Toshishiro Obata
Biography: Toshishiro Obata is the founder of Shinkendo. He is well known in Japan as a tameshigiri champion for several years in a row and is an authorized shitoka. He studied aikido under Gozo Shioda in the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo, and studied the sword arts of Nakamura-ryu, Ioriken Battojutsu, Toyama-ryu, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Kashima Shin-ryu, Ryukyu Kobudo, and others. He moved to America in 1980 to start teaching and to develop his own sword art, based on his extensive experience. In 1990, the International Shinkendo Federation was officially established. The federation has grown to 80 branches internationally, and continues to expand. Obata, as the founder of the school, is referred to as Obata Kaiso by his students, and continues to travel across the globe to hold seminars for his students around the world. Since 1986, Obata has appeared in several Hollywood films.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: October 20, 1948
Deathday: N/A
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Known For
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
1990-03-30
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Overview: A quartet of humanoid turtles, trained by their mentor in ninjitsu, must learn to work together to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan.
Genres: Science Fiction Action Adventure Comedy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-03-30
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Rising Sun
1993-07-30
Rising Sun
Overview: When a prostitute is found dead in a Los Angeles skyscraper occupied by a large Japanese corporation, detectives John Connor and Web Smith are called in to investigate. Although Connor has previous experience working in Japan, cultural differences make their progress difficult until a security disc showing the murder turns up. Close scrutiny proves the disc has been doctored, and the detectives realize they're dealing with a cover-up as well.
Genres: Action Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-07-30
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The Hunted
1995-02-24
The Hunted
Overview: Paul Racine, a high-powered American business executive in Japan, is catapulted into a maze of danger and intrigue after he and his sexy companion are the targets of assassins hired by the ruthless Kinjo. To survive, Racine must join forces with a powerful samurai and together they will fight the force of evil in an awesome battle rooted in centuries of brutal conflict.
Genres: Action Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1995-02-24
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Demolition Man
1993-10-08
Demolition Man
Overview: Simon Phoenix, a violent criminal cryogenically frozen in 1996, escapes during a parole hearing in 2032 in the utopia of San Angeles. Police are incapable of dealing with his violent ways and turn to his captor, who had also been cryogenically frozen after being wrongfully accused of killing 30 innocent people while apprehending Phoenix.
Genres: Crime Action Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-10-08
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Showdown in Little Tokyo
1991-08-23
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Overview: An American with a Japanese upbringing, Chris Kenner is a police officer assigned to the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles. Kenner is partnered with Johnny Murata, a Japanese-American who isn't in touch with his roots. Despite their differences, both men excel at martial arts, and utilize their formidable skills when they go up against Yoshida, a vicious yakuza drug dealer with ties to Kenner's past.
Genres: Action Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1991-08-23
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Ghost Warrior
1986-03-01
Ghost Warrior
Overview: When skiers in Japan come across the frozen body of centuries-old samurai warrior Yoshimita, scientists secretly whisk the corpse to a high-tech laboratory in California, where they bring him back to life. But when Yoshimita escapes onto the mean streets of 1980s Los Angeles, his ancient and strict code of honor gets him both into and out of trouble. J. Larry Carroll directs this low-budget action fantasy.
Genres: Crime Action Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-03-01
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Red Sun Rising
1994-09-01
Red Sun Rising
Overview: Thomas Hoshino is a tough Japanese detective, who lost his partner by a deadly Yakuza killer Jaho. He tracks down the killer and his master to Los Angeles, where he teams up with Det. Karen Ryder. Soon they discover that Jaho is preparing a gang war and weapon smuggling ring. Hoshino must find a way to defeat the killer who posses mystical ninja powers.
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-09-01
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Blue Tiger
1994-04-03
Blue Tiger
Overview: Gena is a sweet and dedicated mother to her little son. One day, whilst shopping with him for a halloween mask, her son is accidently shot through the chest by a Japanese Gunman, trying to kill an opposing gang of bus operators. Gena notices that the gunman has a picture of a blue tiger on his chest. She is turned into an obsessed person and has an identical red tiger etched into her skin. She then tracks down the killer and plots his death. This leads her into the world of the Japanese Mafia
Genres: Drama Action Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-04-03
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
1991-03-22
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Overview: The Turtles and the Shredder battle once again, this time for the last cannister of the ooze that created the Turtles, which Shredder wants to create an army of new mutants.
Genres: Science Fiction Adventure Action Comedy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1991-03-22
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The Sword of Bushido
1990-06-07
The Sword of Bushido
Overview: The Sword of Bushido tells the story of ex-Navy SEAL Zac Connors and his journey to learn the fate of his grandfather, who mysteriously disappeared days after the end of World War 2, with a legendary stolen Japanese sword in his possession. With the help of a stunningly sexy computer analyst (who he ends up sleeping with, the suave dog), he learns that his grandfathers' plane crashed somewhere on the outskirts of Thailand.
Genres: Action TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-06-07
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Rage and Honor
1992-05-08
Rage and Honor
Overview: Witnessing a drug deal involving local gang members and cops, an Australian police officer feels he can no longer be just an observer. He joins forces with a local teacher who just happens to be a karate expert and together they try to take back the streets.
Genres: Action Thriller Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-05-08
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Black Rain
1989-09-22
Black Rain
Overview: Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. However, in Japan he manages to escape, and as they try to track him down, they get deeper and deeper into the Japanese Mafia scene and they have to learn that they can only win by playing the game—the Japanese way.
Genres: Drama Action Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-09-22
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The Samurai
2003-01-01
The Samurai
Overview: They were the knights of medieval Japan, an elite warrior class that held the reins of power and the fascination of the people for more than 700 years. Masters of sword and bow, driven by an unforgiving code of ethics, they proved ferocious in combat. They beat back foreign invaders and fought each other for land, status, honor and glory. The Samurai explores the extraordinary legacy of martial artistry, ceremony, self-discipline and tenacity in battle that reaches to this day. Modern-day samurai explain the ways of life in the Bushido, while scholars detail the pivotal events in their centuries-long history. From the heyday of the Heian Period (794-1185) to the inevitable decline that followed the opening of Japan in 1853, this is the definitive study of some of world's most famous fighters.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-01-01
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China O'Brien
1990-02-01
China O'Brien
Overview: China O'Brien; big city police woman; martial arts trainer, is forced to hand in her badge and head home to her father and the small town where she grew up. The peaceful town she knew is now struggling against the clutches of organized crime. When her father, the town sheriff, is killed China decides to run for his position and clean up the town. The poll results spark a series of confrontations that finally decide who runs the town . . .
Genres: Action Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-02-01
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Ulterior Motives
1993-01-06
Ulterior Motives
Overview: A private eye becomes the bodyguard of a beautiful reporter being pursued by a Japanese mob.
Genres: Drama Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1993-01-06
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China O'Brien II
1990-06-01
China O'Brien II
Overview: This time China O'Brien has trouble with a dealer who puts a prize on her head because she had spoiled an important drug deal of his. But all the world's criminals will not be enough to catch up with China O'Brian, one of the masters of the martial arts.
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-06-01
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The Shadow
1994-07-01
The Shadow
Overview: Based on the 1930's comic strip, puts the hero up against his arch enemy, Shiwan Khan, who plans to take over the world by holding a city to ransom using an atom bomb. Using his powers of invisibility and "The power to cloud men's minds", the Shadow comes blazing to the city's rescue with explosive results.
Genres: Fantasy Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-07-01
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