Shin Koyamada

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Shin Koyamada
小山田 真

Born 小山田 真
Koyamada Shin
March 10, 1982 (1982-03-10) (age 26)
Okayama, Japan
Official website

Shin Koyamada (Japanese: 小山田 真 Koyamada Shin; born on March 10, 1982 in Japan) is an international film actor, producer and respected martial artist. Shin has been living in Los Angeles in the United States since the year 2000. He speaks fluent Japanese and English. He became best known to global audiences after his co-starring roles in WB's epic The Last Samurai and Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. He is also noted for his remarkable skill in various martial arts styles.[1]

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[edit] Family and name

Shin Koyamada is a direct descendant of the samurai in Kagoshima who was a member of an elite Samurai clan in the Satsuma domain (Satsuma Han 薩摩藩) which was 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.[2]

His first name '真' as 'Shin' means 'Truth' in Japanese

[edit] Early life and education

Koyamada's love of American and Hong Kong action movies began as a small boy at his father's side.[3] Despite the disapproval of family and friends, he was determined to see this dream realized.[4] At an early age, he directed all of his energy to physical training in gymnastics as a team captain, track, triathlon.[5] His decision to pursue his dream in Hollywood was already made by 15.[6]

[edit] Hollywood

[edit] Acting Career

[edit] 2000-2002

In September 2000, Koyamada came to Hollywood alone, not knowing anyone, having no place to stay, and not knowing how to speak in English.[7] He studied English with a tutor for six months, enrolled at Los Angeles City College, in the Theater Academy, and secured a student visa.[8]

Building an acting career with little money, no agent, manager or other Hollywood connections is an extremely difficult accomplishment.[9] To gain experience and a portfolio, Shin worked long hours for very little or no pay in everything he could find. By 2001 at the Knightsbridge Theatre, he choreographed and performed martial arts forms and stage combat for a unique production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus.[10] He made a brief guest appearance on Power Rangers Wild Force[11] in 2002. His first movie work was a short film called A Ninja Pays Half My Rent[11].

Koyamada followed the path of those who had inspired him, icons like Bruce Lee and action stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

[edit] 2003-2007

Submitting himself for various projects via an Internet casting site, and landed his debut feature film role in The Last Samurai[11]. Co-starring opposite Tom Cruise in the Warner Brothers 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[12].

Now a double swordsman, master of Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do. Koyamada also honed in on his acting skills with the help Director/Producer Edward Zwick and Actor/Producer Tom Cruise, making the most of a powerful debut.

Shin played a lead role in the 20th Century Fox feature film Constellation as Yoshito, director by Jordan Walker-Pearlman with Gabrielle Union, and Billy Dee Williams[11]. Also, he was in the Japanese documentary TV show called 'Wine Road of the Samurai' (2006), nationally distributed by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and other 28 affliated TV stations as himself and an executive producer[11]. Also, he studied basic of French and Arabic in a TV show Wine Road of the Samurai[13]

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[11]. Shin spoke not only in English from the beginning to the end of the movie, but also a bit of Mandarin.[14] The entire movie was shot in Auckland, New Zealand.[15] 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[16] and also received the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan.[17]

Shin was in the first ever Disney Channel Games on the Red Team along with Zac Efron, Kay Panabaker, Anneliese van der Pol, Moises Arias, and Dylan Sprouse[11].

In 2007, Shin starred in the action/drama movie Good Soil. He was also in Disney Channel Games 2007 and on the Yellow Team along with Kyle Massey (Captain), Emily Osment, Jason Dolley, and Sabrina Bryan[18].

[edit] 2008-Present

Koyamada 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). He will play Sam Goldman.

He is currently filming Disney project in Tokyo, Japan.

Variety Japan is currently distributing his weekly column at their official site.[19]

Koyamada and Brenda Song will star in a sequel to Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.[20]

[edit] Personal life

Koyamada supports various charitable organizations such as KickStart, Houston Children's Charity, UNICEF, Japanese Karate Masters Association of North America, The Japan America Media Association, The Japan America Society of Houston, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Rotary Club International.

[edit] Martial arts and sports

By 16, he began to study karate, in which he was awarded a black belt [21]. 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. He has competed in various National Karate Championships in Japan during in 1997 to 2000. Koyamada currently holds sam-dan (third degree) black belt in traditional Karate.

