Yasuaki Kurata
Yasuaki Kurata, is a Japanese actor specializing in action movies. An accomplished martial artist, he has dan ranks in Karate, Judo, and Aikido. He is perhaps best known for his extended battle against Jet Li in Fist of Legend and for his villainous role in So Close. He is fluent in Cantonese. He also met Bruce Lee during his career.
Kurata's home town is Sakura-mura, Niihari District, Ibaraki.
Kurata studied performing arts at Nihon University and Toei Theater School.
Career
In 1966, Kurata began his career as an actor in Marude Dameo, a Japanese TV series.In 1971, Kurata made his Hong Kong debut in the Shaw Brothers Studio kung-fu movie Angry Guest. Since then he has appeared in numerous other films and TV series within the genre.
In addition to his work as an actor, Kurata runs the stunt agency Kurata Promotion, teaches at a private college, is chief advisor to the All Japan Nunchaku League, and in 2004 published a book, Hong Kong Action Star Kōyūroku. He is running karate dojos in Tokyo, Osaka and Hong Kong.
Filmography
Films
| Release | Title | Role | Country | Category | Notes |
| 1967.06.29 | Organized Violence 2 | Karate student | Japan | Yakuza | |
| 1970.08.11 | The Militarists | Japan | World War II | ||
| 1972.02.29 | Angry Guest | Isamu Katsu | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1972.03.10 | The King of Boxers | Tu Pien | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1972 | Prodigal Boxer | "Iron Fist" Tan Feijiao | Hong Kong | Wuxia | Prodigal Boxer |
| 1972 | Tiger | Shih Tien | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1972.12.06 | Kung Fu, the Invincible Fist | Cpt. Jai Tai | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1972.12.22 | Four Riders | Lei Tai | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 1972.12.22 | Kung Fu Inferno | Chen Hongwen | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1973.01.26 | The Rage of Wind | Shirō Katayama | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1973.02.10 | Knight Errant | Tetsurō | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1973.03.01 | Fist of Unicorn | Sun | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1973.04.05 | A Gathering of Heroes | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1973 | Fists of Vengeance | Kiro-san | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1973 | Unsubdued Furies | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1973.06.28 | Win Them All | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1973.07.19 | Seven to One | Ling Chien | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1973 | One by One | Taiwan | Martial arts | ||
| 1973 | Ferocious to Ferocious | Wang Hongzhang | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1973 | The Flying Tiger | Tang Sheng | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1973 | A Girl Called Tigress | Chiau Kung | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1973.09.28 | Black Panther | Chang Hui-Feng | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1973.12.21 | Gold Snatchers | Fang Ming | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1974 | Fists for Revenge | Fan Te | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1974.01.03 | Fatal Strike | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1974.02.02 | Lady Whirlwind Against the Rangers | Chang Piao | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1974.06.28 | The Godfather Squad | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1974.08.10 | The Executioner | Kurayamada | Japan | Martial arts / Ninja / | |
| 1974.12.07 | Shunsuke Tsubaki | Japan | Martial arts | Sister Street Fighter | |
| 1974 | Call Me Dragon | Pao Chi Tao | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1975 | The Fighting Dragon | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1975 | Prodigal Boxer 2 | Hong Kong | Wuxia | Prodigal Boxer | |
