SHINICHI "SONNY" CHIBA: A Real Mean Bastard!
Version 2.0
A Career Profile by August Ragone
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Nickname: Sonny Chiba
Real Name: Sadao Maeda
Born: January 23, 1939 (Fukuoka, Kyushu)
Profession: Action film legend and founder of the Japan Action Club
Favorite Actors: Steve McQueen and Alain Delon
Most Famous Screen Character: Takuma Tsurugi, the mercenary in THE STREETFIGHTER
Martial Arts Training: Studied under Masatatsu "Mas" Oyama for five years
Levels Obtained: 2nd-Dan Blackbelt in Judo, 4th-Dan Blackbelt in Ninjutsu,
1st Dan Blackbelt in Kendo, 1st-Dan Blackbelt in Shorinji Kempo
(As previously stated, "A real mean bastard!")
Check out the Sony Chiba movie poster images over at the Movie Shelf!
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"An actor's body should be full of emotions, whether it is happiness or
sorrow, pain or joy, enraged or elated. You have to express yourself
with your whole body. Japanese actors don't normally do this. What I'm
doing as an action star is what every actor should be doing. Action is
drama. If we cannot make the audience laugh, smile or cry with us, we
are not actors. That may be idealistic -- but it's true."
-- Shinichi Chiba, 1989
...and Chiba believes every word of it, but more importantly, he makes you believe it. He is one of the most intense action stars of all time. Whereas Bruce Lee's persona was that of a sleek and deadly cat, Chiba's is that of a hyper-active, (but nonetheless lethal), pitbull. Let's get real here: Chiba's martial art skills are brutish opposed to Lee's, but they seem more enraged, more brutal. You may not ever want to get into a fight with Lee, but you would NEVER dare cross Chiba. Even when he plays amiable good guys -- watch out -- because you don't envy the villains a bit once they piss Chiba off. Nobody does it quite as badass as Chiba. Nobody.
The eldest of five children and son of an army test pilot, Sadao Maeda and his family were transferred to a base in Chiba Prefecture, (just north of Tokyo), during World War II. He later adopted the name "Chiba" as his screen name.
Chiba's devotion to physical performance began in his youth when he aspired to enter the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a gymnast, by enrolling in the Physical Education Department of Nihon University. He also took on a part-time construction job on which he injured his hip bone and forfeited his Olympic career. It was then that he auditioned and won the Toei Studios' 1960 "New Faces Contest."
At the age of 21, the newly-christened Shinichi Chiba's first assignment that summer was from Toei TV Productions. He was signed to take over Susumu Wajima's part as "Kotaro," the lead character on the popular superhero drama created by Kohan (Moonlight Mask) Kawauchi: SPECTRAL MASK (Nanairo Kamen). The success of this assignment lead him to be cast as the heroic star of Kawauchi's next vehicle: THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (Ala-no Shisha), later the same year. Both of these shows were more in line with the American superhero serials of the 1940s than the more familiar Japanese superhero teleseries to follow.
His constant high-profile on television launched him into motion pictures the next year. Toei's short-lived action film division -- New Toei -- began priming Chiba as an action star. After supporting roles in two METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT STORY (Keishicho Monogatari) films, and the classic GAMBLER (Ossho), starring the venerable Rentaro Mikuni -- his initial starring vehicle was entitled THE DRIFTING DETECTIVE (Furaibo Tantei), the first in a pair of films from debuting director Kinji Fukasaku ("Fight Without Honor, " "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "The Green Slime"). Later that same year, Chiba returned to a superhero role with Koji Ota's THE SPACE GREYHOUND (Uchu Kaisoku-sen, aka "Invasion of the Neptune Men"). His salary back then was around �6,000 per month and since his rent was �4,000, he didn't have much to live on. This was the "hard knocks" time for Chiba; for besides being poor, his father who opposed his acting career, disowned him.
