| Yasuaki Kurata | |
| Native Name: | 倉田 保昭 |
| Native Name Lang: | jp |
| Birth Date: | 20 March 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japanese Empire |
| Alma Mater: | Nihon University |
| Occupation: | Actor, martial artist |
| Years Active: | 1966–present |
Yasuaki Kurata (born March 20, 1946) is a Japanese martial artist and actor, best known for his work in Hong Kong action films. He holds dan ranks in karate (7th degree), judo (3rd degree), and aikido (2nd degree).
Kurata was born and raised in Sakura-mura, Niihari District, Ibaraki (now part of Tsukuba). Kurata studied performing arts at Nihon University and Toei Theater School. In 1966, Kurata began his career as an actor in Marude Dameo, a Japanese TV series.[1]
In 1971, Kurata made his Hong Kong debut in the Shaw Brothers Studio kung-fu movie Angry Guest (悪客). Since then he has appeared in numerous other films and TV series within the genre. In Japan, he gained popularity for his role in the television series G-Men '75.[2] [3] 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 was close friends with Bruce Lee during his career.
In addition to his work as an actor, Kurata runs the stunt agency Kurata Promotion (established 1976 under the name Kurata Action Club),[4] teaches at a private college (the University of Creation, Art, Music & Social Work),[5] is chief advisor to the All Japan Nunchaku League,[6] and in 2004 published a book, .[7] He runs karate dojos in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong.
| Release | Title | Role | Country | Category | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967.06.29 | Organized Violence 2 (続・組織暴力) | Karate student (学生の空手使い) | Japan | |||
| 1970.08.11 | The Militarists (激動の昭和史 軍閥) | Japan | ||||
| 1972.02.29 | Angry Guest (惡客) | Isamu Katsu (勝勇) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1972.03.10 | The King of Boxers (小拳王) | Tu Pien | Hong Kong | |||
| 1972 | Prodigal Boxer (方世玉) | "Iron Fist" Tan Feijiao (譚飛腳) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1972 | Tiger (爬山虎) | Shih Tien | Taiwan | |||
| 1972.12.06 | Kung Fu, the Invincible Fist (餓虎狂龍) | Cpt. Jai Tai | Hong Kong | |||
| 1972.12.22 | Four Riders (四騎士) | Lei Tai | Hong Kong | |||
| 1972.12.22 | Kung Fu Inferno (強中手) | Chen Hongwen (陳洪文) | Taiwan | |||
| 1973.01.26 | The Rage of Wind (猛虎下山) | Shirō Katayama (片山四郎) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1973.02.10 | Knight Errant (英雄本色) | Tetsurō | Hong Kong | |||
| 1973.03.01 | Fist of Unicorn (麒麟掌) | Sun | Hong Kong | |||
| 1973.04.05 | A Gathering of Heroes (趕盡殺絕) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1973 | Fists of Vengeance (除暴) | Kiro-san | Taiwan | |||
| 1973 | Unsubdued Furies (怒雙衝冠) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1973.06.28 | Win Them All (大小通吃) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1973.07.19 | Seven to One (女英雄飛車奪寶) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1973 | Kung Fu Powerhouse (死對頭) | Taiwan | ||||
| 1973 | Ferocious to Ferocious (狼對狼) | Wang Hongzhang (王洪彰) | Taiwan | |||
| 1973 | The Flying Tiger (飛虎小霸王) | Tang Sheng (湯生) | Taiwan | |||
| 1973 | A Girl Called Tigress (雙面女煞星) | Chiau Kung | Taiwan | |||
| 1973.09.28 | Black Panther (黑豹) | Chang Hui-Feng | Hong Kong | |||
| 1973.12.21 | Gold Snatchers (虎拳) | Fang Ming | Hong Kong | |||
| 1974 | Fists for Revenge (大追蹤) | Fan Te | Taiwan | |||
| 1974.01.03 | Fatal Strike (兩虎惡鬥) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1974.02.02 | Lady Whirlwind Against the Rangers (大小遊龍) | Chang Piao | Hong Kong | |||
| 1974.06.28 | The Godfather Squad (香港小教父) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1974.08.10 | The Executioner (直撃！地獄拳) | Kurayamada (倉山田) | Japan | |||
| 1974.12.07 | (女必殺拳 危機一発) | Shunsuke Tsubaki (椿俊輔) | Japan | |||
| 1974 | Call Me Dragon (神龍小虎闖江湖) | Pao Chi Tao | Hong Kong | |||
