa
.
. His first movie work was a short comedy film called A Ninja Pays Half My Rent
directed by Steven Tsuchida. The film was first released in 2003. In 2003, his debut feature film role in The Last Samurai
co-starred opposite Tom Cruise
as Nobutada. While filming The Last Samurai
in Japan
, United States
, and New Zealand
for almost 8 months, he added Kyūdō
(Japanese Archery) and Yabusame
to his repertoire.
Koyamada starred in the action/adventure/drama Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
with Brenda Song
, as Shen, an Undercover Buddhist Monk
. In 2006, Koyamada starred in and executive produced in the Japanese full feature documentary show Wine Road of the Samurai
(2006), filmed in Egypt
, France
and Japan
and nationally distributed by Tokyo Broadcasting System
(TBS) and other 28 affiliated TV stations in Japan
.
Karate
in Okayama, Japan
, in which he was awarded his first degree Black Belt
under Tadashi Yoshii Sensei. After relocating to the United States in 2000, Koyamada began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu 6 days a week under Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association. Koyamada specialized in empty hand form Boot Bo (拔步) and a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Northern Shaolin. Koyamada competed in six U.S National Martial Arts Competitions in Northern Shaolin over five months and won first place in all but one, and that was a second. In 2005, Koyamada earned san-dan (third degree) black belt
in traditional Keishinkan
Karate
back in Japan. In 2005, Koyamada began in Tae Kwon Do in which he earned the second degree Black Belt
. In 2007, Koyamada began Kung Jung Mu Sul
(Korean Royal Court Martial Arts), and certified as first degree Black Belt
by Grandmaster Soon Tae Yang in San Francisco in 2008. Koyamada was featured in a cover of Black Belt Magazine
in 2004. In 2009, Koyamada was invited to an annual Martial Arts Tour of Italy
organized by Federico Coccorese.
in New Zealand
by a Mayor Peter Tennent. On January 14 in 2005, Koyamada was awarded at World Martial Arts Masters Expo 05. In 2005, Koyamada was honored and awarded a Gold Coin for actively supporting a Mexican community by the Mexican Government. On February 17, 2010, Koyamada was appointed as International
Goodwill Ambassador
of the Government of Okayama Prefecture
, Japan
.
Others
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and martial artist.
Koyamada co-starred as “Nobutada” opposite Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
in the Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
action epic film The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic drama film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on a story by John Logan. The film was inspired by a project developed by writer and director Vincent Ward, who had previously filmed the movie in 1990, starring...
(2004), with a worldwide box office of $456 million. Koyamada also starred in the action original movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
Wendy 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...
(2006). Koyamada has produced and starred in the film Good Soil
Good Soil
Good Soil is a short film written and directed by Craig Shimahara and starring Shin Koyamada from The Last Samurai.-Plot summary:Jinbei Masuda, a Japanese Christian of the samurai class, draws his strength from his faith, family, and fencing...
(2007) and executive produced Wine Road of the Samurai
Wine Road of the Samurai
Wine Road of The Samurai is feature documentary film based on a true story about a 34 Samurai delegation to Europe in 1863. It was directed by Sone Eiji and starred Shin Koyamada as Himself and Narrator...
(2007). Koyamada owns a production company named Shinca Entertainment.
Koyamada was appointed as the International Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
of Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
in February 2010. He created a nonprofit organization named The Shin Koyamada Foundation to empower youth to achieve their goals and dreams, and to promote an Earth-Friendly lifestyle.
Koyamada holds higher ranked Black belts in martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. Koyamada moved from Japan to the United States in June 2000. He is bilingual in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Early life and background
Koyamada was born in Okayama, JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As a small boy, Koyamada's love of American and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
action movies began influenced by his father. Koyamada graduated from Ichinomiya High School located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
. Koyamada is a direct descendant of the Kagenori Koyamada, the lord of the Koyamada clan
Koyamada clan
is one of the Japanese samurai clans.The Koyamada Clan was headquartered in the Satsuma Domain, which was one of the most powerful feudal domains in Tokugawa Japan, and played a major role in the Meiji Restoration and in the government of the Meiji period which followed.The direct descendant is...
which was a Samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
clan in the Satsuma domain. In September 2000, Koyamada moved to Hollywood alone, not knowing anyone, having no place to stay, and not knowing how to speak English. In 2001, Koyamada enrolled at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
as a full-time international student where he first began taking intensive acting lessons in the theater academy.
