Hattori Hanzo,
also known as Masashige (1541-1596) is perhaps one of the
most famous “ninjas” of Japan. Nicknamed “Devil
Hanzo”, he served Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu faithfully
during his reign in the 15th Century and helped protect the
Tokugawa family during various conflicts.
Fujiko Fujio’s long running cartoon “Ninja Hattori
Kun” is also a variant of Hattori Hanzo, albeit a more
comical and lighthearted version.
Oddly enough Chiba Shinichi also portrayed another famous
swordsman/warrior Yagyu Jyubei AKA Yagyu Jubei Mitsuyoshi
(or Mitsutoshi), who served the Tokugawa family in the 16th
Century and who is a mythic figure in his own right (The Anime
“Jubei Ninbocho” AKA Ninja Scroll features a young
Yagyu Jubei as its hero). Yagyu Jyubei lost his right eye
in a sword duel practice mishap.
“Kage No Gundan” featured an all-star cast of
JAC “Japan Action Club” alumni including Shihomi
Etsuko, Sanada Hiroyuki and Oba Kenji to name a few.
Before “Kage No Gundan”, Chiba was more familiar
to audiences as the Tokusatsu Hero “Nanaiiro Kamen”
(1959). He would also play other Tokusatsu heroes such as
“Iron Sharp AKA Space Chief in the serial “Uchu
Kaisoku Sen” (1961) and “Ogon Bat” (AKA
Gold Bat, 1966). He was also in the cult classic “Kaitei
Dai Sensou” (AKA Battle Beneath The Sea; Toei, 1966)
Chiba would later gain fame as a member of the “KEYHUNTER”
group in the immensely popular TV series of the same name.
Chiba would go on to star in a number of movies including
the wildly popular “Gekitotsu! Satsujin Ken” (AKA
Street Fighter; Toei, 1974) and its subsequent sequels. Other
movie credits include “Makai Tensou” (AKA Samurai
Reincarnation; Toei, 1981) “Golgo 13: Kuron No Kubi
(AKA Golgo 13 Kowloon Assignment; Toei, 1977)”, “Yagyu
Ichizoku No Inbo” (The Yagyu Conspiracy; Toei, 1978),
“Uchu Kara No Messaga” (AKA Message From Space;
Toei, 1978) and “Satomi Hakkenden” (Legend of
the Eight Samurai; Toei, 1983).
Founded the seminal Action Stunt Group JAC (Japan Action
Club now Japan Action Enterprise, Inc.) whose members included
Etsuko Shiomi, Oba Kenji and Sanada Hiroyuki.
He is still in demand today, having starred in the Hong Kong
Fantasy, “Storm Riders” (1998) and “Battle
Royale II: Requiem” (2003).
Quention Tarantino was such an avid fan of Chiba that he
not only referenced his “Street Fighter” movies
in his film “True Romance” (1993) but his also
referenced the opening monologue of Chiba's "Karate Kiba"
(1974) in "Pulp Fiction" (1994) -- Jules Winnfield’s
(Samuel L. Jackson) "Ezekiel 25:17 Speech".
Tarantino later got to work with his idol Chiba in the action
thriller “Kill Bill” (Miramax; 2003), where he
portrayed Master Japanese Sword Maker, Hattori Hanzo, a clear
reference to the “Hattori Hanzo” character he
played in “Kage No Gundan”.
Born in 1955 in Nishidaiji, Okayma (in the Honshu prefecture),
the teenage Shihomi Etsuko was an ardent admirer of Chiba
Shinichi and wrote to him several times asking to join his
elite Japan Action Club. After much insistence she was accepted
into JAC and became its most visible and popular member, not
to mention one of the only female members of the group.
She would soon star in a string of gritty Toei Action movies
including the popular “Onna Hissastsu Ken” (AKA
Sister Street Fighter) movies.
Oba Kenji who’s real name is Takahashi Kenji is best
remembered as the star of “Uchu Keiji – Gavan”
(Space Detective Gavan; Toei, 1981). Born in 2/5/1955 in Eihime
Province, Matsuyama, Oba’s other credits include:
“Kamen Rider” [Toei, 1971], “Jinzou Ningen
Kikaider” [Toei, 1972], “Jinzou Ningen Kikaider
01” [Toei, 1973], “Robot Keiji” [Toei, 1973],
“The Bodyguard” [Toei, 1974]
“Onna Hissatsu Ken” [Toei, 1974],“Chokugeki
Jigoku Ken – Dai Giyaku Ten” (Direct Hit Hell
Fist – The Great Comeback) [Toei, 1974], “Gorilla
7” [Toei, 1975],“Karei Naru Tsuiseki” (The
Magnificent Chase) [Toei, 1975], “Kenka Karate Kyoku
Shinken” (Karate Fight Extreme Buddhist Fist) [Toei,
1975],“Kaete Kita Onna Hissatsu Ken” [Toei, 1975],
“Battle Fever J” [Toei, 1979] and “Denshi
Sentai Denjiman” [Toei, 1980]
Born Shimozawa Hiroyuki, Sanada Hiroyuki started his acting
career very young, joining the Himawari Drama Company and
becoming a magazine model at just five years of age. He appeared
in his first movie that same year but stopped everything to
go to school. He lost his father at the age of 11 and started
to learn karate that same year.
