is a Japanese actor with extensive training in

Shindō jinen-ryū is a form of karate that was founded in 1933 by . The Naming of Shindo Jinen Ryu Konishi believed that if one lives a moral life, then one is naturally following the divine way. Extending this idea, he posited that, if training in karate in ...

Karate, Kendo,

Judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...

Iaido , abbreviated , is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks.Christensen, Karen and Allen Guttmann et.al (2001) ''International Encyclopedia of Women and Spor ...

, Kobudo,

Aikido Aikido ( , , , ) is a modern Japanese martial art that is split into many different styles, including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practiced in aroun ...

and

Ninjutsu , sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some trad ...

. A former All Japan Karate Champion, he gained popularity as an actor during the 1980s, often playing

ninjas A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp. 21– ...

. He starred in a trilogy of martial arts

ninja films The following is a list of films where at least one ninja character appears as a significant plot element. Japanese cinema Jidai-geki films Ninpo-cho films Silent films Gendai-geki films Tokusatsu films Anime films Erotic film ...

produced by

Cannon Films The Cannon Group, Inc. was an American group of companies, including Cannon Films, which produced films from 1967 to 1994. The extensive group also owned, amongst others, a large international cinema chain and a video film company that invested ...

(''

Enter the Ninja ''Enter the Ninja'' is a 1981 American martial arts film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi and Christopher George. The film is about a martial artist named Cole (Nero) who is visiting his friend Fr ...

'', ''

Revenge of the Ninja ''Revenge of the Ninja'' is a 1983 American martial arts– thriller film directed by Sam Firstenberg, and starring martial artist Sho Kosugi, Keith Vitali, Virgil Frye and Kane Kosugi. The plot follows a ninja trying to protect his only so ...

'' and '' Ninja III: The Domination''), before starring in the primetime television series '' The Master''. His work helped establish

ninjas in popular culture In the history of Japan, ninja (also known as shinobi) operated as spies, assassins, or thieves; they formed their own caste outside the usual feudal social categories such as lords, samurai, and serfs. Ninja often appear as stock character ...

, leading to a "ninja boom" or "ninjamania" during the early-to-mid-1980s.

Life and career

At the age of 19, Kosugi left Japan to study and reside in Los Angeles where he earned a bachelor's degree in Economics at

CSULA California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) is a public university in Los Angeles, California. It is part of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system. Cal State LA offers 142 bachelor's degrees, 122 master's degrees, ...

. At the same time, he consistently improved his martial arts skills while learning a wide variety of styles, such as Chinese

Xing Yi Quan Xing Yi Quan is classified as one of the internal styles of Chinese martial arts. The name of the art translates approximately to "Form-Intention Fist", or "Shape-Will Fist". Xing Yi is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements ...

, Korean

taekwondo ''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean martial arts, Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast k ...

and Japanese

Shitō-ryū is a form of karate that was founded in 1934 by . Shitō-ryū is synthesis of the Okinawan Shuri-te and Naha-te schools of karate and today is considered one of the four main styles of the art. History Kenwa Mabuni (Mabuni Kenwa 摩文� ...

and Shotokan-ryū karate. He is the father of

Kane Kosugi Kane or KANE may refer to: Art, entertainment and media Fictional entities *Kane (comics), the main character of the eponymous comic book series by Paul Grist * Kane (''Command & Conquer''), character in the ''Command & Conquer'' video game series ...

and Shane Kosugi, who are both actors and martial artists, and Ayeesha Kosugi, a former senior member of the women's golf team at the University of Las Vegas. After taking a hiatus from film, he started a

taiko are a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese, the term refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called and to the form of ensemble drumming ...

group in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. In Japan, he also ran an internationally oriented group of martial arts acting schools known as the Sho Kosugi Institute. He currently resides in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. Films in which Kosugi's sons perform alongside their father include ''Revenge of the Ninja'', ''Pray for Death'', ''Black Eagle'' and ''Journey of Honor'' (A.K.A. ''Kabuto'', ''Shogun Mayeda'' and ''Shogun Warrior'')."Interview with Sho Kosugi"
ZigZag Asia, January 1, 2001 In 2009, Sho made a comeback to films playing the lead villain of Ozunu in the action thriller ''

Ninja Assassin ''Ninja Assassin'' is a 2009 neo-noir martial arts film directed by James McTeigue. The story was written by Matthew Sand, with a screenplay by J. Michael Straczynski. The film stars South Korean pop musician Rain as a disillusioned assassin ...

'' opposite K-pop star and actor

Rain Rain is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides water ...

Filmography

Films

Television

Home videos

Stage

Video games

Bibliography

Non-Fiction

Fiction

Notes

References

External links

* *
Sho Kosugi: The Ninja
(archived)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kosugi, Sho 1948 births Living people 20th-century Japanese male actors 21st-century Japanese male actors American male actors of Japanese descent American male film actors American male karateka American film actors of Asian descent California State University, Los Angeles alumni Japanese emigrants to the United States Japanese male film actors Japanese male karateka Male actors from Tokyo Male actors from Los Angeles People from Los Angeles Xingyiquan practitioners Taiko players