Sonny Chiba

Japanese actor and martial artist (1939–2021)

(m. 1972; div. 1994)
  • Tamami Chiba
    (m. 1996; div. 2015)
  • Children
    • Juri Manase
    • Mackenyu
    • Gordon Maeda
    RelativesJirō Yabuki (brother)Websitechibashinichi.comSignature

    Shinichi Chiba (Japanese: 千葉 真一, Hepburn: Chiba Shin'ichi, born Sadaho Maeda; 23 January 1939 – 19 August 2021), known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist.[1] Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience.[2][3]

    Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984.

    Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two tokusatsu superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro Kamen) in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film The Street Fighter. Before retiring, Chiba had also appeared in a number of English language American films, including Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift (2006).

    Chiba died of COVID-19 complications at the hospital in Tokyo on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82.

    Names

    Born Sadaho Maeda (前田 禎穂, Maeda Sadaho), he used the stage name "Chiba Shinichi" throughout his professional career. When New Line Cinema released the film Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken (激突! 殺人拳) in the United States in 1974, they retitled it The Street Fighter and billed its star as Sonny Chiba. Later, Chiba modified the name to "JJ Sonny Chiba", wherein the initials stood for "Justice Japan".[4] After appearing in the taiga drama Fūrin Kazan[5][6] in November 2007, he announced the retirement of the stage name "Shinichi Chiba"; henceforth he was billed "JJ Sonny Chiba" as an actor and Rindō Wachinaga (和千永 倫道, Wachinaga Rindō) as a film director.[7]

    Early life

    Chiba in Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley, 1961

    Chiba was born in Fukuoka, the third of five children. His father was a pilot for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service; his mother, originally from Kumamoto Prefecture, had competed in track and field in her youth.[8] When he was four years old, his father was transferred to Kisarazu, Chiba, and the family moved to Kimitsu, Chiba Prefecture.[9]

    After Chiba went to junior high school in Kimitsu, the physical education teacher advised him to do artistic gymnastics.[10] He also was passionate about track and field sports, baseball, and volleyball.[10] He participated in those four sports championships of Chiba Prefecture.[10] In high school, Chiba dedicated himself to artistic gymnastics and won the National Sports Festival of Japan while in his third year.[2][11] He enjoyed watching movies, including Western movies such as Shane and High Noon.[11]

    Chiba went to the Nippon Sport Science University in 1957.[2][12] He was a serious candidate for a place in the Japanese Olympic team in his late teens until he was sidelined by a back injury.[2][12] While he was a university student, he began studying martial arts with the renowned Kyokushin Karate master Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama (whom he later portrayed in a trilogy of films), which led to a first-degree black belt on 15 October 1965, later receiving a fourth-degree on 20 January 1984.[13]

    Career

    Chiba in Invasion of the Neptune Men, 1961

    Sometime around 1960,[14] he was discovered in a talent search (called "New Face") by the Toei film studio, and he began his screen career soon after. [citation needed] The CEO of Toei at the time gave him the stage name "Shinichi Chiba".[citation needed]

    His acting career began on television, starring in two tokusatsu superhero shows, first replacing Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/ Seven Color Mask in Seven Color Mask (Nana-iro kamen) in the second half of the series and then starring as Gorō Narumi/Messenger of Allah in Messenger of Allah (Allah no Shisha). He starred in the 1961 science fiction movie Invasion of the Neptune Men and the first Kinji Fukasaku film, Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley, which marked the beginning of a long series of collaborations for the two. Over the next decade, he was cast primarily in crime thrillers. By 1970, Chiba had started his own training school for aspiring martial arts film actors and stunt performers known as JAC (Japan Action Club) [ja], in order to develop the level of martial arts techniques and sequences used in Japanese film and television. Today the organization is known as Japan Action Enterprise (JAE). He starred in Karate Kiba (Bodyguard Kiba) in 1973, which was his first martial arts movie.[citation needed] Chiba's breakthrough international hit was The Street Fighter (1974) which was brought to Western audiences (dubbed in English) by New Line Cinema. The film and its sequels established him as the reigning Japanese martial arts actor in international cinema for the next two decades.[2][3] It was New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye who gave Chiba the English name "Sonny",[15] which Chiba would adopt as his own (mostly for non-Japanese projects) from that point on.[citation needed]

    Chiba's subsequent projects included such pictures as The Bullet Train (1975), Karate Warriors (1976), Doberman Cop (1977), Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon (1977), and The Assassin (1977). He also occasionally returned to the science fiction genre, in movies such as Message from Space (1978). He also began to star on some jidaigeki such as Shogun's Samurai (1978), The Fall of Ako Castle (1978), G.I. Samurai (1979), Shadow Warriors (1980), and Samurai Reincarnation (1981). He was not only actor in but also stunt coordinator for G.I. Samurai, Burning Brave (1981), and Shogun's Shadow (1989). He was executive producer and director for Yellow Fangs (1990) and also directed and starred in Oyaji (2007).

