Mature Talk: Sonny Chiba - (another great asian fighting figure)

[oldies8ladies]

Sonny Chiba



Date of birth: 23 JAN 1939
Location: Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan

BIOGRAPHY:

Birth name: Sadao Maeda

Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)

Pivotal figure in the 1970s explosion of martial arts cinema as lethal "fists for hire" trouble shooter, Takuma (Terry) Tsurugi, starring in the phenomenally popular and ultra violent "The Street Fighter" series of action films. Sonny Chiba wasn't a graceful, fluid fighter like screen icon "Bruce Lee", but rather he was a ferocious machine that mowed down his opponents with his fists and feet, always with a menacing grimace on his face!

Chiba was born Sadao Maeda in Fukuoka, Japan in 1939 and shared a house along with four other siblings to a father who was a military test pilot. As a youth, he was keen on both theatre and gymnastics, and was a talented enough athlete to score a position in the Japanese Olympic Team, until a chronic back injury finished his gymnastic aspirations. However, whilst at university he took a strong interest in karate under the guidance of the legendary "Mas Oyama", and soon earned his first black belt.

However, his life took another turn, when in 1960 he was discovered during a talent search by Toei Studios, and he soon began his screen career under the name of "Shinichi Chiba", appearing as "Space Chief" in _Uchu Kaisoku-ken (1961)_ (aka "Invasion of the Neptune Men). Over the next decade, Chiba busied himself with many appearances in Japanese crime thrillers and steadily built a reputation for playing hard men of few words and direct actions.

With his martial arts proficiency in karate, judo & kenpo, he was in the box seat to take advantage of the early 1970s martial arts boom commenced by Chinese superstar "Bruce Lee", and Chiba starred in the brutal and uncompromising "Gekitotsu! Satsujin Ken (1974) (aka "The Streetfighter"). The film has Chiba playing a mercenary style, street thug who will do anything for a price, and take on most anyone, including the Japanese Yakuza.

The approach of the film was quite different from the Bruce Lee films in that Lee only eliminated his enemies when he was defending his friends or his honor.

Quite the opposite, Chiba was only after a fistful of dollars for his deadly services and would engage in mortal combat for the highest bidder, although this often clouded his judgement to his own detriment. The only person "The Street Fighter" respects is his martial arts teacher, the short rotund, karate master "Masaoko" played by Masafumi Suzuki, who manages to easily out smart and out fight the frustrated Chiba!

Upon its release, the film was roundly criticised for its excessive violence, including the amazing finale where a lethal blow to the ringleader's skull is shown in x-ray on screen. Fans didn't care, and they flocked in their thousands to see this economically made, yet eye catching chop socky spectacular.

A sequel quickly followed with him back again in the messy production Satsujin Ken 2 (1974) (aka "Return of The Streetfighter"), which was followed by a third Streetfighter movie also starring female martial arts dynamo Etsuko Shihomi in the gritty Onna Hissatsu Ken (1974) (aka "Sister Street Fighter"), and then the fourth and final film in the series _Gyakushu Satsujin ken (1974)_ (aka "The Street Fighters Last Revenge"), which was arguably the best of all the sequels.

Chiba had firmly established himself as a key anti-hero of Asian martial arts cinema who said little, and used his fists to sort out his troubles. With the demand high from keen action fans, he remained remarkably busy on screen for the next twenty years starring in numerous Japanese film & TV productions with an emphasis on bruising fights, samurai swords, Yakuza gangsters and pretty girls in trouble.

Outside of Japan, the "Street Fighter" series of films has achieved enduring popularity through many midnight cult screenings, and their style heavily influenced a youthful indie filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino has used strong references and imagery from the "Street Fighter" movies in several of his films including True Romance (1993) and _Pulp Fiction (1995).

And when Tarantino came around to casting his mammoth "Kill Bill: Vol 1" (2003) project, he was awed to have Chiba accept the key role of the hot headed, and sometimes humourous, Okinawan sword maker "Hattori Hanzo. Sonny Chiba has undoubtedly been a major figure and ongoing influence in the worldwide passion for martial arts movies for over thirty years, and he continues to actively contribute to the genre by encouraging & training young hopefuls seeking to make their mark on screen.

Source Material: imdb.com

[oldies8ladies]

Trivia

Father of Juri Manase.

Older brother of Jirô Chiba

2nd-Dan Blackbelt in Jûdô

4th-Dan Blackbelt in Ninjutsu

1st-Dan Blackbelt in Kendô

1st-Dan Blackbelt in Shôrinji Kenpô

As a college student at Nippon Taiiku University, Chiba trained extensively for the 1964 Japanese Olympic Gymnastics Team, but a hip injury from a part-time construction work cost him his gymnastics career. It was then that he decided to devote most of his time and energy into martial arts, training under the renowned World Karate Grand Master Mas Oyama Koncho, receiving his first degree judo black belt. He later portrayed Mas Oyama in the martial arts bio-pic "Kenka karate kyokushinken" (Champion of Death, 1975).

