Sadaho Maeda

Sonny Chiba

  • Name: Sonny Chiba
  • Native name: 千葉真一
  • Given name: Maeda Sadao
  • Also Known as: Chiba Shinichi, JJ Sonny Chiba, JJサニー千葉, Justice Japan Sonny Chiba, 和千永倫道, Wachinaga Rindou, Wachinaga Rindo
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: January 22, 1939
  • Died: August 19, 2021
Chiba Shinichi, also known as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor, singer, film producer, film director, and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience.

Born Maeda Sadaho in Fukuoka, Japan, he was the third of five children in the family of a military test pilot. When he was four years old, his father was transferred to Kisarazu, Chiba, and the family moved to Kimitsu, Chiba.

After Chiba went to junior high school in Kimitsu, the physical education teacher advised him to do artistic gymnastics. He also was passionate about track and field sports, baseball, and volleyball. In high school, Chiba dedicated himself to artistic gymnastics and won the National Sports Festival of Japan while in his third year.

Chiba went to the Nippon Sport Science University in 1957. He was a serious candidate for a place in the Japanese Olympic team in his late teens until he was sidelined by a back injury. While he was a university student, he began studying martial arts with the renowned Kyokushin Karate master Oyama "Mas" Masutatsu (whom he later portrayed in a trilogy of films), which led to a first-degree black belt on October 15, 1965, later receiving a fourth-degree on January 20, 1984.

Sometime around 1960, he was discovered in a talent search (called "New Face") by the Toei film studio, and he began his screen career soon after. His acting career began on television, starring in two tokusatsu superhero shows.

Over the next decade, he was cast primarily in crime thrillers. By 1970, Chiba had started his own training school for aspiring martial arts film actors and stunt performers known as J.A.C (Japan Action Club). Chiba's breakthrough international hit was The Street Fighter (1974) which was brought to Western audiences by New Line Cinema. The film and its sequels established him as the reigning Japanese martial arts actor in international cinema for the next two decades.

Chiba was even busier in the 1980s, doing dozens of movies as well as making forays into television, and with roles in such high-profile adventures as the popular Hong Kong comic-based movie: The Storm Riders (1998), starring alongside Ekin Cheng and Aaron Kwok. His fame in Japan remained unabated into the 1990s.

In his fifties, the actor resumed working as a choreographer of martial arts sequences. At the dawn of the 21st century, Chiba was as busy as ever in feature films and also starring in his own series in Japan. Roles in Takashi Miike's Deadly Outlaw: Rekka and his work with directors Fukasaku Kenta and Kinji in Battle Royale II effectively bridged the gap between modern-day and yesteryear cinematic cult legends. Chiba's enduring onscreen career received a tribute when he appeared in a key role as Hattori Hanzo, the owner of a sushi restaurant and retired samurai sword craftsman, in director Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge epic Kill Bill in 2003.

Chiba starred in more than 125 films for Toei Studios and has won numerous awards in Japan for his acting In November 2007, he announced the retirement of the stage name Chiba Shinichi and would be known (in Japan) as J.J. Sonny Chiba as an actor and Wachinaga Rindo as a film director.

Chiba established the Japan Action Club, now Japan Action Enterprise (JAE), to develop and raise the level of martial arts techniques and sequences used in Japanese film and television.

Chiba divorced his first wife, actress Nogiwa Yoko, with whom he had a daughter, Manase Juri, who is also an actress. He had two sons from his second marriage to Chiba Tamami (which lasted from 1996 to 2015), both are actors: Arata Mackenyu, born on November 16, 1996, and Gordon, born in 2000. He currently lives in Yokohama, Japan.

His younger brother, Yabuki Jiro (also known as Chiba Jiro), is a former actor.

He died on 19th August 2021 due to complications caused by COVID-19.