| 1975 | The Golden Triangle | Zhang Jian | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 1975.08.30 | The Return of the Sister Street Fighter | Takeshi Kurosaki | Japan | Martial arts | Sister Street Fighter |
| 1976.01.31 | Dragon Princess | Masahiko Okizaki | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1976.08.07 | Karate vs Tiger | Tetsuji Ryūzaki | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1977 | The Secret of the Shaolin Poles | Dragon Lee | Hong Kong | Wuxia | |
| 1977 | V.I.P. | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1977.12.24 | The Extravagant Cops | Detective Kusano | Japan | Comedy | G-Men '75 cast special appearance |
| 1978.02.23 | Edge of Fury | Boss Gam | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 1978.12.30 | Heroes of the East | Sanzō Takeno | Hong Kong | Martial arts / Ninja / | |
| 1980.05.16 | Magnificent 3 | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1980 | Seed of Evil | Taiwan | Crime drama | ||
| 1980.12.18 | Innocence | Hong Kong | Romance thriller | ||
| 1981.03.14 | Eijanaika | Hanjirō Tsukinoki | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1981.04.02 | Return of the Deadly Blade | The Lonely Winner | Hong Kong | Wuxia / Ninja / | |
| 1981 | Shanghai Massacre | Hong Kong | Martial arts | ||
| 1981 | Ninja in the Deadly Trap | Jūbei Toda | Taiwan | Wuxia / Ninja / | |
| 1981.04.30 | The Legend of the Owl | Ninja master Yasuaki Kurata | Hong Kong | Wuxia comedy | |
| 1982.02.12 | Legend of a Fighter | Ejūrō Yamaguchi | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1982.06.04 | The Ninja Avenger | Chao's Guard | Taiwan | Martial arts / Ninja / | |
| 1983 | Crisis | Taiwan | Action | ||
| 1983.02.05 | Aces Go Places 2 | Bull | Hong Kong | Action comedy | |
| 1983.03.24 | A Life of Ninja | Tarō Okada | Hong Kong | Martial arts / Ninja / | |
| 1984 | The Ninja and the Thief | Taiwan | Martial arts / Ninja / | ||
| 1985.08.15 | Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars | Japanese assassin | Hong Kong | Action comedy | |
| 1985.10.04 | Takei | U.S. / Japan | Biographical drama | ||
| 1986.01.30 | The Millionaires' Express | Japanese ninja | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 1986 | A Book of Heroes | Yamashima | Taiwan | Martial arts | |
| 1986.06.07 | Lost in the Wilderness | Hirayama | Japan | Adventure | |
| 1986.10.17 | The Seventh Curse | Captain Ho | Hong Kong | Thriller | |
| 1988.07.02 | Carry On Hotel | Tomohara | Hong Kong | Comedy | |
| 1987.07.09 | Eastern Condors | General's elite soldier | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 1988.08.13 | Seven Days’ War | Atsushi Sakai | Japan | Action / Drama / Comedy / / | |
| 1989.11.18 | Final Fight | Masahiko Kai | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1989 | Above the War | Cook | Philippines / Japan | Vietnam War | |
| 1991.05.31 | Yakuza Side Story | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1991.07.20 | Zodiac Killers | Ishikawa | Hong Kong | Drama | |
| 1991.11.08 | Death Messenger | Japan | Yakuza | ||
| 1992.01.24 | Yakuza Side Story 2 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1992.07.24 | Yakuza Side Story 3 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1992.09.11 | The Violent Islands | Japan | Yakuza | ||
| 1993.01.29 | Yakuza Side Story 4 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1993.05.28 | Yakuza Side Story 5 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1993.10.29 | My Home Yakuza | Heitarō Bonno | Japan | Yakuza | My Home Yakuza |
| 1993.11.13 | Nakayubi-Hime Oretachadōnaru? | Japan | Action comedy | ||
| 1994.01.21 | Pappakapaa | Japan | Gambling comedy | Pappakapaa | |
| 1994.03.11 | The Fighting King | Munehisa Tachibana | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1994.03.25 | My Home Yakuza 2 | Heitarō Bonno | Japan | Yakuza | My Home Yakuza |
| 1994.04.21 | Pappakapaa 2 | Japan | Gambling comedy | Pappakapaa | |
| 1994.07.21 | Pappakapaa 3 | Japan | Gambling comedy | Pappakapaa | |