In Chinese martial arts, Koyamada is trained in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Wing Chun, and Shaolin Gung Fu. He specializes in a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Shaolin Kung Fu. He has also competed in six U.S National Martial arts Tournaments over five months and winning first place in all but one, and that was a second.[22]

In Korean martial arts, Koyamada has studied in Tae Kwon Do, which he earned a black belt and Kung Jung Mu Sul in the United States.

[edit] Martial arts Championship

  • 2000 — 4th Jade Mountain Kung Fu Grand Championship: broadsword form gold medal, optional empty-hand form silver medal;
  • 2000 — USA National WuShu Kung Fu Championship: broadsword form gold medal, optional empty-hand form gold medal;
  • 2001 — World Karate Championship: Double broadsword form silver medal, optional empty-hand form silver medal;
  • 2001 — 19th Annual Karate Championship: broadsword form gold medal, optional empty-hand form gold medal;
  • 2001 — San Diego Grand National Championship: Double broadsword form gold medal, optional empty-hand form gold medal;

All his optional empty-hand form medals were won with a form called Bot Bo (抜歩, Northern Shaolin #8; Shuffle Steps).

[edit] Sports

At age 7, Koyamada begun training in road bicycle racing and competing in the various competitions in Japan.

At age 9, Koyamada begun receiving formal training in Track and Field in the elementary school and officially joined Okayama Junior Track and Field Association in the same year in Okayama. He was specialized in 100m and 200m sprint.

From 1997 to 2000, Koyamada has served as a team captain in gymnastics and competed in the city and prefecture tournaments of Okayama, Japan for three consecutive years. He specilized in the Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars, and Rings.

[edit] Selected filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
2009 A.K.A Bob
2008 Wendy Wu 2 Shen
2008 Ticker Sam Goldman
2008 Coming To America Producer
2007 Good Soil Jinbei Masuda Also, Producer
2007 Disney Channel Games Himself Yellow Team
2006 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior Shen
2006 Disney Channel Games Himself Red Team
2006 Wine Road of the Samurai (ワイン大国を夢見た男達 ～侍達のワインロード～ Narrator Also, Executive Producer
2006 Constellation Yoshito Lead
2004 Jake 2.0 Shinji Makito (one episode)
2003 The Last Samurai Nobutada Co-Starring
2003 A Ninja Pays Half My Rent Black Ninja
2002 Power Rangers Wild Force Agent

[edit] References

  1. ^ Shin Koyamada's remarkable martial arts skills.
  2. ^ Shin Koyamada's ancestor in Kagoshima, Japan in 14th Century.
  3. ^ Shin Koyamada's love of American and Hong Kong films in his childhood.
  4. ^ Shin Koyamada's love of American and Hong Kong films in his childhood.
  5. ^ Shin Koyamada's physical training.
  6. ^ Shin Koyamada's determination to pursue his dream in Hollywood.
  7. ^ Shin Koyamada came to Hollywood all by himself..
  8. ^ Shin Koyamada enrolled in English classes and began a strict regimen of language instruction..
  9. ^ Shin Koyamada had no connections in Hollywood when he came to Los Angeles.
  10. ^ Shin Koyamada appeared in Coriolanus and choreographed stage combat in the play.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Shin Koyamada at the Internet Movie Database
  12. ^ Shin Koyamad takes serious training in Kyudo and Yabusame.
  13. ^ Shin Koyamada speaks little bit of French and Arabic in the movie.
  14. ^ Shin Koyamada speaks little bit of Mandarin in the movie.
  15. ^ Wendy Wu was entirely shot in Auckland, New Zealand.
  16. ^ Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior had over 5.7 million viewers on the night of it's premiere, making it currently the eighth highest viewed DCOM].
  17. ^ [wkp.fresheye.com/wikipedia/小山田真 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior has received the highest rating in the history of Disney Channel Japan]].
  18. ^ Shin Koyamada participates in Disney Channel Games 2007.
  19. ^ Variety Japan is publishing Shin Koyamada's weekly column.
  20. ^ [www.movieweb.com/tv/news/51/23551.php Shin Koyamada and Brenda Song will star in a sequel to Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior].
  21. ^ Shin Koyamad receives a Black Belt in Karate in Japan.
  22. ^ Shin Koyamada became US national Champion in Shaolin Kung Fu.

[edit] External links