(Source: Wikipedia) Edit Biography
Director
Year Title Type Rating
1992 Fighting Fist
Movie
0.0
Screenwriter & Director
Year Title Type Rating
2007 Oyaji
Movie
7.0
Cinematographer
Year Title Type Rating
2017 Dreaming Monster
Movie
0.0
Executive Producer
Year Title Type Rating
2003 New Shadow Army 1
Movie
4.0
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2021 The Hand
Chinese Drama, 2021, 27 eps
Keno Kaneshiro (Support Role)
27
Keno Kaneshiro
Support Role
8.0
2021 Kinnikuman: The Lost Legend
Japanese Drama, 2021, 10 eps
Himself (Ep. 2, 6) (Guest Role)
10
Himself (Ep. 2, 6)
Guest Role
7.6
2014 Owakon TV
Japanese Drama, 2014, 8 eps
Aramaki Genjiro (Main Role)
8
Main Role
6.4
2007 Furin Kazan
Japanese Drama, 2007, 50 eps
Itagaki Nobukata (Support Role)
50
Itagaki Nobukata
Support Role
7.6
2005 Team Astro
Japanese Drama, 2005, 18 eps
Shuro (Main Role)
18
Main Role
7.9
2005 Yagyuu Jubei Nanaban Shoubu
Japanese Drama, 2005, 6 eps
Miyamoto Musashi (Ep. 5) (Guest Role)
6
Miyamoto Musashi (Ep. 5)
Guest Role
9.0
2002 Wind and Cloud
Taiwanese Drama, 2002, 44 eps
Xiong Ba / "Lord Conqueror" (Main Role)
44
Xiong Ba / "Lord Conqueror"
Main Role
7.5
2001 Dekichatta Kekkon
Japanese Drama, 2001, 11 eps
Kotani Ittetsu (Support Role)
11
Kotani Ittetsu
Support Role
7.2
1996 Seiryuu Densetsu
Japanese Drama, 1996, 10 eps
Saeki Yuji (Support Role)
10
Saeki Yuji
Support Role
0.0
1992 Tokugawa Buraicho
Japanese Drama, 1992, 24 eps
Matsudaira Tadateru (Main Role)
24
Matsudaira Tadateru
Main Role
0.0
1982 Kage no Gundan Season 3
Japanese Drama, 1982, 26 eps
Tarao Hanzo (Main Host)
26
Tarao Hanzo
Main Host
0.0
1981 Police Department Murder Division
Japanese Drama, 1981, 26 eps
(Ep. 1) (Guest Role)
26
(Ep. 1)
Guest Role
0.0
1980 Kage no Gundan
Japanese Drama, 1980, 27 eps
Hattori Hanzō III (Main Role)
27
Main Role
8.3
1978 Yagyuu Ichizoku no Inbo
Japanese Drama, 1978, 39 eps
Yagyu Jubei (Main Role)
39
Yagyu Jubei
Main Role
8.2
1976 Nanairo Tongarashi
Japanese Drama, 1976, 21 eps
(Unknown)
21
Unknown
0.0
1976 Daihijousen
Japanese Drama, 1976, 10 eps
Godai Masahiro (Main Role)
10
Main Role
6.0
1975 Moeru Sosamo
Japanese Drama, 1975, 14 eps
Okami Shiro (Main Role)
14
Main Role
7.0
1975 The Gorilla 7
Japanese Drama, 1975, 26 eps
Kazami Daisuke (Main Role)
26
Kazami Daisuke
Main Role
0.0
1974 THE BODY-GUARD
Japanese Drama, 1974, 26 eps
Sumi Shusuke (Main Role)
26
Sumi Shusuke
Main Role
0.0
1969 Judo Itchokusen
Japanese Drama, 1969, 92 eps
(Support Role)
92
Support Role
0.0
1968 Keyhunter
Japanese Drama, 1968, 262 eps
Kazama Yosuke (Support Role)
262
Kazama Yosuke
Support Role
6.0
1960 Ara no Shisha
Japanese Drama, 1960, 26 eps
(Main Role)
26
Main Role
0.0
1959 Seven Color Mask
Japanese Drama, 1959, 57 eps
(Main Role)
57
Main Role
0.0
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
2018 Shakespeare in Tokyo
Japanese Movie, 2018,
[Calligrapher] (Guest Role)
[Calligrapher]
Guest Role
7.8
2017 Photo Koshien Summer in 0.5 Seconds
Japanese Movie, 2017,
Craftsman in a Workshop (Support Role)
Craftsman in a Workshop
Support Role
7.2
2015 April Fools
Japanese Movie, 2015,
[Gang leader] (Support Role)
[Gang leader]
Support Role
7.4
2013 Nihon Toitsu 2
Japanese Movie, 2013,
Gonda Seizo (Support Role)
Gonda Seizo
Support Role
0.0
2013 Nihon Toitsu
Japanese Movie, 2013,
Gonda Seizo (Support Role)
Gonda Seizo
Support Role
0.0
2012 Shura no Hanamichi
Japanese Movie, 2012,