With the support of senior actors at the Toei studio, such as yakuza eiga superstar Ken Takakura (who bought him a suit, and would give Chiba rides to the studio), Chiba forged on. He became the sensation of the long-running hit NET network series JNR INSPECTOR #36 (JNR stands for Japan National Railway), which ran from 1962 to '67. During the hectic production of the show, which was shot all over the Japanese islands, Toei found time to squeeze him into another TV series: 5th LEVEL DARKNESS (Kurayami Go-Dan), with Chiba playing a blind judo master -- and the occasional action-picture. These include HEPCAT IN THE FUNKY HAT (Fuanki Hatto-no Kaioji) and HEPCAT IN THE FUNKY HAT: THE 200,000-YEN ARM (Fuanki Hatto-no Kaioji Nisenman'en-no Ude). His card for the 1960's was filled with a score of pictures, including several entries in the comic SHINTO BOSS (Shinto-no Sacho) series, as well as heavy handfuls of Crime, Judo, War, and Dramatic films: FOR LOVE, THE SUN, AND THE GANG (Koi-to Taiyo-to Gangu-to), THE JUDO GENERATION (Judo Ichidai), ESCAPE: THE 2/26 INCIDENT (Ni-niroku Jiken Dashutsu), and HIGHER THAN THE STARS IN THE SKY (Ano Sora-no Hate-ni Hoshi-wa Mattaku).
While there was a concerted effort on the part of Toei to exploit Chiba as a "star" to the fullest, on the other end of the spectrum, they also placed him ironically, in exploitation and horror films, including TERROR OF THE WITCH (Kyofu-no Majo) and international co-productions, such as Hajime Sato's BATTLE BENEATH THE SEA (Kaitei Dai-Senso, aka "Terror Beneath the Sea") and the theatrical version of the "pulp-cum-animated" series, GOLDEN BAT (Ogon Batto) -- both in 1966. This strange juxtaposition of Art and Pulp would seem to be a recurring pattern throughout Chiba's long film career.
Riding high on his roaring star momentum, it was in this period that Shinichi Chiba earned the nickname "Sonny." The young actor was involved in an auto ad campaign for a new model by Toyota, called the "Sunny-S." The ads were very successful, and the name stuck with him -- especially in Toei's overseas advertising department.
Finally, JNR INSPECTOR #36 ended its run in July of 1967, and even though Chiba had already appeared in seven films that year (adding to a total of 58 in six years), he was not idle from television long. The next year he found himself jet-propelled into "action star" fame, among the cast of one of the most popular Toei action television series of all time: KEY HUNTER (Kii Hanta). This dream cast included Tetsuro Tamba, Hayato Tani, Hiroshi Miyauchi, Eiko Ogawa, and Chiba's future ex-wife Yoko Nogiwa.
"I thought up all kinds of action scenes, and got involved in the writing of the scripts as well..."
-- Chiba on KEY HUNTER.
KEY HUNTER, a fuel-injected variation on "Mission: Impossible, " boosted Chiba's career as an action star. He had been featured in scores of films but none paid him the kind of salary he was longing for until this series came along. "I was earning less than my own wife, and that really bothered me. I desperately wanted my own series, and KEY HUNTER turned out to be a gem," Chiba reflects. He put a great deal of time and effort into each episode. "I thought up all kinds of action scenes, and got involved in the writing of the scripts as well; at first they seemed rather dry to me, so I knew that I had to add my own 'spice' to them," says Chiba. Chiba's "spice"? -- heavy heapings of outrageous and delirious action sequences which helped keep KEY HUNTER on the top of the ratings for five years, resulting in over 250 hour-long episodes!
The success of KEY HUNTER was enough to spawn a string of spin-offs without Chiba, (who was now the hottest action star in Japan, ready for the big screen again): "Operation: Eyeful" (Aifuru Daisakusen), "Operation: Birdie" (B�deii Daisakusen), "G-Men '75" and "G-Men '82, " keeping Tetsuro Tamba in like-styled shows for another nine years. During the five-year production of KEY HUNTER, Chiba continued to appear in no less than 18 feature films, with an emphasis on action -- including the YAKUZA WOLF (Okami Yakuza), THE BODYGUARD (Bodeigarudo Kiba, aka "Karate Kiba"), and YAKUZA COP (Yakuza Deka) film series. One of the latter titles was brought to the States as THE ASSASSIN (Yakuza Deka Marifuana Mitsubai Soshiki), this second entry in the four-film "Yakuza Cop" series, is widely dismissed as a "bad karate movie." In reality, it is a brilliant serio-comic showcase for Chiba's sense of humor. In the vein of the "Matt Helm" pictures -- silly and irreverent --THE ASSASSIN features Chiba tripping on marijuana, wearing various pimp outfits, showing off his bare ass (!), and a non-sequitor cameo by none other than professional wrestler Giant Baba! Who could want more?