    Chiba portrayed Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi multiple times, first in the 1978 film Shogun's Samurai and in its TV series remake The Yagyu Conspiracy, which aired from 1978 to 1979. He then appeared as Jūbei in the TV series Yagyū Abaretabi, which aired from 1980 to 1981 and in the 1981 film Samurai Reincarnation (Makai Tensho) and its theatrical musical version Yagyu Jubei Makai Tensho. He then reprised his role as Jūbei in the second season of Yagyū Abaretabi, this time entitled Yagyū Jūbei Abaretabi, which aired from 1982 to 1983. A few years later he returned to play Jūbei in Iemitsu, Hikoza, and Isshin Tasuke: A National Crisis, a TV movie that aired in 1989. His final appearance as Jūbei was in 2 direct-to-DVD films entitled Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3: Wind Chapter and Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4: Fire Chapter in 2005.[16][17] Other notable Japanese television roles for Chiba were the ninja leaders Hattori Hanzō III, Tsuge Shinpachi, Tarao Hanzō, and Hattori Hanzō XV across multiple seasons of the Shadow Warriors TV series and Hattori Hanzō I in the 2003 direct-to-DVD series follow-up Shin Kage no Gundan (New Shadow Warriors).[citation needed]

    Chiba was even busier in the 1980s, doing dozens of movies as well as making forays into television, and with roles in such high-profile adventures as the popular Hong Kong comic-based movie The Storm Riders (1998), starring alongside Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok. His fame in Japan remained unabated into the 1990s.[citation needed]

    In his fifties, the actor resumed working as a choreographer of martial arts sequences. At the dawn of the 21st century, Chiba was as busy as ever in feature films and also starring in his own series in Japan. Roles in Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and his work with directors Kenta and Kinji Fukasaku in Battle Royale II effectively bridged the gap between modern day and yesteryear cinematic cult legends. Chiba's enduring onscreen career received a tribute when he appeared in a key role as Hattori Hanzo, the owner of a sushi restaurant and retired samurai sword craftsman, in director Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge epic Kill Bill: Volume I in 2003.[18]

    Chiba starred in more than 125 films for Toei Studios and has won numerous awards in Japan for his acting.[19]

    Personal life

    In 1994 Chiba divorced his first wife, actress Yōko Nogiwa. Their daughter Juri Manase is also an actress.[20]

    He married Tamami Chiba in 1996, with whom he had a 28-year age difference.[21] They had two sons, Mackenyu Arata (新田真剣佑, Arata Makken'yū) and Gordon Maeda (郷敦), who are both actors.[22] Chiba and Tamami Chiba divorced in 2015.[21]

    Also in 2015, Weekly Shincho reported that Chiba was romantically involved with a 22-year old female university student. At the time, his divorce with Tamami Chiba was in the process of being finalised.[23]

    His younger brother, Jirō Yabuki (also known as Jiro Chiba), was also an actor.[24]

    Death

    In early August 2021, Chiba contracted COVID-19 (due to the highly contiguous Delta variant). Initially, he was treated at home, but was hospitalized a few days later on 8 August when he developed pneumonia.[25][26] He died at the hospital in Kisarazu, Chiba, on 19 August 2021, at the age of 82.[27][1][28] He is not being received double or triple vaccinated, according to his agency.[29][30] His body was cremated on 20 August after the private funeral.[31]

    In Western popular culture

    Christian Slater's character Clarence Worley in True Romance is a fan of Chiba. In a pivotal early scene he watches a Sonny Chiba triple feature.

    The writer of True Romance, Quentin Tarantino, worked with Chiba ten years later in Kill Bill: Volume I, where Chiba portrayed Katana master maker Hattori Hanzō,[32][33] in an episode that combined comical interaction with his assistant, played by Kenji Ohba, with sombre references to traditional, Japanese sword making.[34]

    A modified version of the opening scroll to the English-language version of 1973 movie Karate Kiba (English title: The Bodyguard) was used in the script of Quentin Tarantino's 1994 movie Pulp Fiction.[32] Tarantino's script changed the Ezekiel 25:17 speech, swapping out "I am Chiba the Bodyguard" for "my name is the Lord".[35]

    The character Takayuki Chiba from the shōnen manga series Kengan Ashura is based on Chiba and Hiroyuki Sanada.[36]

    Martial arts ranks

    Chiba held black belts in the following martial arts:

