Emerging from Tokyo's entertainment circles, he entered the Himawari Theatre Group at five and was shaped by Sonny Chiba, mastering Shorinji Kempo and later earning a black belt in Kyokushin karate. Early stunt work, such as the helicopter jump in G.I. Samurai, led to starring roles in the 1984 blockbuster Legend of the Eight Samurai and the cult thriller Ring (1998), establishing him as a versati…
