[KineJapan] Chiba Shin'ichi

[Gerow Aaron]

News reports say that Chiba Shin'ichi--known abroad as Sonny Chiba--has died at the age of 82 of complications from COVID-19. Chiba started out at Toei in the late 1950s, but initially became famous through TV shows such as Key Hunter. He established the Japan Action Club in 1969, and raised such action stars as Sanada Hiroyuki and Shihomi Etsuko, while himself starring in many karate (Street Fighter, etc.) and jidaigeki action films (Shogun's Samurai, etc.) that gained him a cult following abroad. One of his fans, Quentin Tarantino, cast Chiba in Kill Bill in the role of Hattori Hanzo (a role he also played in the TV drama Shadow Warriors). His former wife, Nogiwa Yoko, and his three children, Manase Juri, Arata Mackenyu, and Gordon Maeda, are all actors. 

(Our cat Hanzo sends his regards to a fellow Hanzo.)

https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202108190001057.html


Aaron Gerow
Professor
Film and Media Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
Chair, East Asian Languages and Literatures
Yale University
320 York Street, Room 108
PO Box 208201
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USA
Phone: 1-203-432-7082
Fax: 1-203-432-6729
e-mail: aaron.gerow at yale.edu <mailto:aaron.gerow at yale.edu>
website: www.aarongerow.com



















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