, is a Japanese actor who is known to be featured in films that involve much

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; a ...

. He trained in

Muay Thai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

Karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ) is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tii'' in Okinawan) under the ...

and

Boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

before starting his acting career. Best known for his portrayals as Kyosuke Akiba in '' Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.'', Shinjiro Hayashida from ''

Cromartie High - The Movie Cromartie or Cromarty may refer to: People Sport * Antonio Cromartie (born 1984), American football cornerback * Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith (born 1987), American football safety * Marcus Cromartie (born 1990), American football cornerback * Russell ...

'', and Tetsuki Yamato/Kamen Rider Ketaros in the 2006

Tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...

movie, '' Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love''. He was also featured as a main character in the film adaptation of

Futaro Yamada was the pen name of , a Japanese author. He was born in Yabu, Hyogo. In 1947, he wrote a mystery short story and was awarded a prize by the magazine . He was discovered by Edogawa Rampo and became a novelist. He wrote many ninja (忍法帖 ''Ni ...

's novel '' Koga Ninpocho'', '' Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'', And was a part of the stunt performers for ''

The Last Samurai ''The Last Samurai'' is a 2003 epic period action drama film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Logan and Marshall Herskovitz from a story devised by Logan. The film stars Ken Watanabe in the t ...

''. He also recently made a minor/cameo role in '' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' as a

Yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ...

bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, w ...

Filmography

Films

*'' Godzilla: Tokyo SOS'' (2003) – Kyosuke Akiba *'' Cromartie High: The Movie'' (2005) – Hayashida Shinjiro *'' Shinobi: Heart Under Blade'' (2005) – Chikuma Koshiro *'' Kamen Rider Kabuto: God Speed Love'' (2006) – Tetsuki Yamato/Kamen Rider Ketaros *'' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' (2006) –

*'' Nu-Meri: Book of the New Spawn'' (2008) *''

Ultraman Ginga , is a Japanese television series produced by Tsuburaya Productions. It is the 25th entry to the ''Ultra Series'', released to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. It is the first entry in the New Generation series, ending a six year long hia ...

'' (2013) - Gō Ōsato *'' Bushido Man'' (2013) - Takanori Tsujimoto *''

Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of albums ...

'' (2014)

References

External links

Official website
* * 1975 births Living people Kamen Rider Koga, Mitsuki Japanese male boxers Japanese male karateka Japanese Muay Thai practitioners People from Aizuwakamatsu {{Japan-actor-stub