NFL players and Koyamada became involved in the Muwanba Family Foundation, which focuses helping the lives of the children throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Acting
In 2001, he choreographed and performed martial arts forms and stage combat for a unique production of Shakespeare's CoriolanusCoriolanus
Gaius Marcius Coriolanus was a Roman general who is said to have lived in the 5th century BC. He received his toponymic cognomen "Coriolanus" because of his exceptional valor in a Roman siege of the Volscian city of Corioli. He was then promoted to a general...
. His first movie work was a short comedy film called A Ninja Pays Half My Rent
A Ninja Pays Half My Rent
A Ninja Pays Half My Rent is a short comedy film by Steven Tsuchida, it was first released in 2003.-Plot:When your roommate dies from an allergic reaction to fruit and the rent is due and you don't have the cash to cover it, there's no time to mess around picking a new roommate. So it goes that our...
directed by Steven Tsuchida. The film was first released in 2003. In 2003, his debut feature film role in The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic drama film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on a story by John Logan. The film was inspired by a project developed by writer and director Vincent Ward, who had previously filmed the movie in 1990, starring...
co-starred opposite Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
as Nobutada. While filming The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai
The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic drama film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay based on a story by John Logan. The film was inspired by a project developed by writer and director Vincent Ward, who had previously filmed the movie in 1990, starring...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and 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...
for almost 8 months, he added Kyūdō
Kyudo
, literally meaning "way of the bow", is the Japanese art of archery. It is a modern Japanese martial art and practitioners are known as .It is estimated that there are approximately half a million practitioners of kyudo today....
(Japanese Archery) and Yabusame
Yabusame
is a type of mounted archery in traditional Japanese archery. An archer on a running horse shoots three special "turnip-headed" arrows successively at three wooden targets....
to his repertoire.
Wendy 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...
with Brenda Song
Brenda Song
Brenda Song is an American actress, film producer, and model. Song started in show business as a child fashion model. Her early television work included roles in the shows Fudge and 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd...
, as Shen, an Undercover Buddhist Monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
. In 2006, Koyamada starred in and executive produced in the Japanese full feature documentary show Wine Road of the Samurai
Wine Road of the Samurai
Wine Road of The Samurai is feature documentary film based on a true story about a 34 Samurai delegation to Europe in 1863. It was directed by Sone Eiji and starred Shin Koyamada as Himself and Narrator...