At 13, he joined Chiba Shinichi’s “Japan Action
Club” (JAC) group where he excelled. He also learned
horseback riding and graduated from the Horikoshi Gakuen high
school, a school that specializes in young "talento."
He made his movie debut at the age of 18 under the name Sanada
Hiroyuki in “Yagyu Ichizoku No Inbo” (Shogun Samurai,
1978). He would later go on to star in movies such as “Uchu
Kara No Message” (AKA Message From Space, 1978), “Makai
Tensou” (AKA Smurai Reincarnation, 1981), “Hoeru
Tekken” (AKA Roaring Fire, 1981) and “Satomi Hakkenden”
(AKA Legend of the Eight Samurai, 1983). He became quite popular
as a martial artist abroad and earned the nickname "Henry"
or "Duke" Sanada. He graduated in Film Science from
Nihon University in 1982.
In 2000, he became the first Japanese actor to ever appear
with the Royal Shakespeare Company, putting in a creditable
English performance in London as King Lear's Fool.
Sanada can be seen in such films as “Ring/Rasen”
(Ring/Spiral, 1998), “Tasogare Seibei” (The Twilight
Samurai, 2002) and most recently starred opposite Tom Cruise
and Watanabe Ken in film “The Last Samurai” (2003).
In 1990, he married actress Tezuka Satomi. The couple had
two sons but divorced in 1997. Sanada has earned quite a reputation
as a playboy, and made headlines when he had an affair with
popular actress Suzuki Riona, 15 years his junior.
As a teenage MIE (or Nemoto Mitsuyo) would team up with childhood
friend Masuda Keiko (Kei) to form one the most popular 70’s
groups in Japan, “Pink Lady”. As Pink Lady, MIE
(or Mii) and Kei would produce a string of hit songs, most
of which are now considered 70’s J-Pop classics including
“Peppa Keibu”, “S.O.S.”, “U.F.O”,
“Southpaw” and “Namida No Sinbad”.
With their idol looks, long legs, elaborate costumes and
signature disco dance moves they became a phenomenon in Japan.
Unfortunately, a string of bad business decisions sidelined
their skyrocketing success, the most embarrassing of which
was their failed U.S. variety show “Pink Lady and Jeff”,
which was produced by NBC and Sid & Marty Krofft, the
guys behind shows such as “H.R. Pufnstuf”, “Land
of the Lost”, “The Bugaloos”, “Lidsville”
and “Lost Saucer”.
Mii and Kei soon broke up thereafter to pursue their own
careers. Mii changed her name to MIE and became an actress,
starring in a number of movies and TV series including
In the mid-nineties a sudden nostalgia boom brought MIE and
Kei back together to form “Pink Lady” again, albeit
for just a few select appearances.
Many American audiences may recall Pink Lady’s American
single release, “Kiss in the Dark” which was a
minor hit on the U.S. Billboard charts in the early 80’s..
Tokusatsu fans may recognize Kuroki Hikaru as the title hero
in “Kyojyu Tokusou Juspion” (Toei, 1985). He also
played the gullible wannabe hero Yamamori Shota (AKA Magne
Senshi) in “Chou Denshi Bioman” (1984). His other
credits include “Iga No Gaba Maru” (The Yagyu’s
Gaba-Maru; Toei, 1983), “Setonai Shonen Yakkyu Dan –
Seishun Hen – Saigo No Rakkuen” (The Setonai Junior
Baseball Team – My Youth – Final Anchor; Herald
Ace, 1987) and “Remains – Utsukushiki Yusha Tachi”
(Remains – Beautiful Heroes; Enterprise, 1990).
Ikegami Kimiko was the heroine, Oshare (Fashionable) in Obayashi
Nobuhiko’s cult film “House” (Toho, 1977).
She also starred in such movies as “Taiyo O Tsukanda
Otoko” (AKA The Man Who Stole The Sun; Kitty Film, 1979),
“Kiken Na Onna Tachi” (Women In Danger; Shochiku,
1985), “Hana No Ran” (Chaos of Flowers; Toei,
1988) and “Gokudo No Onna Tachi: Revenge” (Women
of the Yakuza: Revenge; Toei Video, 2000).
Multi-talented character actress Kiki Kirin is a familiar
face on Japanese TV. She made her debut using the stage name
Yuki Chiho in the TV series “Shichinin No Mago”
(My Seven Grandchildren). She soon starred in a number of
TV and Movie projects the most recent being “Returner”
(2002), “Pistol Opera” (2001) and “Inochi”
(2002). She is know primarily for her appearances in various
Japanese Commercials (“CMs”). She is married to
actor and sometime rock singer Uchida Yuya.
In 2003 “Kage No Gundan” returned in a direct-to-video
movie, entitled “Shin Kage No Gundan” (New Shadow
Army). Chiba again reprised his role as yet another generational
ancestor of the famous Hattori Hanzo character.
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