    Filmography

    Films

    Year Title Role Notes
    1961 Police Department Story: Alibi
    (警視庁物語 不在証明(ありばい))
    Detective Nakagawa
    Police Department Story: The 15 Year Old Woman
    (警視庁物語 十五才の女)
    Detective Nakagawa
    Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley
    (風来坊探偵 赤い谷の惨劇)
    Gorō Saionji
    Drifting Detective: Black Wind in the Harbor
    (風来坊探偵 岬を渡る黒い風)
    Gorō Saionji
    Invasion of the Neptune Men
    (宇宙快速船)
    Shinichi Tachibana/Iron Sharp
    Hepcat in the Funky Hat
    (ファンキーハットの快男児)
    Ichirō Tenka
    Police Department Story: Twelve Detectives
    (警視庁物語 十二人の刑事)
    Detective Nakagawa
    Hepcat in the Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm
    (ファンキーハットの快男児 二千万円の腕)
    Ichirō Tenka
    Shinto Boss Series: Employee Ishimatsu Is the Man
    (進藤の社長シリーズ 石松社員は男でござる)
    Nagashima
    1962 The Kamikaze
    (南太平洋波高し)
    Yūki
    Love School
    (恋愛学校 ラブ・スクール)
    Shinichi Kogure
    Escape: The 2/26 Incident
    (二・二六事件 脱出)
    Private First Class Shinohara
    For Love, the Sun, and the Gang
    (恋と太陽とギャング)
    Yamauchi
    Higher Than the Stars in the Sky
    (あの空の果てに星はまたゝく)
    Yoshio Horimoto
    Tragedy of Twins
    (残酷な月)
    Masaki
    Four Sisters
    (山麓)
    Shinkichi Hayami
    Mid-August Commotion
    (八月十五日の動乱)
    Dr. Ōmori
    Gang vs. G-Men
    (ギャング対Gメン)
    Osamu Kaji
    The Gambler
    (王将)
    Mōri
    The Terrifying Witch
    (恐怖の魔女)
    Daisuke Shirono
    1963 Twins Searching for Mother
    (こまどりのりんごっ子姉妹)
    Ume-san
    President Jiro and Employee Ishimatsu: Yasugi Bushi Road
    (次郎長社長と石松社員 安来ぶし道中)
    Hiroshi Shiomi
    The Violent Underworld
    (暴力街)
    Kazuo Ichinoki
    Special Tactical Police
    (特別機動捜査隊)
    Detective Naitō
    Twins in the Meadow
    (こまどり姉妹 未練ごころ)
    Kenichi Tomizawa
    Judo for Life
    (柔道一代)
    Shirō Hongō
    Special Tactical Police 2
    (特別機動捜査隊 東京駅に張り込め)
    Detective Naitō
    Lure of A Killer
    (殺人鬼の誘惑)
    Daisuke Jōno
    Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge
    (八州遊侠伝 男の盃)
    Satarō
    The Chivalrous of Asakusa
    (浅草の侠客)
    Shinsuke Hayama
    The Navy
    (海軍)
    Takao Mutaguchi
    Song of the Yakuza
    (やくざの歌)
    Shunji Nitta
    Gang Chusingura
    (ギャング忠臣蔵)
    Shichirō Yatō
    White Ball
    (白い熱球)
    Yōta Ogiwara
    Life of Blackmail
    (わが恐喝の人生)
    Gorō Ozawa
    1964 Decree from Hell
    (地獄命令)
    Shinichi Ōmatsu
    Judo for Life: The Devil of Kodokan
    (柔道一代 講道館の鬼)
    Shirō Hongō
    Tokyo Untouchable: Prostitution Underground Organization
    (東京アンタッチャブル 売春地下組織)
    Yoshio Hamada
    Here Because of You
    (君たちがいて僕がいた)
    Makoto Yabuki
    Dragon and Tiger Generation
    (竜虎一代)
    Shinichi Matsuhashi
    1965 Singing to Those Clouds
    (あの雲に歌おう)
    Jun Tonomura
    That Cute Girl
    (可愛いあの娘)
    Morimoto
    Hey, Clouds!
    (おゝい、雲!)
    Saburō Tatsumi
    Tale of Japanese Burglars
    (にっぽん泥棒物語)
    Attorney Ōki
    The Fugitive
    (逃亡)
    Saburō Tateishi
    Yakuza G-Men: Meiji Underworld
    (やくざGメン 明治暗黒街)
    Tōru Shibayama
    A Villain's Code Of Honor
    (無頼漢仁義)
    Sōichi Jinnai
    Abashiri Prison: Hokkai Territory
    (網走番外地 北海篇)
    Hayama
    1966 Bitches of the Night
    (夜の牝犬)
    Tatsuo Ōtsuki
    Kamikaze Man: Duel at Noon
    (カミカゼ野郎 真昼の決斗)
    Ken Mitarai
    Terror Beneath the Sea
    (海底大戦争)
    Ken Abe
    Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South
    (網走番外地 南国の対決)
    Tanimura
    Dash to the Sun
    (太陽に突っ走れ)
    Takashi Shindō
    Game of Chance
    (浪曲子守唄)
    Bungo Endō
    Ōgon Bat
    (黄金バット)
    Dr. Yamatone