| 1994.09.09 | My Home Yakuza 3 | Heitarō Bonno | Japan | Yakuza | My Home Yakuza |
| 1994.10.21 | Pappakapaa 4 | Japan | Gambling comedy | Pappakapaa | |
| 1994.12.22 | Fist of Legend | Fumio Funakoshi | Hong Kong | Martial arts | Fist of Legend |
| 1995.03.24 | Dark Golfer 2: The Golden Putter | Jōtarō Tobari | Japan | Gambling action | |
| 1995.07.15 | Sanshiro 1-2 | Japan | Pro Wrestling comedy | ||
| 1996.02.09 | Yakuza Side Story 7 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1996.04.26 | Yakuza Side Story 8 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1996.08.30 | Yakuza Side Story 9 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1996.11.29 | Yakuza Side Story 10 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 1998.07.04 | Zukkoke Sannin-Gumi Kaito X Monogatari | Kyokushin-kan director | Japan | Family / Suspense | |
| 2000.03.04 | Yakuza Side Story: The Movie | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story The Movie |
| 2000.07.21 | Ginza Midnight Story: Eutopia | Japan | Drama | ||
| 2000.08.04 | Four Investigators vs A Band of Gangsters | Japan | Yakuza | ||
| 2000.08.31 | Conman in Tokyo | Tetsuo, the King of Gamblers in Asia | Hong Kong | Gambling comedy | |
| 2001.01.11 | Dark War | Hong Kong | Triad | ||
| 2001.03.09 | Yakuza Side Story 11 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 2001.07.31 | Yakuza Side Story 12 | Kōshirō Inokubi | Japan | Yakuza | Yakuza Side Story |
| 2002.06.19 | Samourais | Commissaire Fujiwara Morio | France / Spain / Germany | Martial arts | |
| 2002.09.06 | So Close | Master | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 2003.04.05 | Yellow Dragon | Gōzaburō "Gō" Azuma | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 2003.12.24 | Anna in Kungfuland | Sword Shek | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 2006.08.05 | GoGo_Sentai_Boukenger | Kōichi Akashi | Japan | Tokusatsu Super Sentai | |
| 2006.08.19 | Master of Thunder | Buddhist priest Santoku | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 2006.01.07 | | Producer | Japan | Animated Sci-Fi | |
| 2009.04.02 | Shinjuku Incident | Tarō Watagawa | Hong Kong | Crime action | |
| 2009.05.29 | Takatora Kato | Japan | Vampire / Action / | ||
| 2010.02.19 | Jiu-Jitsu | Kobayakawa | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 2010.09.21 | Tsuyoshi Chikaraishi | Hong Kong | Martial arts | Fist of Legend | |
| 2011.10.24 | Red Tears | Genjirō Mishima | Japan | Vampire / Action / | |
| 2012.12.22 | The Last Tycoon | Major Nishino | Hong Kong | Crime drama | |
| 2013.09.24 | The Wrath of Vajra | Kawao Amano | China | Martial arts | |
| 2015.06.20 | Kiri - Profession: Assassin | Saburi | Japan | Action | |
| 2017.01.05 | The Empty Hands | Akira Hirakawa | Hong Kong | Martial arts | |
| 2017.06.30 | God of War | Commander Kumasawa | China | Wuxia | |
| 2017.11.23 | The Brink | Blackie | Hong Kong | Crime action | |
| 2017.11.23 | Manhunt | Hideo Sakaguchi | China / Hong Kong | Action thriller | |
| 2018.09.20 | Golden Job | Morimoto | Hong Kong | Action | |
| 2018.09.28 | Fat Buddies | Hospital Director | Hong Kong | Action comedy | |
| 2018.11.02 | Iceman: The Time Traveler | Hojo Shogun | China / Hong Kong | Sci-Fi / Action / | |
| 2019.10.05 | Blackfox: Age of the Ninja | Hyōei Isurugi | Japan | Jidaigeki / Ninja / | |
| 2020 | Future Fighters | Mikoto | Hong Kong | Sci-Fi / Action / |
Television
| Airdate | Title | Type | Role | Country | Category | Notes |
| 1966.11.21 - 1966.11.28 | Marude Dameo | TV series - 2 episodes...? | Judo Club Captain | Japan | Tokusatsu | |
| 1967.04.06 | Ā Dōki Sakura | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | Drama | ||
| 1967.05.31 | Special Tactical Police | TV series - 1 episode | Member A | Japan | Detective drama | |
| 1970 | Chūgakusei Gunzō | TV series | Japan | Drama | ||