The popularity of KEY HUNTER helped Chiba to push the importance of action with the use of thoroughly trained stuntmen. He then founded Japan Action Club in 1969. Based in the Ebisu Ward of Tokyo, JAC was created to provide able-bodied stuntmen/martial artists for any studio who was able to hire them. The organization employed over 100 active members at a time, all of whom were put through rigorous daily practice. JAC and Sonny Chiba Enterprises were able to launch a number of stuntmen and women into superstardom as actors, singers and action-heroes throughout the 1970s and '80s. Alumni include: Etsuko "Sue" Shiomi (SISTER STREETFIGHTER) and Hiroyuki "Henry" or "Duke" Sanada (ROARING FIRE).
"...I discovered that the majority of Japanese actors weren't physically fit for motion pictures."
-- Chiba on the creation of Japan Action Club.
Concerning JAC, Chiba states: "The more I did action scenes, the more I discovered that the majority of Japanese actors weren't physically fit for action pictures. It also became apparent to me, that if things continued this way, I was going to end up looking like a clown -- because the other actors wouldn't be able to keep up with me. Actually, I created JAC so that Shinichi Chiba could be successful!"
The popularity of Chiba and KEY HUNTER enabled the enterprising actor to create a string of television series for himself throughout the '70s, with even more attention to action than KEY HUNTER. These shows include THE BODYGUARDS (Za Bodeigarudo), THE GORILLA-7 (Za Gorira Sebun), BLAZING DRAGNET (Moero Sosamo), EMERGENCY LINE (Dai-Hijosen) and the drama NANAIRO TONGARASHI. It was also during this period that JAC was influential to the "Superhero Boom" on Japanese television--revolutionizing the action scenes for shows of this type. Chiba would from time to time, make a special appearance in some of these shows (or launch his prot�g�s in them), such as 1973's ROBOT DETECTIVE (Robotto Keiji) and 1982's SPACE SHERIFF GAVAN (Uchu Keiji Gaban).
...the two met to discuss a joint film project.
-- regarding a possible film starring Sonny Chiba and Bruce Lee.
During the last year of production on KEY HUNTER, Hong Kong Superstar Bruce Lee came to the attention of Chiba. Chiba was well known in Hong Kong due to KEY HUNTER, and through mutual friends the two met to discuss a joint film project. Unfortunately, the film was put off due to Chiba's tough TV schedule. Eventually, Chiba agreed to appear in the Hong Kong/Japanese production: TOKYO-SEOUL-BANGKOK in 1973. He had to postpone his arrival in Hong Kong by 10 days and soon after his plane landed, he was shocked to hear the news that Bruce Lee had just died.
Chiba became inspired by Lee's passion for intensity. Toei Studios was inspired by the enormous profits garnered by Toho-Towa's release of "Enter The Dragon." Toei decided it was time for the revival of the martial art film, and Chiba was just the man to herald this new wave of Japanese action films. Shigehiro Ozawa's THE STREETFIGHTER (Gekitotsu! Satsujin-Ken), RETURN OF THE STREETFIGHTER (Satsujin-Ken 2), THE STREETFIGHTER'S LAST REVENGE (Gyakushu! Satsujin-Ken); Teruo Ishii's THE EXECUTIONER (Chokugeki! Jigoku-Ken); THE KILLING MACHINE (Shorinji Kempo), KARATE INFERNO (Chokugeki! Jigoku-Ken Dai-Gyakuten), and KARATE WARRIORS (Kozure Satsujin-Ken) ) -- are among the martial art films produced in Japan during the blur that was the '70s. Chiba also was a memorable presence in non-starring roles in SISTER STREETFIGHTER (Onna Hissatsu-Ken), DRAGON PRINCESS (Hissatsu Onna Kenshi), SUDDEN ATTACK! AIKIDO (Gekitotsu! Aikido), THE 13 STEPS (Wakai Kizoku-tachi: Jusan Kaidan-no Maki). Chiba also squeezed in some films for other Asian studios, such as THE JAPAN CONNECTION (allegedly with Kareem Abdul Jabar!) and the abysmal THE SOUL OF CHIBA (aka "Oriental Arsenal").
