A veteran of Japanese television and movies. Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba was a legend in his own right, his martial arts skills were shown in over a hundred films, dazzling audiences across the globe. He was the epitome of the Japanese “anti-hero”, portraying samurai, fighters, and police detectives.
Although his fame was built on extraordinary levels of violence & many of his films were considered rough around the edges, he had an unrivalled work ethic.
The Street Fighter (1974), in which Chiba portrayed a mercenary fighting Yakuza criminals, was his worldwide breakthrough. The film was a hit and contained some of the most extreme brutality in martial arts. In recent times, he is best known for his critically acclaimed role as Hanzo Hattori in the Kill Bill trilogy.