| 1975 | The Fighting Dragon (神拳飛龍) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1975 | Prodigal Boxer 2 (傳奇方世玉) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1975 | The Golden Triangle (金三角龍虎門) | Zhang Jian (張健) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1975.08.30 | The Return of the Sister Street Fighter (帰ってきた女必殺拳) | Takeshi Kurosaki (黒崎剛) | Japan | |||
| 1976.01.31 | Dragon Princess (必殺女拳士) | Masahiko Okizaki (沖崎政彦) | Japan | |||
| 1976.08.07 | Karate vs Tiger (武闘拳 猛虎激殺！) | Tetsuji Ryūzaki (竜崎鉄次) | Japan | |||
| 1977 | The Secret of the Shaolin Poles (方世玉大破梅花樁) | Dragon Lee | Hong Kong | |||
| 1977 | V.I.P. (男猛) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1977.12.24 | The Extravagant Cops [8] (こちら葛飾区 亀有公園前派出所) | Detective Kusano (草野刑事) | Japan | |||
| 1978.02.23 | Edge of Fury (撈家撈女撈上撈) | Boss Gam | Hong Kong | |||
| 1978.12.30 | Heroes of the East (中華丈夫) | Sanzō Takeno (武野三藏) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1980.05.16 | Magnificent 3 (懲罰) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1980 | Seed of Evil (孽種) | Taiwan | ||||
| 1980.12.18 | Innocence (情劫) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1981.03.14 | Eijanaika (ええじゃないか) | Hanjirō Tsukinoki (月野木伴次郎) | Japan | |||
| 1981.04.02 | Return of the Deadly Blade (飛刀・又見飛刀) | The Lonely Winner | Hong Kong | |||
| 1981 | Shanghai Massacre (上海灘大爺) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 1981 | Ninja in the Deadly Trap (術士神傳) | Jūbei Toda (戸田十兵衛) | Taiwan | |||
| 1981.04.30 | The Legend of the Owl (貓頭鷹) | Ninja master Yasuaki Kurata (忍者之師 倉田保昭) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1982.02.12 | Legend of a Fighter (霍元甲) | Ejūrō Yamaguchi (山口江十郎) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1982.06.04 | The Ninja Avenger (飛簷走壁) | Chao's Guard | Taiwan | |||
| 1983 | Crisis (黑玫瑰) | Taiwan | ||||
| 1983.02.05 | Aces Go Places 2 (最佳拍檔大顯神通) | Bull (牛牛) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1983.03.24 | A Life of Ninja (亡命忍者) | Tarō Okada (岡田太郎) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1984 | The Ninja and the Thief (至尊神偷) | Taiwan | ||||
| 1985.08.15 | Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (夏日福星) | Japanese assassin (日本殺手) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1985.10.04 | Takei | U.S. / Japan | ||||
| 1986.01.30 | The Millionaires' Express (富貴列車) | Japanese ninja (日本忍者) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1986 | A Book of Heroes (歡樂龍虎榜) | Yamashima (山島) | Taiwan | |||
| 1986.06.07 | Lost in the Wilderness (植村直己物語) | Hirayama (平山) | Japan | |||
| 1986.10.17 | The Seventh Curse (原振俠與衛斯理) | Captain Ho | Hong Kong | |||
| 1988.07.02 | Carry On Hotel (金裝大酒店) | Tomohara | Hong Kong | |||
| 1987.07.09 | Eastern Condors (東方禿鷹) | General's elite soldier (越南軍官) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1988.08.13 | Seven Days’ War (ぼくらの七日間戦争) | Atsushi Sakai (酒井敦) | Japan | |||
| 1989.11.18 | Final Fight (ファイナルファイト 最後の一撃) | Masahiko Kai (甲斐正彦) | Japan | |||
| 1989 | Above the War | Cook | Philippines / Japan | |||
| 1991.05.31 | Yakuza Side Story (静かなるドン) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1991.07.20 | Zodiac Killers (極道追蹤) | Ishikawa (石川) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1991.11.08 | Death Messenger (死神の使者) | Japan | ||||
| 1992.01.24 | Yakuza Side Story 2 (静かなるドン2) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1992.07.24 | Yakuza Side Story 3 (静かなるドン3) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1992.09.11 | The Violent Islands (暴力列島 ダーティマネージャック) | Japan | ||||
| 1993.01.29 | Yakuza Side Story 4 (静かなるドン4) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1993.05.28 | Yakuza Side Story 5 (静かなるドン5) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1993.10.29 | My Home Yakuza (となりの凡人組) | Heitarō Bonno (凡野平太郎) | Japan | |||
| 1993.11.13 | Nakayubi-Hime Oretachadōnaru? (中指姫 俺たちゃどうなる？) | Japan | ||||
| 1994.01.21 | Pappakapaa (パッパカパー) | Japan | ||||