    1967 Soshiki Bōryoku
    (組織暴力)
    Shinji Takasugi
    Game of Chance 2
    (続 浪曲子守唄)
    Bungo Endō
    Diaries of the Kamikaze
    (あゝ同期の桜)
    Second Sub-lieutenant Hanzawa
    The North Sea Chivalry
    (北海遊侠伝)
    Shūichi Aida
    King of Gangsters
    (ギャングの帝王)
    Matsumoto
    Game of Chance 3
    (出世子守唄)
    Bungo Endō
    Kawachi Chivalry
    (河内遊侠伝)
    Komakichi Sugimoto
    1968 Human Torpedoes: Kaiten Special Attack Force
    (人間魚雷 あゝ回天特別攻撃隊)
    Chief navigator Takiguchi
    Army Intelligence 33
    (陸軍諜報33)
    Kazuo Yamamoto
    The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
    (あゝ予科練)
    Second Sub-lieutenant Kodama
    1969 Delinquent Boss: Ocho the She-Wolf
    (不良番長 猪の鹿お蝶)
    Mitsuo Fujiki
    Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
    (日本暗殺秘録)
    Tadashi Onuma
    1970 Yakuza Deka
    (やくざ刑事)
    Shirō Hayata
    Yakuza Cop 2: Marijuana Trafficking Syndicate
    (やくざ刑事 マリファナ密売組織)
    Shirō Hayata
    The Last Suicide Squad
    (最後の特攻隊)
    Captain Mishima
    1971 Yakuza Cop 3: Poison Gas Affair
    (やくざ刑事 恐怖の毒ガス)
    Shirō Hayata
    Yakuza Cop 4: No Epitaphs for Us
    (やくざ刑事 俺たちに墓はない)
    Shirō Hayata
    1972 Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder
    (狼やくざ 殺しは俺がやる)
    Gōsuke Himuro
    Vice G-Men
    (麻薬売春Gメン)
    Yasuo Kikuchi
    Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler
    (銀蝶流れ者 牝猫博奕)
    Ryūji Azuma
    Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
    (狼やくざ 葬いは俺が出す)
    Tōru Ibuki
    Vice G-Men 2: Terrifying Flesh Hell
    (麻薬売春Gメン 恐怖の肉地獄)
    Haruo Kikuchi
    1973 Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima
    (仁義なき戦い 広島死闘篇)
    Katsutoshi Ōtomo
    Karate Kiba
    (ボディガード牙)
    Naoto Kiba
    Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok Drug Triangle
    (東京-ソウル-バンコック 実録麻薬地帯)
    Tatsuya Wada
    Karate Kiba 2
    (ボディガード牙 必殺三角飛び)
    Naoto Kiba
    1974 The Street Fighter
    (激突! 殺人拳)
    Takuma Tsurugi
    Return of the Street Fighter
    (殺人拳2)
    Takuma Tsurugi
    Military Spy School
    (ルバング島の奇跡 陸軍中野学校)
    Ichirō Kikuchi
    The Executioner
    (直撃! 地獄拳)
    Ryūichi
    Sister Street Fighter
    (女必殺拳)
    Seiichi Hibiki
    The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
    (逆襲! 殺人拳)
    Takuma Tsurugi
    The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
    (直撃地獄拳 大逆転)
    Ryūichi
    1975 Killing Machine
    (少林寺拳法)
    Doshin So
    Young Nobility: Maki of the 13 Steps
    (若い貴族たち 13階段のマキ)
    Kenichi Hyūga
    Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope
    (ウルフガイ 燃えろ狼男)
    Akira Inugami
    The Bullet Train
    (新幹線大爆破)
    Aoki
    Champion of Death
    (けんか空手 極真拳)
    Masutatsu Ōyama
    Detonation: Violent Riders
    (爆発! 暴走族)
    Tsugami
    New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head
    (新仁義なき戦い 組長の首)
    Bartender Uncredited
    The Defensive Power of Aikido
    (激突! 合気道)
    Shinbei Natori
    Karate Bearfighter
    (けんか空手 極真無頼拳)
    Masutatsu Ōyama
    1976 Dragon Princess
    (必殺女拳士)
    Isshin Higaki
    Yokohama Underworld: Machine Gun Dragons
    (横浜暗黒街 マシンガンの竜)
    Keiichi Komatsu
    Karate Warriors
    (子連れ殺人拳)
    Shūhei Sakata
    The Rugby Star
    (ラグビー野郎)
    Rikio Ōtate
    Jail Breakers
    (脱走遊戯)
    Wataru Kangi
    Okinawa Yakuza War
    (沖縄やくざ戦争)
    Seigō Kunigami
    1977 Yakuza War: The Japanese Don
    (やくざ戦争 日本の首領)
    Tsuneyoshi Sakota
    Soul of Chiba
    (激殺! 邪道拳)
    Mu Yun Tek[38] Planning
    Hokuriku Proxy War
    (北陸代理戦争)
    Hachirō Kanai
    Karate for Life
    (空手バカ一代)
    Mas Oyama
