Summary
Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin, born March 10, 1982) is a Japanese[1] actor and producer.[2] He is best known for roles in The Last Samurai[3] and the Disney Channel television movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.[4]
Shin Koyamada 小山田 真 | |
|---|---|
 Koyamada in May 2015 | |
| Born | March 10, 1982 Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Alma mater | University of California, Riverside (ESL) Los Angeles City College |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
| Organization | Shinca Entertainment |
| Spouse | Nia Lyte |
| Children | 1 |
Early life edit
Koyamada was born in Okayama, Japan. 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.[5] He later studied at Los Angeles City College, and began taking acting lessons.[6]
Acting career edit
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.[7] 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.[8]
In 2005, Koyamada starred in and executive produced the Japanese documentary film Wine Road of the Samurai.[9] 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.[10] From 2006 to 2008, Koyamada was a regular in the Disney Channel Games.[11] In 2007, Koyamada starred in and produced the short film Good Soil.[12] Koyamada next appeared in the 20th Century Fox drama Constellation (2007).[13] In 2009, Koyamada co-founded comics company Laizen Comics.[14][15][16][17] Laizen Comics published and distributed The Dreamhoppers (2010) to independent comic book stores throughout the United States.[18]
In 2010, Koyamada starred in the Japanese stage production Ai No Shizuku.[19] He also starred in and produced the film Heart of the Dragon (2013).[20] 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.[21] In 2022, Koyamada starred in and produced the independent film The Yokai King.
Producing edit
In 2005, Koyamada co-founded a production company Shinca Entertainment, based in Burbank, California.[22] The company has produced multimedia content, including the comic book series The Dreamhoppers.[23]
Personal life edit
Koyamada is married to Carolina Manrique (known professionally as Nia Lyte), a Colombian-American producer. They have a son (born in 2021).
Koyamada has also been involved with various global philanthropic efforts.[24] 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.
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | A Ninja Pays Half My Rent | Black Ninja | Short Film | ||
| Power Rangers Wild Force | Agent | TV series | Fox Kids | ||
| 2003 | The Last Samurai | Nobutada | Feature Film | Warner Bros. | |
| 2004 | Jake 2.0 | Shinji Makito | TV series | Paramount | |
| 2006 | Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior | Shen | TV movie | Disney Channel | |
| Disney Channel Games 2006 | Himself | TV Miniseries | Disney Channel | ||
| Wine Road of the Samurai | Narrator | Feature documentary | Tokyo Broadcasting System | Also, executive producer | |
| 2007 | Constellation | Yoshito | Feature film | 20th Century Fox | |
| Good Soil | Jinbei Masuda | Short film | Shinca Pictures | Also, producer | |
| Disney Channel Games 2007 | Himself | TV Miniseries | Disney Channel | ||
| 2008 | Disney Channel Games 2008 | Himself | TV Miniseries | Disney Channel | |
| 2010 | Ai No Shizuku | Seinen Makibi | TV special | NHK | |
| 2014 | Heart of the Dragon | John Watanabe | Short Film | Also, Producer | |
| 2022 | The Yokai King | Ippei | Feature film | Also, Producer |
References edit
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Sister Cities International @ SisterCities.org - Shin Koyamada".
- ^ "CBS News - The Last Samurai". CBS News.
- ^ "Disney.com - Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior".
- ^ "Action's Back". Archived from the original on January 6, 2008.
- ^ "Los Angeles City College Foundation - Distinguished Alumni".
- ^ "Reelgood.com - Shin Koyamada Movies and TV Shows Streaming Online".
- ^ ""The Last Samurai" Premiere: Interviews with Ken Watanabe and Shin Koyamada".
- ^ "Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) official website".
- ^ Steinberg, Jacques (June 15, 2006). "Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
- ^ "whyville.net - Review: The Disney Channel Games".
- ^ "Good Soil - Christian Movie, Christian Film, DVD Shin Koyamada". Christian Movie/Film Database.
- ^ "Constellation Movie Trailers". Movie-List.com.
- ^ Moore, Travis (2009). "Laizen Comics: The Dreamhoppers #1". Laizen Comics.
- ^ Moore, Travis (January 23, 2013). "DC Comics: SWORD OF SORCERY #4". DC Comics. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ Moore, Travis (February 6, 2013). "DC Comics: WONDER WOMAN: ODYSSEY VOL. 2". DC Comics. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
- ^ Moore, Travis (October 6, 2010). "DC Comics: FREEDOM FIGHTERS #2". DC Comics. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ^ "Former Disney Actor Shin Koyamada Becomes a Manga Comic Book Character".
- ^ "Shin Koyamada in Japan's largest National Cultural Festival, Okayama 2010（おかやま国文祭".
- ^ "Heart of the Dragon at IMDB.com". IMDb.
- ^ "Spirit series at the official site of the Spirit Show Network".
- ^ "SisterCities.org - Shin Koyamada".
- ^ "comics.org: The Dreamhoppers #1/2009".
- ^ "Sister Cities International Elects Shin Koyamada, Actor and Philanthropist, to Board of Directors".