| 1970.12.20 - 1970.12.27 | Judo Straight Line | TV series - 2 episodes | Saburō Naruto | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1971.09.12 | Haru no Sakamichi | TV series - 1 episode | Chin Genpin | Japan | Jidaigeki | Taiga Drama |
| 1974.05.11 - 1975.05.17 | Birdie | TV series | Dragon | Japan | Detective drama | |
| 1974.07.02 - 1974.12.24 | Fight! Dragon | TV series - 26 episodes | "Dragon" Ryōma Shiranui | Japan | Martial arts | |
| 1974.08.25 | The Young Detective | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | Detective drama | ||
| 1975.05.24 - 1979.04.14 | G-Men '75 | TV series | Detective Yasuaki Kusano | Japan | Detective drama | |
| 1975.06.02 | Mito Komon | TV series - 1 episode | Eisuke Nishijima | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1980.01.10 - 1980.08.28 | Dōshin Heya Goyō-chō Shin Edo no Kaze | TV series | Ken Tōdō | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1980.04.08 | Shadow Warriors | TV series - 1 episode | Shimotsuge no Ōzaru | Japan | Jidaigeki / Ninja / | |
| 1980.05.11 - 1980.10.05 | Sarutobi Sasuke | TV series - 15 episodes | Saizō Kirigakure | Japan | Jidaigeki / Ninja / | |
| 1980.10.25 | Setouchi Satsujin Kairyū Kaeranai Onna | TV movie | Japan | Mystery | Saturday Wide Theater | |
| 1980.12.02 | Tabigarasu Jikenchō | TV series - 1 episode | Ichizō Kitami | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1981.08.07 - 1981.08.14 | To the Sun! | TV series - 2 episodes | Inspector Sōma | Japan | Detective drama | |
| 1981.09.16 | Tokusō Saizensen | TV series - 1 episode | Hiroshi Sawaki | Japan | Detective drama | |
| 1983.01.01 | Kanei Command Performance | TV movie | Seikō Ryū | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1983.01.09 - 1983.12.18 | Tokugawa Ieyasu | TV series | Kinzō | Japan | Jidaigeki | Taiga Drama |
| 1983.11.01 | Shōnen wa Mite Ita | TV movie | Japan | Suspense | Tuesday Suspense Theater | |
| 1983.11.12 | Edo Dragnet | TV series - 1 episode | Shinzaburō Kuroki | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1983.12.10 | Youthful Detective | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | Detective drama | ||
| 1984.01.01 | Seibu Keisatsu Part III 2 Hour Special "Burning Braves" | TV series movie special | Japan | Detective drama | Seibu Keisatsu | |
| 1984.05.25 | Hissatsu Shigoto-nin IV | TV series - 1 episode | Yaheiji | Japan | Jidaigeki | |
| 1984.08.28 | Nagareboshi Sakichi | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | Jidaigeki | ||
| 1984.10.22 | Farewell Seibu Keisatsu: Daimon Dies! Men Forever... | TV series movie special | Ogata | Japan | Detective drama | Seibu Keisatsu |
| 1985.02.22 | The Hangman 4 | TV series - 1 episode | Eiji Tashiro | Japan | Drama | |
| 1985.07.12 | Mission Detective The Cop | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | Detective drama | ||
| 1985.11.30 - 1986.04.05 | Fei Hua Zhu Yue | TV series | Xiaoyao Gongzi | Taiwan | Wuxia | |
| 1990.06.26 | Top Stewardess Story | TV series - 1 episode | Passenger | Japan | Drama | |
| 1996.08.24 - 1996.09.28 | Kingyo no Fun | TV series | Ginko's father | Japan | Drama | |
| 1999.08.10 - 2000 | Fist of Hero | TV series | Jūbei Yokoyama | China | Martial arts | |
| 2005 | Dragon Get Angry | TV movie | Jūbei Yokoyama | |||
| 2005.02.14 - 2005.03.30 | The Royal Swordsmen | TV series - 7 episodes | Tajima-no-kami Yagyū | China, Taiwan, Hong Kong | Wuxia / Ninja / | |
| 2013.04.05 - 2013.09.20 | TV series | Sonshi | Japan | Tokusatsu | ||
| 2017.04.03 - 2017.09.29 | Yasuragi no Sato | TV series | Jūsaburō Nasu | Japan | Drama | Yasuragi |
| 2018.05.15 - 2018.06.25 | The Great Adventurer Wesley: Mind Port | TV series | Ryūta Fujiwara | China | Sci-Fi | |
| 2019.04.08 - 2020.03.__ | Yasuragi no Toki - Michi | TV series | Jūsaburō Nasu | Japan | Drama | Yasuragi |
Other
| Year | Title | Type | Role | Country | Category | Notes |
| 2011.06.07 - 2011.06.15 | Tweeting Sanshiro, Win One...Now | Mobile content | Jigorō Kuruma | Japan | Martial arts |