Best known in international cult-cinema circles for starring as Terry Tsurugi, the hitman for hire in "The Street Fighter" (1974) film series, which produced 3 sequels. Chiba currently resides in Los Angeles with his second wife.

Chiba has starred in more than 125 films at Toei Studios and has won numerous acting awards in Japan for his dramatic film roles.

Director Quention Tarantino is a huge fan of Sonny Chiba.

Tarantino has included references to Chiba's 70's films "The Street Fighter," "Return of the Street Fighter," and "Sister Street Figher" in the opening act of "True Romance" (1993).

The opening monologue of Chiba's "Karate Kiba" (1974) is quoted word-for-word by Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) as his trademark "Ezekiel 25:17 Speech" in "Pulp Fiction" (1994).

Founder of the Japanese Action Club (JAC), a group of martial artist/actors who train together in promoting realistic fighting techniques in Japanese movies and television shows.

Frequent co-star of Etsuko Shihomi, the star of the "Sister Street Fighter" series.

In the early 70s, Chiba was set to co-star in a feature film production with Bruce Lee and George Lazenby. Unfortunately, the moment Chiba's plane landed in Hong Kong to start production, the news of Lee's untimely death forced the producers to shut-down the ill-fated project.

Student of Choi Bae-dal, the founder of Kyokushin Karate.

[oldies8ladies]

Personal quotes

"An actor's body should be full of emotions, whether it is happiness or sorrow, pain or joy, enraged or elated.

You have to express yourself with your whole body.

Japanese actors don't normally do this.

What I'm doing as an action star is what every actor should be doing.

Action is drama.

If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we are not actors.

That may be idealistic -- but it's true."

[oldies8ladies]

FILMS DONE:

1. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) (as JJ Sonny Chiba) .... Kamata
2. Baau lit diy shut (2004) .... Otosan
   ... aka Explosive City (International: English title)
3. Survive Style 5+ (2004) (as Shinichi Chiba) ....
4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) .... Hattori Hanzo
   ... aka Kill Bill (USA: informal short title)
5. Batoru rowaiaru II: Chinkonka (2003) ....
   ... aka Battle Royale II (USA)
6. Jitsuroku Andô Noboru kyôdô-den: Rekka (2002)
   ... aka Violent Fire (USA: DVD box title)
7. Akumyô (2001)
8. "Dekichatta kekkon" (2001) TV Series (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Ittetsu Kotani
   ... aka Shotgun Wedding
9. Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai (2000)
   ... aka Chinchiromai (Japan: short title)
10. Sheng zhe wei wang (2000) .... Isako Kusaraki
    ... aka Born to Be King (International: English title)
11. Siu lei fei do ji fei do ngoi chuen (2000) .... Dagger
    ... aka The Legend of the Flying Swordman (Hong Kong: English title)
12. Fung wan: Hung ba tin ha (1998) .... Lord Conquer
    ... aka The Storm Riders (International: English title)
13. "Terayoka yume shinan" (1997) TV Series
14. "Seiryû densetsu" (1996) TV Series
15. Codename: Silencer (1995) .... Makato
    ... aka Body Count (USA)
16. Immortal Combat (1994) (as Sonny J. J. Chiba) .... Jiro 'J.J.' Jinkline
    ... aka Resort to Kill (USA: video title)
17. Itsuka giragirasuruhi (1992) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Shiba
    ... aka Double Cross (USA)
18. Aces: Iron Eagle III (1992) .... Horikoshi
19. "Tokugawa burai-cho" (1992) TV Series
    ... aka History of Women Torture (International: English title: video catalogue title)
20. Ba dao zong heng (1992) .... The Superintendent
    ... aka Fighting Fist
21. Gokudô sensô: Butôha (1991)
22. Mine Field (1991)
23. "Takeda Shingen" (1990) (mini) TV Series .... Takeda Nobutora
24. Jushichinin no ninja (1990) (TV)
25. Sensei (1989)
    ... aka The School (USA)
26. Shôgun Iemitsu no ranshin - Gekitotsu (1989) .... Iba Shoemon
    ... aka Geki Totsu: The Insanity of Emperor Iemitsu
    ... aka Shogun's Shadow
27. Tanba Tetsuro no daireikai shindara dounaru (1989)
28. "Tian xia" (1988) TV Series .... Lord Conquerer
    ... aka Wind and Cloud: The Storm Riders (USA: DVD title)
29. Hissatsu 4: Urami harashimasu (1987) .... Bunshichi
    ... aka Sure-Fire Death 4: We Will Avenge You (USA: literal English title)
30. "Tabi shojo" (1987) TV Series
    ... aka The Traveling Girl
31. Tomorrow's Snow (1987) (TV)
32. Kyabare (1986) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Yakuza boss
    ... aka Cabaret
33. Space Cop Shaider: Pursuit! Shigi Shigi Abduction Plan (1985) .... Voicer
34. Saigo no bakuto (1985)
    ... aka The Last Gambler (literal English title)
35. "Uchû keiji Shaider" .... Voicer (1 episode, 1985)
    ... aka Space Cops Shaider (USA: informal English title)
    - Episode #1.49 (1985) TV Episode .... Voicer
36. "Kage no Gundan: Bakumatsu hen" (1985) TV Series
37. Kotaro makari-toru! (1984)
    ... aka Leave It to Kotaro (USA: video title)
38. Satomi hakken-den (1983) .... Dosetsu
    ... aka Legend of the Eight Samurai (USA: dubbed version)
39. Iga-no Kabamaru (1983)
    ... aka Kabamaru the Ninja (USA)
40. Iga ninpôchô (1982) .... Shinzaemon Yagyu
    ... aka The Ninja Wars (International: English title)
41. Kamata koshin-kyoku (1982) (as Shin'ichi Chiba) .... Actor
    ... aka Fall Guy
42. Hoero! Tekken (1982) .... Mr. Magic/Interpol Inspector
    ... aka Roaring Fire (Philippines: English title) (USA)
43. "Uchû keiji Gyaban" (1982) TV Series .... Voicer (unknown episodes)
    ... aka Space Sheriff Gavan
44. "Kage no gundan III" (1982) TV Series
45. The Bushido Blade (1981) .... Prince Ido
    ... aka The Bloody Bushido Blade
46. Bôkensha kamikaze (1981) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Daisuke Kamikaze
    ... aka The Kamikaze Adventurers (International: English title)
47. Makai tenshô (1981) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Jubei Yagyu
    ... aka Samurai Reincarnation
48. Ryu no oujo (1981)
    ... aka Dragon Princess
    ... aka Sonny Chiba's Dragon Princess (USA)
49. Ninja bugeicho momochi sandayu (1980) .... Shiranui
    ... aka Shogun's Ninja
50. Fukkatsu no hi (1980) (as Shinici Chiba) .... Dr. Yamauchi
    ... aka The End (USA: video title)
    ... aka Virus (USA)
51. "Hattori Hanzô: Kage no Gundan" (1980) TV Series .... Hattori Hanzô
    ... aka Shadow Warriors (USA)
52. Sengoku jieitai (1979) .... Lt. Yoshiaki Iba
    ... aka G.I. Samurai
    ... aka Time Slip
53. Yomigaeru kinrô (1979) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Mitsuhiko Sakurai
    ... aka The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (International: English title)
54. Yami no karyudo (1979) (as Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba) .... Samon Shimoguni
    ... aka Hunter in Darkness
    ... aka Hunter in the Dark
55. Hakuchyu no shikaku (1979) (as Shinichi Chiba) .... Yosuke Ota
56. "Yagyuu Conspiracy" (1979) TV Series .... Yagyuu Juubei
57. Ako-Jo danzetsu (1978) (as Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba) .... Kazuemon Fuwa
    ... aka The Fall of Ako Castle (USA)
58. Uchu kara no messeji (1978) .... Hans
    ... aka Return to Jelucia (USA: cable TV title)
59. Yagyû ichizoku no inbô (1978) .... Yagyu Jubei
    ... aka Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (USA)
60. Yokohama ankokugai mashingan no ryu (1978)
    ... aka Yokohama Underworld: The Machine-Gun Dragon
61. Okinawa jû-nen sensô (1978)
    ... aka Okinawa: The Ten-Year War (Japan: literal English title)
62. Doberuman deka (1977) .... Joji Kano
    ... aka Detective Doberman (International: English title)
    ... aka The Doberman Cop
63. Nihon no jingi (1977)
    ... aka Honor of Japan (literal English title)
64. Sora-te baka ichidai (1977) .... Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
    ... aka Karate baka ichidai
    ... aka Karate for Life (International: English title)
65. Hokuriku dairi senso (1977)
    ... aka Hokuriku Proxy War (USA: literal English title)
    ... aka Proxy War in Hokuriku
66. Yakuza senso: Nihon no Don (1977)
    ... aka Yakuza War: The Japanese Don (literal English title)
67. Golgo 13: Kûron no kubi (1977) .... Duke Togo (Golgo 13)
    ... aka The Kowloon Assignment
68. Kyokuskin kenka karate burai ken (1977) .... Mas Oyama
    ... aka Karate Bear Fighter (International: English title)
69. Gekisatsu! Judo ken (1977) .... Mu Yun Tek
    ... aka Soul of Bruce Lee (USA)
    ... aka Soul of Chiba
70. Torakku yarô: Dokyô ichiban hoshi (1977)

NOTE: This is just the first 70 films that he has made. Over his career he has made over
100 plus films.

Source Material: IMDB.com (part one of films he has made)