(Support Role)
Support Role
0.0
2009 Yakuza Legacy
Japanese Movie, 2009,
(Support Role)
Support Role
1.0
2007 Oyaji
Japanese Movie, 2007,
Ghost (Main Role)
Ghost
Main Role
7.0
2004 Survive Style 5+
Japanese Movie, 2004,
Kazama, Pharma Company President (Support Role)
Kazama, Pharma Company President
Support Role
7.7
2003 New Shadow Army 1
Japanese Movie, 2003,
Hattori Hanzo The First (Main Role)
Hattori Hanzo The First
Main Role
4.0
2003 Battle Royale II: Requiem
Japanese Movie, 2003,
Mimura Makio ["Wild Seven" former member] (Bit part)
Mimura Makio ["Wild Seven" former member]
Bit part
6.4
2003 New Shadow Army 2
Japanese Movie, 2003,
Hattori Hanzo The First (Main Role)
Hattori Hanzo The First
Main Role
0.0
2002 Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Japanese Movie, 2002,
(Support Role)
Support Role
7.6
2001 Akumyo
Japanese Movie, 2001,
(Support Role)
Support Role
6.0
2000 Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai
Japanese Movie, 2000,
(Support Role)
Support Role
8.5
2000 Young and Dangerous 6
Hong Kong Movie, 2000,
Ichio Kusakari (Support Role)
Ichio Kusakari
Support Role
7.2
1998 The Storm Riders
Hong Kong Movie, 1998,
Lord Conqueror (Main Role)
Main Role
7.4
1992 Double Cross
Japanese Movie, 1992,
Shiba (Support Role)
Shiba
Support Role
7.0
1992 Fighting Fist
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Supt. Yamada (Main Role)
Supt. Yamada
Main Role
0.0
1989 Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World What Happens When You Die
Japanese Movie, 1989,
(Bit part)
Bit part
0.0
1989 Shogun's Shadow
Japanese Movie, 1989,
Shoemon Iba (Main Role)
Main Role
6.8
1987 Sure Death 4: Revenge
Japanese Movie, 1987,
Bunshichi (Support Role)
Bunshichi
Support Role
8.0
1986 Cabaret
Japanese Movie, 1986,
[Kanto Union leader] (Guest Role)
[Kanto Union leader]
Guest Role
8.0
1985 The Last True Yakuza
Japanese Movie, 1985,
Ryozo Kano (Main Role)
Main Role
6.0
1984 Kotaro Makaritoru!
Japanese Movie, 1984,
Sunny Sullivan (Support Role)
Sunny Sullivan
Support Role
0.0
1983 Legend of the Eight Samurai
Japanese Movie, 1983,
Main Role
7.2
1982 Ninja Wars
Japanese Movie, 1982,
Yagyu Jubee (Support Role)
Yagyu Jubee
Support Role
7.2
1982 Fall Guy
Japanese Movie, 1982,
[Himself] (Guest Role)
[Himself]
Guest Role
6.5
1981 The Kamikaze Adventurers
Japanese Movie, 1981,
Kamikaze Daisuke (Unknown)
Kamikaze Daisuke
Unknown
6.0
1981 Hoero! Tekken
Japanese Movie, 1981,
Tachikawa Shunsuke / Mr. Magic (Support Role)
Tachikawa Shunsuke / Mr. Magic
Support Role
7.5
1981 Samurai Reincarnation
Japanese Movie, 1981,
Main Role
7.1
1980 Shogun's Ninja
Japanese Movie, 1980,
(Main Role)
Main Role
7.0
1980 Virus
Japanese Movie, 1980,
Dr. Yamauchi (Support Role)
Dr. Yamauchi
Support Role
7.5
1979 Yomigaeru Kinrou
Japanese Movie, 1979,
Sakurai Mitsuhiko (Support Role)
Sakurai Mitsuhiko
Support Role
7.4
1979 Dead Angle
Japanese Movie, 1979,
(Support Role)
Support Role
2.0
1979 G.I. Samurai
Japanese Movie, 1979,
Iba Yoshiaki [Second Lieutenant] (Main Role)
Iba Yoshiaki [Second Lieutenant]
Main Role
6.9
1978 The Fall of Ako Castle
Japanese Movie, 1978,
Kazuemon Fuwa (Main Role)
Main Role
7.8
1978 Message from Space
Japanese Movie, 1978,
Prince Hans (Main Role)
Prince Hans
Main Role
6.3
1978 Shogun's Samurai
Japanese Movie, 1978,
Yagyu Jubei (Main Role)
Main Role
7.6
1977 Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Duke Togo/Golgo 13 (Main Role)