    Gambler's Code of Japan
    (日本の仁義)
    Katsuji Kogure
    Doberman Cop
    (ドーベルマン刑事)
    Jōji Kanō
    Torakku Yarō
    (トラック野郎・度胸一番星)
    Jōji Niimura
    Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
    (ゴルゴ13 九竜の首)
    Golgo 13/Duke Tōgō
    Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye
    (ブラック・ジャック 瞳の中の訪問者)
    Drunk
    1978 Shogun's Samurai
    (柳生一族の陰謀)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
    Message from Space
    (宇宙からのメッセージ)
    Prince Hans
    Okinawa: The Ten Year War
    (沖縄10年戦争)
    Chōyū Inami
    The Fall of Ako Castle
    (赤穂城断絶)
    Kazuemon Fuwa
    1979 Dead Angle
    (白昼の死角)
    Yōsuke Ōta
    Hunter in the Dark
    (闇の狩人)
    Samon Shimoguni
    The Resurrection of the Golden Wolf
    (蘇える金狼)
    Mitsuhiko Sakurai
    G.I. Samurai
    (戦国自衛隊)
    Lt. Yoshiaki Iba Action director
    1980 Virus
    (復活の日)
    Dr. Yamauchi
    Shogun's Ninja
    (忍者武芸帖 百地三太夫)
    Shōgen Shiranui Action director
    1981 The Bushido Blade Prince Ido
    Chanbara Graffiti
    (ちゃんばらグラフィティー 斬る!)
    documentary
    Samurai Reincarnation
    (魔界転生)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
    Roaring Fire
    (吼えろ鉄拳)
    Shunsuke Tachikawa Action director
    The Kamikaze Adventurer
    (冒険者カミカゼ -ADVENTURER KAMIKAZE-)
    Daisuke Kamikaze
    The Blazing Valiant
    (燃える勇者)
    Action Director
    1982 Fall Guy
    (蒲田行進曲)
    Himself
    Ninja Wars
    (伊賀忍法帖)
    Yagyū Munetoshi
    1983 Kabamaru the Ninja
    (伊賀野カバ丸)
    Saizō Igano Planning
    Legend of the Eight Samurai
    (里見八犬伝)
    Dōsetsu Inuyama
    1984 Kotaro to the Rescue
    (コータローまかりとおる!)
    Moore County colonel Planning
    1985 The Last True Yakuza
    (最後の博徒)
    Ryōzō Kanō
    1986 Cabaret
    (キャバレー)
    1987 Sure Death 4: Revenge
    (必殺4 恨みはらします)
    Bunshichi Warabeya
    1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Large Spiritual World
    (丹波哲郎の大霊界 死んだらどうなる)
    Shogun's Shadow
    (将軍家光の乱心 激突)
    Shōzaemon Iba Action director
    Sensei
    (せんせい)
    Makoto Ushiyama Producer
    1990 Yellow Fangs
    (リメインズ 美しき勇者たち)
    Director
    Producer
    1991 Gokudo Wars
    (極道戦争 武闘派)
    Takatsugu Kasai
    1992 Fighting Fist
    (HAKEN 覇拳 ふりむけば修羅)
    Superintendent Yamada Director
    Aces: Iron Eagle III Colonel Sueo Horikoshi
    A Mine Field
    (地雷原)
    Hiromichi Takagi Original idea
    The Triple Cross
    (いつかギラギラする日)
    Shiba
    1994 Immortal Combat Jiro 'J.J.' Jintani
    1995 Body Count Makoto
    1998 The Storm Riders
    (風雲 ストームライダーズ)
    Lord Conqueror
    2000 The Legend of the Flying Swordsman
    (小李飛刀之飛刀外傳)
    'Dagger' Yuan-ba Li
    Born to Be King
    (勝者為王)
    Ichio Kusakari
    Chinchiromai
    (ちんちろまい)
    Takeshi Kuroda
    2001 The Melancholy Hitman
    (悲しきヒットマン 蒼き狼)
    Direct-to-video
    Akumyoh
    (悪名)
    Tōyōzō Kuroshima Direct-to-video
    Koroshi no Gundan
    (殺しの軍団)
    Miyoshi Direct-to-video
    Koroshi no Gundan 2
    (殺しの軍団 関西制圧への道)
    Miyoshi Direct-to-video
    2002 Akumyoh 2
    (悪名2 〜荒ぶる喧嘩魂〜)
    Tōyōzō Kuroshima Direct-to-video
    Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
    (実録 安藤昇侠道伝 烈火)
    Yasunori Hijikata
    Yakuza of Legend: Chapter of Raging Fire
    (伝説のやくざ ボンノ 烈火の章)
    Don no Michi 6
    (首領の道6)
    Takagi Direct-to-video
    2003 Don no Michi 7
    (首領の道7)
    Takagi Direct-to-video
    Don no Michi 8
    (首領の道8)
    Takagi Direct-to-video
    New Shadow Warriors
    (新・影の軍団)
    Hattori Hanzō I Planning
    Yakuza of Legend: Chapter of the Setting Sun
    (伝説のやくざ ボンノ 落日の章)
    Direct-to-video
    New Shadow Warriors II
    (新・影の軍団II)
