Shin Koyamada
Shin Koyamada 小山田 真 | |
|---|---|
| File:ShinKoyamada.JPG | |
| Born | 小山田 真 Koyamada Shin |
| Years active | 2002 - present |
| Website | http://www.shinkoyamada.com/ |
Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin), born on March 10, 1982 in Okayama, Japan is a film actor, producer, philanthropist, entrepreneur and martial arts instructor. Shin has been in Los Angeles, United States since the year 2000. He speaks fluent Japanese and English.
He became best known to audience after his co-starring role “Nobutada” in Warner Bros. Pictures Action epic The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and director Edward Zwick. The movie was well received upon release, with a North American box office of $456 million and an enthusiastic reception among the moviegoing public in Japan, with box office receipts higher in that country than in the USA. The box office of the movie upon release in Japan was $119,268,595 and $111,127,263 in the US.
Shin starred in Action/Adventure Disney Channel Original Movie series Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, which was one of the top rated Disney Channel Original Movies with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere in the US. It also received the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan and broke records in the United Kingdom and Europe making Disney Channel the highest rated kids channel in Europe.
Shin also starred in a movie Good Soil. He is noted for his skill in various martial arts styles.[1]
Shin is repped by Affirmative Entertainment.
Early life and background
Shin was born and raised in Okayama, Japan. His father is a Japanese Government official, and his mother is a nurse and occasionally travels South Asia such as Myanmar to help underprivileged individual and family.
In 1989, Shin began training in long distance Road cycling inspired by his uncle. At age of 12, he began competing in various long distance road cycling race along with adult competitors in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. During the visit in New Plymouth, New Zealand in 2003, Shin has competed in the Taranaki Road Cycling pairing up on the Tandem with a New Zealand Cycling Champion supported by a Mayor of New Plymouth. In 1993, he official joined the Track and field team of the Elementary school he was attending and accepted by the Okayama City Junior Track and Field club in the same year. Shin started competing in the various tournaments held in the Okayama Prefecture as the representatives of the Elementary school and Okayama City team. Shin specialized in the 100 m and 200 m sprint. In 1998, Shin began training in the High school gymnastic and had served as a captain of the team for two years from 1998-2000. Also the gymnastic team led by Shin placed 3rd in the Prefectural Gymnastic Tournament. Shin specialized in the floor exercise, parallel bars, and rings. In the same year, Shin started training in Karate, Kendo and Judo.
Ancestry
Shin is a direct descendant of the Koyamada clan who was an elite Samurai clan and had owned the Koyamada Castle in the Satsuma Domain since 1334. Satsuma Domain was controlled throughout the Edo period by the tozama daimyō of the Shimazu clan and one of the most powerful feudal domains in Tokugawa Japan, and played a major role in the Meiji Restoration and in the government of the Meiji Period, which followed.
Education
Shin graduated from Ichinomiya High School located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture. In 2000, Shin enrolled in the University of California, Riverside Extension where he has completed the intensive English program. In 2001, Shin was accepted to Los Angeles City College as a full-time international student where he began taking acting lessons in the Theater academy.[2]
Shin's love of American and Hong Kong action movies began as a small boy at his father's side. Despite the disapproval of family and friends, he was determined to see this dream realized. At an early age, he directed all of his energy to physical training in gymnastics as a team captain, track, triathlon. His decision to pursue his dream in Hollywood was already made by 15.
Moving to the Unites States
In September 2000, Shin came to Hollywood alone, not knowing anyone, having no place to stay, and not knowing how to speak in English.[3] Building an acting career with little money, no agent, manager or other Hollywood connections is an extremely difficult accomplishment.[4] To gain experience and a portfolio, Shin worked long hours for very little or no pay in everything he could find.
Acting career
Early work
By 2001 at the Knightsbridge Theatre, he choreographed and performed martial arts forms and stage combat for a unique production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.[5] Shin appeared in the commercials, including Disneyland California, JC Penny and Apple Computer International. Shin made a brief guest appearance on Power Rangers Wild Force in 2002.[6] His first movie work was a short film called A Ninja Pays Half My Rent.