Main Role
7.2
1977 Truckstar of Guts
Japanese Movie, 1977,
(Support Role)
Support Role
6.0
1977 Doberman Cop
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Kano Joji (Main Role)
Main Role
6.7
1977 Japanese Humanity and Justice
Japanese Movie, 1977,
(Support Role)
Support Role
8.0
1977 Karate for Life
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama (Main Role)
Sensei Masutatsu Oyama
Main Role
7.2
1977 Karate Bullfighter
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Mas Oyama (Main Role)
Mas Oyama
Main Role
7.0
1977 Hokuriku Proxy War
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Kanai Hachiro (Support Role)
Kanai Hachiro
Support Role
7.3
1977 Yakuza Senso: Nihon no Don
Japanese Movie, 1977,
Sakoda Tsuneyoshi (Support Role)
Sakoda Tsuneyoshi
Support Role
6.0
1976 Terror of Yakuza
Japanese Movie, 1976,
Kunito Masayoshi (Main Role)
Kunito Masayoshi
Main Role
0.0
1976 Jail Breakers
Japanese Movie, 1976,
Kamiki Wataru (Main Role)
Kamiki Wataru
Main Role
0.0
1976 Karate Warriors
Japanese Movie, 1976,
Shuhei Sakata (Main Role)
Shuhei Sakata
Main Role
7.0
1976 Yokohama Ankokugai: Mashingan no Ryu
Japanese Movie, 1976,
(Support Role)
Support Role
7.2
1976 Dragon Princess
Japanese Movie, 1976,
Kazuma Higaki (Unknown)
Kazuma Higaki
Unknown
7.4
1975 Karate Bearfighter
Japanese Movie, 1975,
Mas Oyama (Main Role)
Main Role
7.0
1975 Gekitotsu! Aikido
Japanese Movie, 1975,
(Unknown)
Unknown
0.0
1975 The Bullet Train
Japanese Movie, 1975,
Aoki (Main Role)
Aoki
Main Role
7.7
1975 Wolf Guy
Japanese Movie, 1975,
Akira Inugami (Main Role)
Akira Inugami
Main Role
6.8
1975 Killing Machine
Japanese Movie, 1975,
Doshin So (Main Role)
Main Role
7.8
1974 The Executioner 2: Karate Inferno
Japanese Movie, 1974,
Ryuichi Koga (Main Role)
Main Role
7.2
1974 The Street Fighter's Last Revenge
Japanese Movie, 1974,
Takuma Tsurugi (Main Role)
Main Role
6.8
1974 Sister Street Fighter
Japanese Movie, 1974,
Seiichi Hibiki (Support Role)
Seiichi Hibiki
Support Role
7.3
1974 The Executioner
Japanese Movie, 1974,
(Main Role)
Main Role
7.0
1974 Lubang To no Kiseki: Rikugun Nakano Gakko
Japanese Movie, 1974,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1974 Return of the Street Fighter
Japanese Movie, 1974,
Takuma Tsurugi (Main Role)
Takuma Tsurugi
Main Role
7.2
1974 The Street Fighter
Japanese Movie, 1974,
Takuma Tsurugi (Main Role)
Takuma Tsurugi
Main Role
7.2
1973 Kiba, The Bodyguard
Japanese Movie, 1973,
Naoto Kiba (Main Role)
Naoto Kiba
Main Role
6.0
1973 The Yakuza Papers 2: Hiroshima Deathmatch
Japanese Movie, 1973,
Katsutoshi Otomo (Main Role)
Main Role
7.8
1972 Yakuza Wolf 2: Extend My Condolences
Japanese Movie, 1972,
Ibuki Toru (Main Role)
Ibuki Toru
Main Role
6.2
1972 Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler
Japanese Movie, 1972,
Ryuji (Main Role)
Ryuji
Main Role
7.0
1971 Yakuza Cop: No Graves For Us
Japanese Movie, 1971,
Hayata Shirou (Main Role)
Main Role
1.0
1971 Yakuza Cop: The Terror of Poison Gas
Japanese Movie, 1971,
Hayata Shirou (Main Role)
Hayata Shirou
Main Role
2.0
1970 Saigo no Tokkotai
Japanese Movie, 1970,
(Support Role)
Support Role
6.5
1970 Kamikaze Cop, Marihuana Syndicate The Assassin
Japanese Movie, 1970,
Hayata Shirou (Main Role)
Hayata Shirou
Main Role
0.0
1970 Yakuza Deka
Japanese Movie, 1970,
Hayata Shirou (Main Role)
Hayata Shirou
Main Role
7.0
1969 Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