    Hattori Hanzō I Planning
    Don no Michi 9
    (首領の道9)
    Takagi Direct-to-video
    Battle Royale II: Requiem
    (バトル・ロワイアルII 鎮魂歌)
    Makio Mimura
    True Kyūshū Yakuza 1
    (新実録・九州やくざ烈伝 兇健と呼ばれた男)
    Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
    New Shadow Warriors III
    (新・影の軍団III 地雷火)
    Hattori Hanzō I Executive producer
    Kill Bill: Volume 1 Hattori Hanzō Kenjutsu Choreographer
    Namishō no Yamamoto-ja! Kenka Yakyū-hen
    (浪商のヤマモトじゃ! 喧嘩野球編)
    Direct-to-video
    2004 New Shadow Warriors IV
    (新・影の軍団IV 地雷火) 
    Hattori Hanzō I Executive producer
    Kill Bill: Volume 2 Hattori Hanzō
    Zenidō
    (銭道)
    Kōjirō Shinkai
    Zenidō 2
    (銭道2 借金地獄抜け道指南)
    Kōjirō Shinkai
    Zenidō 3
    (銭道3 なにわ金融指南)
    Kōjirō Shinkai
    New Boss of Japan
    (新・日本の首領)
    Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
    New Boss of Japan 2
    (新・新・日本の首領II 非情篇)
    Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
    New Boss of Japan 3
    (新・新・日本の首領III 激闘篇)
    Matsuo Takano Direct-to-video
    Survive Style 5+ Kazama
    Zenidō 4
    (銭道4 男と女の金融講座)
    Kōjirō Shinkai Direct-to-video
    Explosive City
    (爆裂都市)
    Otosan
    Zenidō 5
    (銭道5 無限連鎖講)
    Kōjirō Shinkai Direct-to-video
    2005 Zenidō 6
    (銭道6)
    Kōjirō Shinkai
    New Shadow Warriors V
    (新・影の軍団V 服部半蔵VS陰陽師)
    Hattori Hanzō I
    New Shadow Warriors VI
    (新・影の軍団 最終章)
    Hattori Hanzō I
    Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 3: Wind Chapter
    (猿飛佐助 闇の軍団3 風の巻)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
    Sarutobi Sasuke and the Army of Darkness 4: Fire Chapter
    (猿飛佐助 闇の軍団4 火の巻 完結篇)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
    2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Boss Kamata
    Master of Thunder
    (マスター・オブ・サンダー 決戦!! 封魔龍虎伝)
    Genryū
    The Winds of God: Kamikaze Nobutada Ōta
    True Kyūshū Yakuza 2
    (実録九州やくざ抗争 誠への道)
    Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
    2007 True Kyūshū Yakuza 3
    (実録九州やくざ抗争 誠への道 完結編)
    Isoji Ōga Direct-to-video
    Oyaji
    (親父)
    Ryūmichi Numata Director
    2009 Sennen no Matsu
    (千年の松)
    Direct-to-video
    Sennen no Matsu 2
    (千年の松 完結篇)
    Direct-to-video
    2012 Shura no Hanamichi
    (修羅の花道)
    Yoshio Sutama
    Shura no Hanamichi 2
    (修羅の花道 2)
    Yoshio Sutama Direct-to-video
    Gokudō no Monshō Part 18
    (極道の紋章 第十八章)
    Direct-to-video
    Sushi Girl Sushi chef
    2013 Nihon Tōitsu
    (日本統一)
    Seizō Gonda
    Nihon Tōitsu 2
    (日本統一 2)
    Seizō Gonda Direct-to-video
    2014 Shura no Denshō Araburu Kyō Inu
    (修羅の伝承 荒ぶる凶犬)
    Shūhei Akiyama
    Kabukichō High School
    (歌舞伎町はいすくーる)
    Hakkaisan board chairman
    Kanto Gokudo Association Part 1
    (関東極道連合会 第一章)
    Direct-to-video
    2015 Take a Chance Miyamoto Musashi
    Kanto Gokudo Association Part 2
    (関東極道連合会 第二章)
    Direct-to-video
    April Fools
    (エイプリルフールズ)
    Bōryokudan leader
    So-On: The Five Oyaji
    (騒音)
    2017 Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 1
    (極道天下布武 第一幕)
    Motonari Mōriya
    Teppen
    (頂点(てっぺん))
    Direct-to-video
    Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 2
    (極道天下布武 第二幕)
    Motonari Mōriya
    Teppen 2
    (頂点(てっぺん) 2)
    Direct-to-video
    Teppen 3
    (頂点(てっぺん) 3)
    Direct-to-video
    Shashin Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
    (写真甲子園 0.5秒の夏)
    Chair workshop craftsman
    Gokudō Tenka Fubu Part 4
    (極道天下布武 第四幕)
    Motonari Mōriya
    2023 Bond of Justice: Kizuna Posthumous release; Final film role