(2006), filmed in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and nationally distributed by Tokyo Broadcasting System
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
(TBS) and other 28 affiliated TV stations in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Comics
Koyamada partnered with Travis Moore and Nia Lyte to form an American comic company called Laizen Comics to develop and publish American comics in late 2008. An Action and Adventure comic book titled The Dreamhoppers was created and written by Shin Koyamada, Travis Moore and Nia Lyte and published by Laizen Comics in early 2010. The story is based in New York. Koyamada is featured as the main character named Ren Matsuo in The Dreamhoppers.Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Black Ninja | Lead | |
| 2003 | Nobutada | Lead | |
| 2006 | Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior Wendy 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... |
Shen | Starring |
| 2007 | Good Soil Good Soil Good Soil is a short film written and directed by Craig Shimahara and starring Shin Koyamada from The Last Samurai.-Plot summary:Jinbei Masuda, a Japanese Christian of the samurai class, draws his strength from his faith, family, and fencing... |
Jinbei Masuda | Starring, Producer |
| 2011 | Ticker | Sam Goldman | Starring, Producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Power Rangers Wild Force | Agent | |
| 2004 | Jake 2.0 Jake 2.0 Jake 2.0 is an American science fiction television series originally broadcast on UPN in 2003. The series was canceled on January 14, 2004 due to low ratings, leaving four episodes unaired in the United States. In the United Kingdom, all the episodes aired on Sky1... |
Shinji Makito | Guest Starring, (one episode) |
| 2006 | Disney Channel Games 2006 | Himself | Lead, Red Team |
| 2006 | Wine Road of the Samurai Wine Road of the Samurai Wine Road of The Samurai is feature documentary film based on a true story about a 34 Samurai delegation to Europe in 1863. It was directed by Sone Eiji and starred Shin Koyamada as Himself and Narrator... |
Narrator, Himself | Actor, Executive Producer |
| 2007 | Disney Channel Games 2007 | Himself | Lead, Yellow Team |
| 2008 | Disney Channel Games 2008 | Himself | Lead, Blue Team |
| 2010 | Ai No Shizuku | Seinen Makibi | Starring |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Wine Road of the Samurai Wine Road of the Samurai Wine Road of The Samurai is feature documentary film based on a true story about a 34 Samurai delegation to Europe in 1863. It was directed by Sone Eiji and starred Shin Koyamada as Himself and Narrator... |
Producer | Feature Documentary |
| 2007 | Good Soil Good Soil Good Soil is a short film written and directed by Craig Shimahara and starring Shin Koyamada from The Last Samurai.-Plot summary:Jinbei Masuda, a Japanese Christian of the samurai class, draws his strength from his faith, family, and fencing... |
Executive Producer | Film |
Martial arts
By 16, Koyamada began to study KeishinkanKeishinkan
Keishinkan is an international association of traditional Okinawan Karate, practiced throughout Japan, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.Kei Shin Kan literally translates as:"Respectful, Heart and Soul, Place to practice."...
Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
in Okayama, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in which he was awarded his first degree Black Belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
under Tadashi Yoshii Sensei. After relocating to the United States in 2000, Koyamada began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu 6 days a week under Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association. Koyamada specialized in empty hand form Boot Bo (拔步) and a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Northern Shaolin. Koyamada competed in six U.S National Martial Arts Competitions in Northern Shaolin over five months and won first place in all but one, and that was a second. In 2005, Koyamada earned san-dan (third degree) black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in traditional Keishinkan
Keishinkan
Keishinkan is an international association of traditional Okinawan Karate, practiced throughout Japan, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.Kei Shin Kan literally translates as:"Respectful, Heart and Soul, Place to practice."...
Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
back in Japan. In 2005, Koyamada began in Tae Kwon Do in which he earned the second degree Black Belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
. In 2007, Koyamada began Kung Jung Mu Sul
Kung Jung Mu Sul
Kung Jung Mu Sul is Korean for Traditional Royal Court Martial Arts. A lethal system of self-defense whose origins can be traced back to the three original martial arts systems of Korea. Kung Jung Mu Sul - Royal Court Martial Arts. Bulkyo Mu Sul - Buddhist Martial Arts. Sado Mu Sul - Tribal Martial...
(Korean Royal Court Martial Arts), and certified as first degree Black Belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
by Grandmaster Soon Tae Yang in San Francisco in 2008. Koyamada was featured in a cover of Black Belt Magazine
Black Belt Magazine
Black Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...
in 2004. In 2009, Koyamada was invited to an annual Martial Arts Tour of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
organized by Federico Coccorese.
Honors and awards
In mid 2003, Koyamada was honored the Gold Key to the City of New PlymouthNew Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
in 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...
by a Mayor Peter Tennent. On January 14 in 2005, Koyamada was awarded at World Martial Arts Masters Expo 05. In 2005, Koyamada was honored and awarded a Gold Coin for actively supporting a Mexican community by the Mexican Government. On February 17, 2010, Koyamada was appointed as International
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
of the Government of Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
External links
Official- ShinKoyamada.com official website
Others