In the middle of that hectic decade, Chiba starred in a trilogy (very) loosely based on the life of his mentor Masatatsu Oyama, (who passed away in 1994). These films were adapted from the manga (comicbook) "The Fanatical Karate Generation" (Karate Baka-Ichidai) by Jiro Tsunoda. Chiba played Oyama, while Oyama acted as a technical advisor. The results were THE CHAMPION OF DEATH (Kenka Karate Kyokushinken), KARATE BEAR FIGHTER (Kenka Karate Kyokushin Burai-Ken) and KARATE FOR LIFE (Karate Baka-Ichidai).
As the martial art movie boom died down, Chiba then starred in several films which contained little karate, but were not lacking in action or outrageousness. These were movies such as DOBERMAN DETECTIVE (Doberuman Deka), a delirious film version of the "comicbook-cum-teleseries" (which starred Chiba lookalike Toshio Kurosawa, a veteran Toho star), and THE FUGITIVE (Dassouyugi). Chiba continued the comicbook films with GOLGO 13: KOWLOON ASSIGNMENT (Gorugo 13 Karuun-no Kubi) and WOLFGUY: THE ENRAGED LYCANTHROPE (Urufugai Moero Okami-Otoko). Chiba even recieved top-billing as a guest-star in established film series, such as the first DETONATION! VIOLENT RIDERS (Bakuhatsu! Bosozoku) -- one of the more popular entries centering on Japan's "Speed Tribes" (motorcycle gangs).
1978 was a big year for Chiba...
--regarding The Yagyu Conspiracy.
On top of all his action roles, Chiba made a myriad of appearances in equally violent or extremely prestigious yakuza eiga for Toei, such as GANG VS. G-MEN (Gangu tai G-Men), THE YAKUZA'S SONG (Yakuza-no Uta), THE VIOLENT UNDERWORLD (Boryoku Gai), FIGHT WITHOUT HONOR: DEATH-DUEL IN HIROSHIMA (Jingi-naki Tatakai Hiroshima Shitto-hen), two entries in the ABASHIRI PRISON series ("Hokkaido-hen" and "Nankoku-no Taiketsu"), THE OKINAWA 10-YEAR WAR (Okinawa-no Ju-nen Senso), NORTHERN PROXY WAR (Hokuriku Dairi-Senso), THE CODE OF JAPAN (Nippon-no Jingi), THE OKINAWAN YAKUZA WAR (Okinawa Yakuza Senso), YOKOHAMA UNDERWORLD: THE MACHINE-GUN DRAGON (Yokohama Ankoku-Gai Mashingan-no Ryu), and many, many more. In these films, Chiba often shared screentime with yakuza film superstars Bunta Sugawara, Ken Takakura, Hiroaki Matsukata, or Koji Tsuruta -- or he just popped in for a brief guest appearance, between breaks on his own projects. He even appeared in Toei's big-budget all-star disaster picture THE BULLET TRAIN (Shinkansen Daibakuhatsu) in 1975, which was top-billed by Takakura (but, neither of them played Yakuza). The film was a huge box-office smash, critically acclaimed and given wide release throughout Europe.
Another big-budgeted hit was Kinji Fukasaku's MESSAGE FROM SPACE (Uchu-kara no Messeji), in which Chiba's supporting role as "Prince Hans"--the deposed rightful heir to the throne of the Gavanas Empire--was sort of an galactic ronin. In reality, MESSAGE FROM SPACE was interstellar version of the Japanese long-novel "Satomi Hakkenden" (the Japanese variation of the Chinese story "The Water Margin"), and Chiba, as always, put his all into this role, becoming injured as a result of his whole-heartedness. While performing a simple stunt -- sliding towards a gate crashing down behind Empress Dark (played by Eisei Amamoto) -- he physically over-extended himself, and the gate dropped on his leg breaking his ankle. Despite the painful injury, he soon bounced back and completed the film on schedule. He had to... 1978 was going to be a big year for Chiba.