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1960 Seven Color Mask
    (新七色仮面)
    Seven Color Mask II/Kōtarō Ran 26 episodes
    Messenger of Allah
    (アラーの使者)
    Gorō Narumi 26 episodes
    Wanted: Demon Fire
    (指名手配 悪魔の火)
    1 episode
    1963 The Light of Asakusa
    (浅草の灯)
    TV film
    1964 JNR Inspector No. 36
    (鉄道公安36号)
    Railway Inspector Hayakawa 4 episodes
    1965 Flag of Glory
    (栄光の旗)
    Lieutenant Yamanaka Part 1
    1965–1966 Blind Black Belt
    (くらやみ五段)
    Tatsuya Kurami
    1965 Special Tactical Police
    (特別機動捜査隊)
    Detective Komatsu 1 episode
    1965–1966 Kiiroi Fūdo
    (黄色い風土)
    1968–1973 Key Hunter
    (キイハンター)
    Yōsuke Kazama
    1969 Special Investigation Office
    (特命捜査室)
    1 episode
    1970 Judo Straight Line
    (柔道一直線)
    Washio 3 episodes
    1972–1974 The Young Detective
    (刑事くん)
    Detective Yabuki 3 episodes
    1973 Robot Detective
    (ロボット刑事)
    Keitarō Shinjō 2 episodes
    Suspense Series: Modern Witch Tale Murderous Love
    (サスペンスシリーズ 現代鬼婆考 殺愛)
    Shige 1 episode
    1974 The Bodyguard
    (ザ・ボディガード)
    Shūsuke Washimi 26 episodes
    1975 The Gorilla Seven
    (ザ★ゴリラ7)
    Daisuke Kazami 26 episodes
    1975–1976 Blazing Dragnet
    (燃える捜査網)
    Shirō Ōgami 14 episodes
    1976 Emergency Line
    (大非常線)
    Masahiro Godai 10 episodes
    Nanairo Tongarashi
    (七色とんがらし)
    Tetsuo Samejima
    1977 Shingo Tondeke Torimonochō
    (新伍とんでけ捕物帳)
    1978 Crossroads
    (十字路)
    Junzō Kihara 3 parts
    Omoide no Umibe Papa, Boku Shinitakunai!!
    (想い出の海辺 パパ、ぼく死にたくない!!)
    TV film
    1978–1979 The Yagyu Conspiracy
    (柳生一族の陰謀)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 39 episodes
    1978 Yukiyama Sanka Aru Seishun: Tateta! Subereta!
    (雪山讃歌・ある青春 〜 立てた! 滑れた!)
    TV film
    Southern Cross
    (南十字星 コルネリアお雪異聞 わたしの山田長政)
    Miyamoto Musashi TV film
    1980 Shadow Warriors
    (服部半蔵 影の軍団)
    Hattori Hanzō III 27 episodes
    Tokyo Great Earthquake Magnitude 8.1
    (東京大地震マグニチュード8.1)
    Kobayashi TV film
    1980–1981 Yagyu Abaretabi
    (柳生あばれ旅)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 26 episodes
    1981 Keishichō Satsujin-ka
    (警視庁殺人課)
    1 episode
    1981–1982 Shadow Warriors II
    (影の軍団II)
    Tsuge Shinpachi 26 episodes
    1982–1983 Space Sheriff Gavan
    (宇宙刑事ギャバン)
    Voicer 6 episodes, uncredited
    1982 Shadow Warriors III
    (影の軍団III)
    Tarao Hanzō 26 episodes
    1982–1983 Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi
    (柳生十兵衛あばれ旅)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi 26 episodes
    1983 Space Sheriff Sharivan
    (宇宙刑事シャリバン)
    Voicer 1 episode, uncredited
    1984 Wonderful Circus Guy
    (素晴らしきサーカス野郎)
    Daigaku Maejima TV film
    Planning
    1985 Shadow Warriors IV
    (影の軍団IV)
    Hattori Hanzō XV 27 episodes
    Shadow Warriors: The End of an Era
    (影の軍団 幕末編)
    Hattori Hanzō XV 13 episodes
    1986 Shinya ni Yōkoso
    (深夜にようこそ)
    Kōzō Murata 4 parts
    1987 Taikoki
    (太閤記)
    Akechi Mitsuhide TV film
    Tomorrow's Snow
    (雪の朝に)
    Dr. Sakamoto TV film
    A Traveling Girl
    (旅少女)
    Takeshi Ishikawa
    Autumn Scenario
    (秋のシナリオ)
    Tatsumi TV film
    1988 Tokugawa Ieyasu
    (徳川家康)
    Ishikawa Kazumasa TV film
    Ryokō keba Renzoku Satsujin
    (旅行けば連続殺人)
    Tetsuya Nanjō TV film
    1989 Oda Nobunaga
    (織田信長)
    Oda Nobuhide TV film
    Iemitsu, Hikoza, and Isshin Tasuke: A National Crisis
    (家光と彦左と一心太助 天下の一大事)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi TV film
    OL Sennyū! Nippon Fūzoku Meisho
    (OL潜入! ニッポン風俗名所)
    Iwata TV film
    The Days I Saw in My Dreams
    (夢に見た日々)
    Shinsaku Sekimoto 10 episodes
    1990 Minamoto Yoshitsune
    (源義経)
    Zenrinbō Kakunichi TV film
    Shingo's Ten Duels
    (新吾十番勝負)
    Umei Tamon TV film
    Ashi de Miru-yama
    (足で見る山)
    Kurahashi TV film
    Seventeen Ninja
    (十七人の忍者)
    Iga no Jingoza TV film, assistant director
    1991 Takeda Shingen
    (武田信玄)
    Takeda Nobutora TV film
    Saito Dosan: Rage of Power
    (戦国乱世の暴れん坊 斎藤道三 怒涛の天下取り)
    Akechi Mitsutsuna TV film
    1992 Tokugawa Buraichō
    (徳川無頼帳)
    Matsudaira Tadateru 24 episodes
    1993 Mori Ranmaru: Sengoku o Kake Nuketa Waka Jishi
    (森蘭丸〜戦国を駆け抜けた若獅子〜)
    Mori Sanzaemon Yoshinari TV film
    1996 Legend of St. Dragon
    (聖龍伝説)
    Yūji Saeki 1 episode
    1997–1998 Terakoya Yume Shinan
    (寺子屋ゆめ指南)
    Matajūrō Sensui 23 episodes
    2001 Shotgun-Marriage
    (できちゃった結婚)
    Ittetsu Kotani 11 episode
    2002 Wind and Cloud
    (風雲)
    Lord Conqueror
    2005 Legendary Sword fights of Yagyu Jubei
    (柳生十兵衛七番勝負)
    Miyamoto Musashi 1 episode
    Team Astro
    (アストロ球団)
    J. Shuro
    2007 Fūrin Kazan
    (風林火山)
    Itagaki Nobukata 30 episodes
    2011 Secret Agent Erika
    (秘密諜報員 エリカ)
    Pastor of St. Francisco Church 1 episode
    2014 Owakon TV
    (おわこんTV)
    Genjirō Aramaki 8 episodes