Japanese Movie, 1969,
{League of Blood Incident} Onuma Sho (Main Role)
{League of Blood Incident} Onuma Sho
Main Role
0.0
1967 Tale of Kawachi Chivalry
Japanese Movie, 1967,
Komakichi Sugimoto (Main Role)
Main Role
1.0
1966 Golden Bat
Japanese Movie, 1966,
Captain Yamatone (Main Role)
Main Role
6.6
1966 Samurai's Lullaby
Japanese Movie, 1966,
Endo Bungo (Main Role)
Endo Bungo
Main Role
6.0
1966 Water Cyborg
Japanese Movie, 1966,
Abe (Main Role)
Abe
Main Role
2.0
1966 Yoru no Mesuinu
Japanese Movie, 1966,
Otsuki Tatsuo (Support Role)
Otsuki Tatsuo
Support Role
4.0
1965 Tale of Japanese Burglars
Japanese Movie, 1965,
Ohki [lawyer] (Support Role)
Ohki [lawyer]
Support Role
7.0
1965 Let's Sing to that Cloud
Japanese Movie, 1965,
(Unknown)
Unknown
0.0
1964 Kimitachi ga Ite Boku ga Ita
Japanese Movie, 1964,
Yabuki Makoto (Support Role)
Yabuki Makoto
Support Role
0.0
1964 Orders from Hell
Japanese Movie, 1964,
(Support Role)
Support Role
0.0
1963 Shiroi Nekkyu
Japanese Movie, 1963,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1963 Navy
Japanese Movie, 1963,
Mutaguchi Takao (Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1963 Judo Ichidai
Japanese Movie, 1963,
Hongo Shiro (Main Role)
Hongo Shiro
Main Role
0.0
1962 Four Sisters
Japanese Movie, 1962,
Hayami Shinkichi (Main Role)
Hayami Shinkichi
Main Role
6.0
1962 The Escape
Japanese Movie, 1962,
Private First Class Shinohara (Support Role)
Private First Class Shinohara
Support Role
0.0
1961 Man with the Funky Hat
Japanese Movie, 1961,
Tenka Ichiro (Main Role)
Tenka Ichiro
Main Role
0.0
1961 Uchuu Kaisokusen
Japanese Movie, 1961,
Tachibana Shinichi (Main Role)
Tachibana Shinichi
Main Role
4.6
Special
Year Title # Role Rating
1991 Sengokuranse no Abarenbo Saito Dozan Doto no ten Shitadori
Japanese Special, 1991, 1 eps
Mitsutsugu Akechi (Support Role)
1
Mitsutsugu Akechi
Support Role
0.0
1991 Takeda Shingen
Japanese Special, 1991, 1 eps
Takeda Nobutora (Support Role)
1
Takeda Nobutora
Support Role
7.0
1984 Subarashiki Circus Yaro
Japanese Special, 1984, 1 eps
Maejima Daigaku (Main Role)
1
Maejima Daigaku
Main Role
0.0
1980 Tokyo Daijishin Magnitude 8.1
Japanese Special, 1980, 1 eps
(Main Role)
1
Main Role
0.0
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2013 ARIYOSHI'S Meeting for Reviewing
Japanese TV Show, 2013, 416 eps
[Reflector] (Ep. 4) (Guest)
416
[Reflector] (Ep. 4)
Guest
0.0
2012 Ningen Kansatsu Variety Monitoring
Japanese TV Show, 2012, 400 eps
(Ep. 131) (Guest)
400
(Ep. 131)
Guest
8.0
2008 Vs Arashi
Japanese TV Show, 2008, 561 eps
(Ep. 297) (Guest)
561
(Ep. 297)
Guest
8.5
2007 Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game: Hospital
Japanese TV Show, 2007, 1 eps
(Guest)
1
Guest
8.2
2006 Gaki no Tsukai No Laughing Batsu Game: Police Station
Japanese TV Show, 2006, 1 eps
(Guest)
1
Guest
8.2
2004 Run for Money
Japanese TV Show, 2004, 63 eps
(Ep. 38-39) (Guest)
63
(Ep. 38-39)
Guest
8.0
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Sonny Chiba

Sadaho Maeda
0 Followers
19 Hearts

Details

  • First Name: Sadaho
  • Family Name: Maeda
  • Native name: 千葉真一
  • Also Known as: Chiba Shinichi, JJ Sonny Chiba, JJサニー千葉, Justice Japan Sonny Chiba, 和千永倫道, Wachinaga Rindou, Wachinaga Rindo
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Male
  • Born: January 22, 1939
  • Died: August 19, 2021

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