Yoshi Amao
Encyclopedia
Yoshi Amao is a versatile Japanese actor, talent, comedian, emcee, and martial artist based in New York City
, and is the current emcee for the hit reality TV game show Big In Japan
on air throughout Europe.
Yoshi Amao was born in Osaka
, Japan, and grew up in Nara
. While a student at Osaka City University
, he started to learn acting and traditional Japanese dance. His career as an emcee also started while a college student. After graduating from college, Yoshi Amao worked in computer sales for four years, and concurrently worked as a radio personality at MBS Radio in Osaka
.
Yoshi Amao is well known as the feature host of the highly rated TV series Samurai Sportsman premiered in 2004 on Outdoor Life Network (now known as Versus). On this show, Yoshi is seen trying out American traditional outdoor sports, such as bass fishing, duck hunting, axe throwing, off road biking and rodeo (bareback riding, bull riding, and steer wrestling). At the same time, Yoshi teaches his samurai spirit and sword technique to each of the outdoor experts he worked with. In 2004, Amao was also invited as a guest on Late Night with Conan O' Brien on NBC
where he discussed samurai philosophy and blew away the audience with his unique sword technique.
In 1999, he started to assist Samurai Sword Fighting Workshop for Rome Kanda
, who himself is host of the Majide game show within a show on the American version of Big in Japan, I Survived a Japanese Game Show
. Four years afterward, he started his own Samurai Sword Fighting Class, and formed a sword fighting performance group Samurai Sword Soul together with Bob Kuwayama. Samurai Sword Soul is seen performing around New York
, including at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival held at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, where he is also the emcee for this event.
Yoshi Amao's other credits include the Budweiser
Commercial (Wasabi Version), which was selected as "Best Commercial of the Year" in 2000; principal character for the play Deadly She-wold Assassin at Armageddon (Kozue Ookami) at Japan Society in 2005; and main samurai for the Monday Night Football Promo on ESPN
in 2006.
On April 1, 2009, as an April Fools prank, Yoshi Amao surprised and charmed American audiences by standing in for regular host Jimmy Fallon
on Late Night, which succeeded Conan O'Brien
's hosting tenure.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is the current emcee for the hit reality TV game show Big In Japan
Big in Japan
Big in Japan was a punk band that emerged from Liverpool, England in the late 1970s. They are better known for the later successes of their band members than for their own music...
on air throughout Europe.
Yoshi Amao was born in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan, and grew up in Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
. While a student at Osaka City University
Osaka City University
, abbreviated to , is a public university in Japan. It is located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City.- History :OCU's predecessor was founded in 1880, as the Osaka Commercial Training Institute with donations by local merchants. It developed into Osaka Commercial School in 1885, then was municipalized in...
, he started to learn acting and traditional Japanese dance. His career as an emcee also started while a college student. After graduating from college, Yoshi Amao worked in computer sales for four years, and concurrently worked as a radio personality at MBS Radio in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
.
Yoshi Amao is well known as the feature host of the highly rated TV series Samurai Sportsman premiered in 2004 on Outdoor Life Network (now known as Versus). On this show, Yoshi is seen trying out American traditional outdoor sports, such as bass fishing, duck hunting, axe throwing, off road biking and rodeo (bareback riding, bull riding, and steer wrestling). At the same time, Yoshi teaches his samurai spirit and sword technique to each of the outdoor experts he worked with. In 2004, Amao was also invited as a guest on Late Night with Conan O' Brien on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
where he discussed samurai philosophy and blew away the audience with his unique sword technique.
In 1999, he started to assist Samurai Sword Fighting Workshop for Rome Kanda
Rome Kanda
is a Japanese tarento, comedian and actor who resides in the United States.Born in Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan, Kanda spent his early career as an actor with his debut movie Tokyo Pop directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui and filmed both in Japan and the USA in 1987...
, who himself is host of the Majide game show within a show on the American version of Big in Japan, I Survived a Japanese Game Show
I Survived a Japanese Game Show
I Survived a Japanese Game Show is an American reality show that saw its first season premiere on ABC June 24, 2008. The show followed a group of Americans, who leave the United States for Japan where they competed in a Japanese style game show. The winner takes home US $250,000...
. Four years afterward, he started his own Samurai Sword Fighting Class, and formed a sword fighting performance group Samurai Sword Soul together with Bob Kuwayama. Samurai Sword Soul is seen performing around New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, including at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival held at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, where he is also the emcee for this event.
Yoshi Amao's other credits include the Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
Commercial (Wasabi Version), which was selected as "Best Commercial of the Year" in 2000; principal character for the play Deadly She-wold Assassin at Armageddon (Kozue Ookami) at Japan Society in 2005; and main samurai for the Monday Night Football Promo on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in 2006.
On April 1, 2009, as an April Fools prank, Yoshi Amao surprised and charmed American audiences by standing in for regular host Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
on Late Night, which succeeded Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
's hosting tenure.