Next, he and Fukasaku worked together on another box-office smashing film of feudal intrigue and ninjutsu: PLOT OF THE YAGYU CLAN (Yagyu Ichizoku-no Inbo, aka "The Yagyu Conspiracy"); which was spun-off into an equally-popular teleseries of the same name (aka "Shogun's Samurai"). For 1980, more ninja, swordsmen and other oddities were in store for Chiba, including: the fantasy film cross-over TIMESLIP (Sengoku Jietai, aka "G.I. Samurai"), the American-Japanese production THE BUSHIDO BLADE (a cheap rip-off of the spaghetti western "Red Sun" -- both of which co-starred Toshiro Mifune) and another American/Japanese effort VIRUS (Fukkatsu-no Hi). Another hit motion picture for Chiba, who had a hand in the stunt choreography, was HANZO HATTORI: THE SHADOW ARMY (Hattori Hanzo Kage-no Gundan), which was spun-off into a hit teleseries (again) of the same name-- this time starring Chiba. This was followed by more cathode ninjas in, THE VIOLENT TRAVELS OF YAGYU (Yagyu Abare-tabi), THE SHADOW ARMY II & III, JUBEI YAGYU'S VIOLENT TRAVELS (Yagyu Jubei Abare-tabi) and THE SHADOW ARMY IV -- featuring the best performers JAC had to offer: Sanada, Shiomi, Kenji Oba, Junichi Haruta, Hikaru Kurosaki and Ryusuke Sakitsu. These projects were the sounding board for Chiba and company and in response to all of this activity, JAC's popularity began skyrocketing -- making Sanada in particular, a superstar on his own.
As he diversified into the production of plays, musicals, and live-stunt shows, Chiba continued to do films, but now playing more supporting roles, putting the members of JAC in front of him. These 1980s films include: NINJA SCROLLS: SANDAYU MOMOCHI (Ninja Bugeicho Momochi Sandayu, aka "Shogun's Ninja"), ROARING IRON-FIST (Hoero Tekken, aka "Roaring Fire"), THE KAMIKAZE ADVENTURERS (Bokensha Kamikaze) -- all starring Sanada. Other JAC productions Chiba appeared in are: KABAMARU THE NINJA (Iga-no Kabamaru) and KOTARO TO THE RESCUE (Kotaro-o Makari-toru) -- featuring Hikaru Kurosaki in the lead (both based on satirical manga).
Some of the more important films of the '80s that Chiba was in include: The supernatural classic "story-cum-play-cum-movie," Fukasaku's SAMURAI REINCARNATION (Makai Tensho) -- based on the hit JAC play, adapted from Futaro Yamada's original novel -- co starring Kenji Sawada; Hideo Gosha's HUNTER IN THE DARK (Yami-no Karyudo), the thrilling escapist actioner SURE-DEATH 4: WE WILL AVENGE YOU (Hissatsu 4 Urami Harashimasu), and Fukasaku's tribute to the stuntman in the early days of the Japanese film industry -- THE FALL GUY (Kamata Koshin-kyoku).
One of the biggest films Chiba has had the pleasure of being associated with, as well as one of the best and most elaborate period fantasy films ever shot in Japan, is the 1982 Kinji Fukasaku production, LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI (Satomi Hakkenden), an adaptation of the ancient Japanese novel, "Saga of the Eight Dogs of Satomi." This epic Haruki Kadokawa Production is the fantasy film that MESSAGE FROM SPACE should have been. With it's all-star cast, expansive and lavish sets, and brilliant special effects, LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI is must-see viewing.
...everything he had built up was utterly destroyed...
-- regarding the effect of YELLOW FANGS on Chiba's career.
In the late '80s Chiba's efforts included sedate tv fare such as: A MIDNIGHT WELCOME (Mayonaka-no Yokoso) -- a miniseries concerning a convience store manager (!?), TOMORROW'S SNOW (Yuki-no Asahi) -- a middle-aged man falls in love with a young woman, and THE TRAVELING GIRL (Tabi Shojo) -- another mini-series, this time about circus performers. Then, his career and everything he had built up was utterly destroyed by the production of a single film: YELLOW FANGS (Remeinsu Utsukushi Yujo-tachi).
In 1988, Chiba decided to bankroll a project that would mark the 20th Anniversary of Japan Action Club. The project was the film YELLOW FANGS, starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Bunta Sugawara. Chiba consulted with director Kinji Fukasaku (who served as "advisor"), and decided to direct the film himself. Investing over 10 million dollars of his own money, Chiba set out to make the ultimate action film. It was based on the true story of a killer bear on the loose in 1920s rural Japan.
