Shin Koyamada

Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin, born March 10, 1982) is a Japanese[1] actor, producer, philanthropist, and martial artist.[2] He is best known for roles in The Last Samurai (2003)[3] and the Disney Channel television movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006).[4] He is the founder of the entertainment company Shinca Entertainment,[5] and the co-founder of the Koyamada International Foundation.[6]

Shin Koyamada
小山田 真
Koyamada in May 2015
Born (1982-03-10) March 10, 1982
Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Alma materUniversity of California, Riverside (ESL)
Los Angeles City College
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Organization(s)Shinca Entertainment
Koyamada International Foundation
SpouseNia Lyte
Children1
Japanese name
Kanji小山田 真
Hiraganaこやまだ しん

Early life

Koyamada was born in Okayama, Japan. He is descended from the Koyamada samurai clan. He graduated from Ichinomiya high school in Okayama in 2000. Koyamada subsequently moved to the United States to further his studies, enrolling in the ESL program at the University of California, Riverside.[7] He later studied at Los Angeles City College, and began taking acting lessons.[8]

A triathlete and gymnast in his youth, Koyamada holds black belts in Okinawan karate and Taekwondo,[9][10] and has also practiced Northern Shaolin kung fu,[10] Kuk Sool Won, Iaido, Aikido, Kyūdō, Kendo and Yabusame.

Career

Acting

Koyamada's first acting roles included a brief guest appearance in Power Rangers Wild Force and a co-starring role in the short film A Ninja Pays Half My Rent.[11] His debut film role was in The Last Samurai (2003), co-starring as Nobutada. The film grossed $456 million at the box office and was nominated for several Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and National Board of Review Awards.[12]

In 2005, Koyamada starred in and executive produced the Japanese documentary film Wine Road of the Samurai.[13] In 2006, Koyamada co-starred with Brenda Song in the Disney Channel's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, which become one of the highest-rated Disney original television movies.[14] From 2006 to 2008, Koyamada was a regular in the Disney Channel Games.[15] In 2007, Koyamada starred in and produced the short film Good Soil.[16] Koyamada next appeared in the 20th Century Fox drama Constellation (2007).[17] In 2009, Koyamada co-founded comics company Laizen Comics.[18][19][20][21] Laizen Comics published and distributed The Dreamhoppers (2010) to independent comic book stores throughout the United States.[22]

In 2010, Koyamada starred in the Japanese stage production Ai No Shizuku.[23] He also starred in and produced the film Heart of the Dragon (2013).[24] Koyamada also produced a multi-part television and web series comprising Spirit Fashion Show (2013), Spirit Art Show (2013), Spirit Music Show (2013), Spirit Love Show (2013) and Spirit Earth Show (2014), distributed by Spirit Show Network.[25] In 2022, Koyamada starred in and produced the independent film The Yokai King.

Producing

In 2005, Koyamada co-founded a production company Shinca Entertainment, based in Burbank, California.[5] The company has produced multimedia content, including the comic book series The Dreamhoppers.[26]

Philanthropy

Koyamada has also been involved with various global philanthropic efforts.[6] Koyamada and his wife founded Koyamada International Foundation to improve quality of people's lives by providing humanitarian aid to promote world peace and sustainable development.

Koyamada was a representative of the Japan Karate Federation at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Koyamada is the Chair of the Japan-U.S. Sister City Association.[27]

In 2022, Koyamada was appointed a cultural envoy by the government of Mongolia.[28]

In January 2024, Koyamada was appointed by the World Karate Federation as an Ambassador.[9]

Personal life

Koyamada is married to Carolina Manrique (known professionally as Nia Lyte), a Colombian-American producer. They have a son (born in 2021).

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2002A Ninja Pays Half My RentBlack Ninja Short film
2003The Last SamuraiNobutada
2006 Wine Road of the SamuraiNarratorDocumentary; also exec. producer
2007ConstellationYoshito
Good SoilJinbei MasudaShort film; also producer
2022The Yokai KingIppeiAlso producer

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Power Rangers Wild ForceAgentEpisode: "Identity Crisis"
2004Jake 2.0Shinji MakitoEpisode: "Upgrade"
2006Wendy Wu: Homecoming WarriorShenTV movie
Disney Channel Games 2006HimselfTV special
2007 Disney Channel Games 2007
2008Disney Channel Games 2008
2010Ai No ShizukuSeinen Makibi
2014Heart of the DragonJohn WatanabeAlso producer

References
  1. "Actor and Philanthropist Shin Koyamada is Guest Speaker at Shinnen Enkai Event, Jan. 23 | Maui Now". | Actor and Philanthropist Shin Koyamada is Guest Speaker at Shinnen Enkai Event, Jan. 23. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  2. "Sister Cities International @ SisterCities.org - Shin Koyamada".
  3. "CBS News - The Last Samurai". CBS News.
  4. "Disney.com - Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior".
  5. "SisterCities.org - Shin Koyamada".
  6. "Sister Cities International Elects Shin Koyamada, Actor and Philanthropist, to Board of Directors".
  7. "Action's Back". Archived from the original on January 6, 2008.
  8. "Los Angeles City College Foundation - Distinguished Alumni".
  9. "WKF appoints Shin Koyamada as Karate's Ambassador in Los Angeles". wkf.net. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. Reid, Craig. "SHIN KOYOMADA: LAST SAMURAI TO LAST MONK IN WENDY WU". Kung Fu Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. "Reelgood.com - Shin Koyamada Movies and TV Shows Streaming Online".
  12. ""The Last Samurai" Premiere: Interviews with Ken Watanabe and Shin Koyamada".
  13. "Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) official website".
  14. Steinberg, Jacques (June 15, 2006). "Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  15. "whyville.net - Review: The Disney Channel Games".
  16. "Good Soil - Christian Movie, Christian Film, DVD Shin Koyamada". Christian Movie/Film Database.
  17. "Constellation Movie Trailers". Movie-List.com.
  18. Moore, Travis (2009). "Laizen Comics: The Dreamhoppers #1". Laizen Comics.
  19. Moore, Travis (January 23, 2013). "DC Comics: SWORD OF SORCERY #4". DC Comics. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  20. Moore, Travis (February 6, 2013). "DC Comics: WONDER WOMAN: ODYSSEY VOL. 2". DC Comics. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  21. Moore, Travis (October 6, 2010). "DC Comics: FREEDOM FIGHTERS #2". DC Comics. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  22. "Former Disney Actor Shin Koyamada Becomes a Manga Comic Book Character".
  23. "Shin Koyamada in Japan's largest National Cultural Festival, Okayama 2010（おかやま国文祭".
  24. "Heart of the Dragon at IMDB.com". IMDb.
  25. "Spirit series at the official site of the Spirit Show Network".
  26. "comics.org: The Dreamhoppers #1/2009".
  27. "Board of Directors". Japan-United States Sister City Association. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  28. "Shin Koyamada appointed as Mongolia's cultural envoy". MONTSAME News Agency. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
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