Breakout performance
In 2003, submitting himself for various projects via an Internet casting site, and landed his debut feature film role in The Last Samurai. Co-starring opposite Tom Cruise in the Warner Bros. epic as Nobutada, friend to Cruise's character, Algren, a fierce archer, double swordsman, and a Samurai. While filming The Last Samurai in Japan, United States, and New Zealand for almost 8 months, he added Kyūdō (Japanese Archery) and Yabusame to his repertoire.[7] Shin also homed in on his acting skills with the help Director/Producer Edward Zwick and Actor/Producer Tom Cruise, making the most of a powerful debut. The movie was well received upon release, with a worldwide box office of $456 million. In addition it was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the National Board of Review.
In 2006, Shin starred in the action/adventure/drama Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior with Brenda Song as Shen, an Undercover Buddhist Monk, who has an important mission with Wendy in the United States. Shin spoke not only in English from the beginning to the end of the movie, but also a bit of Mandarin.[8] The entire movie was shot in Auckland, New Zealand.[9] Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is currently the eighth highest viewed Disney Channel Original Movie with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere[10] and also received the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan.[11]
In 2006, Shin has participated Disney Channel Games in the Red Team.[12] In 2007 and 2008, Shin has represented Japan in 2007 and 2008. The 2007 Games were produced by Disney Channel, and the 2008 games were produced by Buena Vista Television and Penn/Bright Entertainment. In 2008, Shin has received The Disney Channel Sportsmanship Award at Disney Channel Games 2008. In 2007, Shin appeared in the 20th Century Fox feature film Constellation, director by Jordan Walker-Pearlman. In the following year, Shin starred and produced the action/drama movie Good Soil.
Shin is set to produce and star in the action and comedy feature film 'Ticker', produced by Paul Heller (Enter The Dragon) and Nia Lyte, and written by Stephen Langford (Love Wrecked). Shin will play Sam Goldman.
Asia
Shin starred and received the title of executive producer in the Japanese full feature documentary show Wine Road of the Samurai (2006), filmed in Egypt, France and Japan and nationally distributed by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and other 28 affiliated TV stations in Japan.
In WB's epic film The Last Samurai, the movie received an enthusiastic reception among the moviegoing public in Japan, with box office receipts higher in that country than in the USA. The box office of the movie upon release in Japan was $119,268,595 and $111,127,263 in the US.
Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior became the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan at its premiere in Japan. To promote the film, Shin traveled to Japan and appeared the several Japanese television shows and the magazines. Although he has spoken in English and some Mandarin in the movie, he dubbed his entire role in Japanese. To promote Disney Channel Games, Shin also traveled to Japan and promoted in the commercial and television shows.
Martial arts career
Early days
By 16, he began to study Keishinkan Karate in Okayama, Japan, in which he was awarded a black belt under Tadashi Yoshii Sensei who has directly studied under Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. 18 months is considered a very fast to reach shodan in most martial arts, though it does vary based on circumstance. Interpretations also vary, but a black belt generally signifies a thorough understanding of the basics, and often enables the wearer to instruct in some capacity. He has also studied in Aikido, Judo, and Kendo in Japan.
Shin has competed in International Karate Championships held in Nagano Prefecture, Japan from 1998 to 2000. Unlike the Karate tournament system in the United States, the division was divided in age group. Although Shin was the only White Belt competitor in the high school division and had to compete against all Black Belt competitors, he has defeated the Black Belt/Former Champion who came from the United States in the first year of the tournament in August 1998.
Shin earned san-dan (third degree) black belt in traditional Keishinkan Karate.