Although YELLOW FANGS received good notices from tough critics, it bombed at the box office -- grossing a meager 4 million dollars. The loss became Chiba's personal debt and he was forced to dissolve many of his holdings, including his mansion in Kyoto, his restaurant chain and his office building in Tokyo. He was also pushed into closing his martial art school, and Japan Action Club was forced into a merger with a yakuza-affiliated reality company. All of his assets were sold. Chiba suddenly saw the world he worked so diligently to create was evaporating before his eyes.
...Chiba refuses to go down for the count.
-- regarding the tenacity of Shinichi Chiba.
Chiba shocked Japan in 1994 when he divorced his actress wife, Yoko Nogiwa. Their 27-year marriage was always thought to be rock-steady. Unlike other actors and entertainers, Chiba never was known as a philanderer, or to date flavor-of-the-month actresses and models to gain in his own popularity, nor did he ever cheat on his wife. Although, rumors persist that the divorce is one of convience, constructed to help Chiba keep what few assets he has left -- but still, today Chiba has a new, younger wife (half his age), and that she gave him a son in 1996... Regardless of all the negative press and circumstances of the last decade, Chiba still refuses to go down for the count.
Fortunately for us, Chiba began cropping up in action films once again, on both the big and small screens -- on television, he made notable appearances in these period dramas for television: SHINGEN TAKEDA (Takeda Shingen), THE 17 NINJA (Jushichi'nin-no Ninja), LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRAGON (Seiryu Densetsu), and TERAOKA YUMESHINAN -- which features his martial artist daughter, Juri Manase. More recent films include the routine actioner MINE FIELD (Jiraiken), Fukasaku's amazing underworld tale THE TRIPLE-CROSS (Ittsuka Giragira-suru Hi), the HK co-production FIGHTING FIST (Tekken, aka "The Killing Fist"), in which Chiba both starred and directed. He also was featured prominently in and created the action sequences for THE FALL OF AKO CASTLE (Akojo Danzetsu, aka "47 Swords of Vengeance: The Fall of Ako Castle") and ATTACK!! RISE AGAINST SHOGUN IEMITSU (Gekitotsu!! Iemitsu Shogun no Ranshin, aka "Shogun's Shadow").
On the downside, he began appearing in a handful of low-brow American films. ACES: IRON EAGLES III (with Louis Gossett Jr.), IMMORTAL COMBAT (with Roddy Piper) and a co-production with Toei Video entitled THE SILENCER: MAGNUM 357 (Za Sairensa Magunamu 357 aka "Codename: Silencer"), with Brigette Neilsen and Robert Davi! This film was released in America as BODY COUNT. This film placed Chiba in fourth-billing under Stephen Bauer -- talk about a slap in the face -- it's amazing the level of ineptitude American action quickies can reach, and how little they know about the actors they cast. It's even more astounding that the no-talents that helm such productions are even granted money to produce them at all. Such films are embarrassing, and an utter waste of Chiba's vast talents.
On the up side, one of Japan's more brilliant satellite cable services, the Toei Channel, has recently screened some Chiba retrospectives, while the Family Theater channel has been re-running his popular action teleseries --all of this heralding a rebirth of cult popularity in his home country. In the last decade, he was sometimes considered a joke in Japan -- but, nobody's laughing anymore, as he is now riding a new wave of notoriety. Alfrex (http://www.alfrex.co.jp), a Japanese company specializing in G.I. Joe-style action figures, such as 12" versions of Yojimbo, Zatoichi, and all Seven Samurai, has announced a new line called "The Legend of Shinichi Chiba" -- the first release is our hero as Hattori Hanzo from THE SHADOW ARMY. Scores of fans worldwide, myself included, are patiently awaiting a doll of his infamous Takuma Tsurugi from THE STREETFIGHTER series...
While immortalization in plastic has been achieved in Japan, on this side of the Pacific, Chiba is, by-and-large, thought to be a memory of the '70s. Being stuck in a handful of lame direct-to-video projects helmed by hacks didn't help, either... that is, until his epic come-back in the 1998 Hong Kong spectacle: THE STORM RIDERS (Feng-yun). Based on the popular HK "mangua" (read: "comic book") "Wind and Cloud" by Ma Wing Sing. THE STORM RIDERS mixes state-of-the art CGI composites, with comic-book flourishes, spectacular video game style camera work, with classic Chinese legendary heroic archetypes, and comes up with the best-looking and most epic HK film in years.