    Shorts

    Year Title Role Notes
    2013 Ninja Theory
    (ニンジャセオリー)
    Ninja master Voice
    2018 Shakespeare in Tokyo Calligrapher

    Theater

    Year Title Role Notes
    1981 Yagyu Jubei Makai Tensho
    (柳生十兵衛 魔界転生)
    Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi
    Stuntman Story
    (スタントマン物語)
    1982–1984 The Big Adventure of The Fantastic Pirates
    (ゆかいな海賊大冒険)
    Captain Daedalus Director
    1985 The Drunken Duke
    (酔いどれ公爵)
    Duke Robert Director
    Planning
    Original idea
    1986 Adventure Youth Departure
    (アドベンチャー 青春の出発)
    Planning Supervision
    Stuntman Love Story
    (スタントマン 愛の物語)
    Planning Supervision
    1987 Shinichi Chiba's Shadow Warriors
    (千葉真一奮闘公演 影の軍団)
    2008 Furin Kazan: Harunobu Burning
    (風林火山 晴信燃ゆ)
    Itagaki Nobukata
    2015 Biohazard: The Stage Ezra Sennett

    References

    1. ^ a b Moreau, Jordan (19 August 2021). "Sonny Chiba, Martial Arts Legend and 'Kill Bill' Actor, Dies at 82 of COVID Complications". Variety. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
    2. ^ a b c d e "SPORTS CITY". Kamakura Shobo. Vol. 1, no. 2. 1981. p. 32.
    3. ^ a b "Honke Bruce Lee wo shinogu Chiba Shinichi" [Shinichi Chiba surpasses Bruce Lee as the movie star of martial arts]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Tokyo. 27 December 1974.
    4. ^ Chiba 2010, p. 51.
    5. ^ "千葉真一がアクション俳優からの引退を表明、今後は別名で活動も。". narinari. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    6. ^ "『千葉真一 改め 和千永倫道』". yamakei. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    7. ^ "千葉真一「JJサニー」に改名!映画監督としては「和千永倫道」 Archived 23 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine." Sankei Shimbun.
    8. ^ Chiba Samurai 2010, pp. 81–82. sfn error: no target: CITEREFChiba_Samurai2010 (help)
    9. ^ Chiba Shin'ichi aratame Wachinaga Rindō, pp.38 – 39.
    10. ^ a b c Chibaryū samurai eno michi, pp.89.
    11. ^ a b Chibaryū samurai eno michi, pp.95 – 96.
    12. ^ a b Chiba Shin'ichi aratame Wachinaga Rindō, pp.53.
    13. ^ a b "International Karate Organization KYOKUSHINKAIKAN Domestic Black Belt List As of Oct.2000". Kyokushin Karate Sōkan: Shin Seishin Shugi Eno Sōseiki E. Aikēōshuppanjigyōkyoku: 62–64. 2001. ISBN 4-8164-1250-6.
    14. ^ The dates are uncertain, because it is possible that he had television appearances to his credit as early as 1959.
    15. ^ Liebenson, Donald (28 January 1996). "PRIVATE LIVES: HOME ENTERTAINMENT, FAMILY ACTIVITIES: VIDEO: 'The Street Fighter' Scratches a Niche: Japanese action star Sonny Chiba is coming to America, and he's bringing blood and gore with him". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    16. ^ "千葉真一主演 「柳生あばれ旅」シリーズ一挙放送!". 時代劇専門チャンネル. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    17. ^ "ペリーのちょんまげ". 時代劇専門チャンネル. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    18. ^ Sonny Chiba at IMDb
    19. ^ Ragone, August. "SHINICHI "SONNY" CHIBA: A Real Mean Bastard!". Henshin!Online. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
    20. ^ "女優 真瀬樹里さん 母・野際陽子との確執…30過ぎでついに爆発". 東京スクスク. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    21. ^ a b "眞栄田郷敦の母・千葉玉美の現在は?千葉真一の借金や離婚で波瀾万丈な人生". Sorte Plus (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 September 2023.
    22. ^ "千葉真一、芸能生活60周年! 新田真剣佑&眞栄田郷敦&真瀬樹里に"格言"を授ける". eiga.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    23. ^ "「"今日は泊まっていけ"と言われて…」 千葉真一54歳差の"最後の女性"が明かす「幻の結婚式」". Daily Shincho (in Japanese). Shinchosha. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
    24. ^ "スター千葉真一の弟はきこり?". tbs. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
    25. ^ "俳優の千葉真一さん死去 82歳 新型コロナ感染による肺炎". NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 August 2021. マネジメント会社によりますと、千葉さんは今月に入って新型コロナウイルスの感染が確認され、自宅で療養し、その後、症状が悪化したため8日から入院して治療を受けていましたが、19日夕方、千葉県内の病院で肺炎のため亡くなりました。
    26. ^ "俳優の千葉真一さん死去、82歳 新型コロナで入院中". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021. 所属事務所によると、新型コロナウイルスに感染して8日から入院しており、肺炎が悪化したという。
    27. ^ 千葉真一さん死去 82歳 新型コロナ感染し療養も肺炎悪化、8日入院も Archived 21 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
    28. ^ Andrew, Scottie (19 August 2021). "Sonny Chiba, martial arts star of 'Kill Bill,' dies of Covid-19 complications". CNN. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
    29. ^ "俳優の千葉真一さん死去、82歳 死因は新型コロナによる肺炎". Tokyo Shimbun. Tokyo Web. Retrieved 19 August 2021. 所属事務所によると千葉さんは8日から入院し、ワクチンは接種していなかったという。
    30. ^ "Action star Shinichi 'Sonny' Chiba dies at 82 from COVID-19 complications". The Japan Times. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
    31. ^ "千葉真一さん"最期の瞬間"を友人が明かす 「親子揃って目を赤く腫らしていました」". デイリー新潮 (in Japanese). 2 September 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
    32. ^ a b Thomas, Brian. VideoHound's Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks. Canton, Michigan: Visible Ink Press, 2003, pp. 61–62.
    33. ^ Gilbey, Ryan (24 August 2021). "Sonny Chiba obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
    34. ^ Haasbroek, Luc (16 June 2023). "10 Characters With The Most Creative and Descriptive Names, According to Reddit". The Collider. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
    35. ^ Sherlock, Ben (22 January 2020). "Pulp Fiction: 10 Best Movie References, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
    36. ^ "Chiba Takayuki"; commentary from Yabako Sandrovich. End of Chapter 102.
    37. ^ "Photo of Shinichi Chiba receiving his 4th Dan Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu certificate from Masaaki Hatsumi". 戸隠流忍法-台湾武神館 Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
    38. ^ "激殺!邪道拳: 作品情報".

    Bibliography

    • Chiba Shin'ichi aratame Wachinaga Rindō (in Japanese). Yama to Keikokush. 2008. ISBN 978-4-635-34022-9.
    • Chiba, Sonny (September 2010). The Road to Chiba Style Samurai (in Japanese). Bunkasha. ISBN 978-4-8211-4269-9.

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba.
    • Official website Edit this at Wikidata
    • Sonny Chiba official blog
    • Sonny Chiba at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
    • Henshin Online: Sonny Chiba
    • Sonny Chiba on 10kbullets.com Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
    • Sonny Chiba on GooHead Archived 16 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine
    • Five Things You Didn't Know About Sonny Chiba
    Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
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    • ISNI
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