To the United States
After relocating to the United States in 2000, Shin began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu 6 days a week. Shin specialized in a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Shaolin Kung Fu. Shin has participated the Chinese New Year Parade every year in Chinatown and Hollywood in Los Angeles. In 2005, Shin began in Tae Kwon Do in Los Angeles, which he earned a black belt. In 2007, Shin began Kung Jung Mu Sul (Korean Royal Court Martial Arts), which is a minor traditional Korean martial arts style in Los Angeles and he earned first degree Black Belt. Other styles Shin has studied include Aikido and Iaido in Los Angeles.
Shin was awarded at World Martial Arts Masters Expo 05, which was co-hosted by a President/COO of Warner Bros., Alan Horn and a President of CBS Studios, Michael Klausman in January 14, 2005. He was featured in a cover of Black Belt Magazine in 2004.
In 2000, Shin has competed in six U.S National Martial arts Tournaments in Shaolin Kung Fu over five months and winning first place in all but one, and that was a second.
To Europe
In 2009, Shin was invited to an annual Martial Arts Tour of Italy organized by Federico Coccorese, who is based in Rome, Italy as the main host and performer of the event. The event was nationally broadcasted by Italian national television station. Shin was awarded by a Mayor of Nettuno, Italy for his contribution to the community in Italy. Shin is scheduled to come back to the Martial Arts Tour 2010 with Takayuki Kubota Sensei, Fumio Demura Sensei and Tadashi Yamashita Sensei in Rome, Italy.
Philanthropic work
Shin first became personally aware of worldwide crises when his mother visited Myanmar and explained him the situation and troubles that people are in the country. In the following year, Shin visited and learned how much trouble situation and the conditions people are in some areas while filming Wine Road of the Samurai in Africa. Shin began many volunteer works helping nonprofit organizations and the programs including Boys and Girls Club of America, KICKSTART, Starlight Starbright and The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA). Shin was honored and awarded a Gold Medal for actively supporting a Mexican community by the Mexican Government in 2005.Shin became involved in the Muwanba Family Foundation, which focuses helping the lives of the children throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa.
The Shin Koyamada Foundation
Founded in 2008, The Shin Koyamada Foundation offers scholarships to give youth to learn the importance of respect, honor, courtesy, value and manner through martial arts and active help on global environmental issues, donations and education to underprivileged individual and family and international cultural exchange projects. The mission of the Shin Koyamada Foundation is to empower youth to achieve their goals and dreams and Save the Earth. The main programs of the foundation are Martial Arts Scholarship Program, Global Cultural Exchange Program, Global Donation Program, Global Education Program and Global Nature Program.
Personal life
Shin became a fan of Japanese TV anime series and manga, including Dragon Ball, Samurai X, Naruto, YuYu Hakusho in childhood.
Shin speaks, writes and reads fluent Japanese and English, and a little of Spanish and Mandarin.
Others
Shin's debut Single titled "Movin' On" written by Erich Bulling and Brabdon Gatson was released by Meter On Records, an American recorded music label in August 15, 2009.
References
- ^ "Shin Koyamada's remarkable martial arts skills".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada enrolled in English classes and began a strict regimen of language instruction".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada came to Hollywood all by himself".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada had no connections in Hollywood when he came to Los Angeles".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada appeared in [[Coriolanus]] and choreographed stage combat in the play".
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ Shin Koyamada at IMDb
- ^ "Shin Koyamad takes serious training in Kyudo and Yabusame".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada speaks little bit of Mandarin in the movie".
- ^ "Wendy Wu was entirely shot in Auckland, New Zealand".
- ^ "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior had over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere, making it currently the eighth highest viewed DCOM]".
- ^ [wkp.fresheye.com/wikipedia/小山田真 "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior has received the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan]"].
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Shin Koyamada participates in Disney Channel Games 2007".
External links
- 1982 births
- American television actors
- Japanese actors
- Japanese Americans
- Living people
- Asian American filmmakers
- People from Okayama (city)
- American karateka
- Japanese karateka
- Japanese kendoka
- American wushu practitioners
- American kendoka
- American taekwondo practitioners
- Japanese taekwondo practitioners
- Japanese immigrants to the United States