Besides, it stars Chiba as the world-hungering "Hung Ba, the Conqueror," a villain whose performance has not only earned him instant fame in HK (and slowly the West, by those who have embraced the film as turning-point in HK action cinema), and a nomination for "Best Actor" on the recent 18th Hong Kong Film Awards in April of 1999! Part of the reason for this nomination, not to mention his magnetic screen presence, is his "Throne of Blood"-esque denouncement at the film's conclusion... melodramatic? Perhaps, but nonetheless, what is STORM RIDERS anyway? What were you expecting... SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE?
In the last year of the 20th Century, Chiba managed to line up a number of HK projects, running a very tight schedule as to not tread water. He appeared as the father of David Wong-kit in Bosco Lam's THE LEGEND OF THE FLYING SWORDSMAN (Siu Lee Fei Diy Ji Fei Diy Ngoi Chuen); in April, he wrapped on a Japanese-produced film entitled CHINCHIROMAI, which premieres Fall 2000. Without missing a beat, he stormed over to appear in two more HK films which were shot in May and June, one of which was shot 70% on location in Tokyo, Yokohama and Hokkaido.
According to Asian Cult Cinema magazine, Chiba caught up with veteran director Teruo Ishii, at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2000, and asked about the possibility of making another sequel to THE EXECUTIONER (Chiba was at the TIFF promoting STORM RIDERS, and Ishii was promoting his mind-boggling HELL). Ishii was quoted afterwards saying, "I wonder if he can still jump?" -- you betcha, Ishii. Jump back, Jack! Or your skull'll be cracked! Unfortunately, such a film may never come to pass, since Ishii is outspoken in his distaste for karate and karate films ("It's not fun"). He even sabotaged the first sequel to THE EXECUTIONERS, KARATE INFERNO, hoping that the studio wouldn't ask him to do another. It worked. No matter, there are also rumors of more enlightened American project on the horizon, which just might showcase our hero in a respectful and proper light.
But films are not the only thing... from the ashes of the Japan Action Club, Chiba has created "Japan Dream Movie," a new acting school under his direction, which opened in May of 1999. JDM will primarily focus on acting and English conversation skills for the enrollees. Chiba's goal in opening JDM is to train actors who break into the American and international markets, armed with serious skills in acting and English proficiency... one can only hope that Chiba will begin a stunt-branch soon thereafter, to replace our beloved Japan Action Club.
Though all of the mishaps in past years, Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba's fortunes have taken a turn for the better -- he looks forward towards the new century with a new wife, two children, a new school -- and a revived interest in his action films, and more importantly, in himself -- proven by the great success of THE STORM RIDERS. He can leave his checkered past behind, and spring forward -- fists flying -- into a new era of appreciation.
On western shores in the last several years, New Line Home Video and the questionable Arena/Xenon Home Video have taken an interest in releasing a number of Chiba's action films from the '70s, which has once again draw long-overdue attention to him by western critics and fans, alike. I guess that we must thank writer/director Quentin Tarantino, for the exposure he gave Chiba in his screenplay for TRUE ROMANCE, as well as Tarantino's endorsement of -- and enthusiasm for -- the video re-release of STREETFIGHTER series. (If you love him so much, Quentin, put him in your next film, dammit! -- don't forget to have Shunsuke Kikuchi or Toshiaki Tsushima compose the soundtrack. When that film is produced, I'll be the first waiting in line to see it -- to hell with STAR WARS EPISODE II!)
Despite what you may or may not think of him as an action star, we must give Sonny Chiba the props he deserves, and thank him for being Chiba the Man... no matter how many times the world has beat him down, he has proven to us over and again, like his screen character Takuma Tsurugi, that you can't keep a "real mean bastard" down!
�VIVA CHIBA!
� Copyright August Ragone, all rights reserved.
This was updated and expanded from an article that appeared in Asian Cult Cinema #15 (1996), which was adapted from a shorter biography/interview that appeared in Markalite (#1, 1990). Additions and Corrections very much welcome.
Special thanks to Ken Royea, John Grace, Damon Foster (Oriental Cinema magazine), Patrick Macias (Pulp magazine), Richard Jeffery, Dan Richards and Mr. Chiba's manager, Yutaka Ishiyama for their assistance and additional information.
This article, written by Henshin! Online co-creator August Ragone, also appears at The Movie Shelf who have their own Sonny Chiba resource pages. Please check it out and tell Ken we sent you.
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