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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

18

Gender

Male

Birthday

1948-10-20 (77 years old)

Place of Birth

Gunma Prefecture - Japan

Also Known As

Toshishirô Obata

Toshihiro Obata

Toshiji Obata

Toshirô Obata

小幡利城

Toshishiro Obata

Biography

Toshishiro Obata is the founder of Shinkendo. He is well known in Japan as a tameshigiri champion for several years in a row and is an authorized shitoka. He studied aikido under Gozo Shioda in the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo, and studied the sword arts of Nakamura-ryu, Ioriken Battojutsu, Toyama-ryu, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, Kashima Shin-ryu, Ryukyu Kobudo, and others. He moved to America in 1980 to start teaching and to develop his own sword art, based on his extensive experience. In 1990, the International Shinkendo Federation was officially established. The federation has grown to 80 branches internationally, and continues to expand. Obata, as the founder of the school, is referred to as Obata Kaiso by his students, and continues to travel across the globe to hold seminars for his students around the world. Since 1986, Obata has appeared in several Hollywood films.

Known For

Acting

Rising Sun

1993

Rising Sun

as

Guard at Imperial Arms

The Hunted

1995

The Hunted

as

Ryuma

Demolition Man

1993

Demolition Man

as

CryoCon

Ghost Warrior

1984

Ghost Warrior

as

Japanese Officer

Red Sun Rising

1994

Red Sun Rising

as

Oyabun

Blue Tiger

1994

Blue Tiger

as

Kunimatsu

The Sword of Bushido

1990

The Sword of Bushido

as

Yamaguchi

Rage and Honor

1992

Rage and Honor

as

Chan Lu

Black Rain

1989

Black Rain

as

Mediator

The Samurai

2003

The Samurai

as

self / swordsman

China O'Brien

1990

China O'Brien

as

Sommers's Henchmen Fighter (uncredited)

Ulterior Motives

1993

Ulterior Motives

as

Bull Neck Yakuza

China O'Brien II

1990

China O'Brien II

as

Man with Claws

The Shadow

1994

The Shadow

as

Mongol

Walker, Texas Ranger

Walker, Texas Ranger

as

Japanese Karate Instructor

Production

Crew

Directing