| 1994.03.11 | The Fighting King (ザ・格闘王) | Munehisa Tachibana (立花宗久) | Japan | |||
| 1994.03.25 | My Home Yakuza 2 (となりの凡人組2) | Heitarō Bonno (凡野平太郎) | Japan | |||
| 1994.04.21 | Pappakapaa 2 (パッパカパー2) | Japan | ||||
| 1994.07.21 | Pappakapaa 3 (パッパカパー3 神様奇跡をありがとう！ 岩手水沢編) | Japan | ||||
| 1994.09.09 | My Home Yakuza 3 (となりの凡人組3) | Heitarō Bonno (凡野平太郎) | Japan | |||
| 1994.10.21 | Pappakapaa 4 (パッパカパー4 梅は咲いたか，桜はまだか・・・ 山梨 塩山編) | Japan | ||||
| 1994.12.22 | Fist of Legend (精武英雄) | Fumio Funakoshi (船越文夫) | Hong Kong | |||
| 1995.03.24 | Dark Golfer 2: The Golden Putter (闇ゴルファー2 黄金のパター) | Jōtarō Tobari (戸張丈太郎) | Japan | |||
| 1995.07.15 | Sanshiro 1-2 (1・2の三四郎) | Japan | ||||
| 1996.02.09 | Yakuza Side Story 7 (静かなるドン7) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1996.04.26 | Yakuza Side Story 8 (静かなるドン8) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1996.08.30 | Yakuza Side Story 9 (静かなるドン9) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1996.11.29 | Yakuza Side Story 10 (静かなるドン10) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 1998.07.04 | Zukkoke Sannin-Gumi Kaito X Monogatari (ズッコケ三人組 怪盗X物語) | Kyokushin-kan director (極真館館長) | Japan | |||
| 2000.03.04 | Yakuza Side Story: The Movie (静かなるドン THE MOVIE) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 2000.07.21 | Ginza Midnight Story: Eutopia (銀座ミッドナイトストーリー ゆーとぴあ) | Japan | ||||
| 2000.08.04 | Four Investigators vs A Band of Gangsters (捜査四課対広域暴力団) | Japan | ||||
| 2000.08.31 | Conman in Tokyo (中華賭俠) | Tetsuo, the King of Gamblers in Asia (鐵男, 有亞洲賭俠之王) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2001.01.11 | Dark War (暗鬥) | Hong Kong | ||||
| 2001.03.09 | Yakuza Side Story 11 (静かなるドン11) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 2001.07.31 | Yakuza Side Story 12 (静かなるドン12) | Kōshirō Inokubi (猪首硬四郎) | Japan | |||
| 2002.06.19 | Commissaire Fujiwara Morio | France / Spain / Germany | ||||
| 2002.09.06 | So Close (夕陽天使) | Master (師傅) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2003.04.05 | Yellow Dragon (黄龍 イエロードラゴン) | Gōzaburō "Gō" Azuma (東郷三郎（ゴウ）) | Japan | |||
| 2003.12.24 | Anna in Kungfuland (安娜與武林) | Sword Shek (石劍) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2006.08.05 | Kōichi Akashi (明石虹一) | Japan | ||||
| 2006.08.19 | Master of Thunder (マスター・オブ・サンダー 決戦！！封魔龍虎伝) | Buddhist priest Santoku (三徳和尚) | Japan | |||
| 2006.01.07 | [9] (銀色の髪のアギト) | Producer | Japan | |||
| 2009.04.02 | Shinjuku Incident (新宿事件) | Tarō Watagawa (渡川太郎) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2009.05.29 | Takatora Kato | Japan | ||||
| 2010.02.19 | Jiu-Jitsu (柔術) | Kobayakawa (小早川) | Japan | |||
| 2010.09.21 | (精武風雲·陳真) | Tsuyoshi Chikaraishi (力石剛) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2011.10.24 | Red Tears (レッド・ティアーズ～紅涙) | Genjirō Mishima | Japan | |||
| 2012.12.22 | The Last Tycoon (大上海) | Major Nishino (西野少佐) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2013.09.24 | The Wrath of Vajra (金剛王) | Kawao Amano (天野川雄) | China | |||
| 2015.06.20 | Kiri - Profession: Assassin (KIRI「職業・殺し屋。」外伝) | Saburi (佐分利) | Japan | |||
| 2017.01.05 | The Empty Hands [10] (空手道) | Akira Hirakawa (平川彰) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2017.06.30 | God of War[11] (蕩宼風雲) | Commander Kumasawa (熊澤副將) | China | |||
| 2017.11.23 | The Brink (狂獸) | Blackie | Hong Kong | |||
| 2017.11.23 | Manhunt (追捕) | Hideo Sakaguchi (坂口秀夫) | China / Hong Kong | |||
| 2018.09.20 | Golden Job (黃金兄弟) | Morimoto (森本) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2018.09.28 | Fat Buddies (胖子行动队) | Hospital Director (醫院院长) | Hong Kong | |||
| 2018.11.02 | Iceman: The Time Traveler (冰封俠時空行者) | Hojo Shogun (北条將軍) | China / Hong Kong | |||
| 2019.10.05 | Hyōei Isurugi (石動兵衛) | Japan | ||||
| 2020 | Future Fighters | Mikoto | Hong Kong |
| Airdate | Title | Type | Role | Country | Category | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966.11.21 - 1966.11.28 | Marude Dameo (丸出だめ夫) | TV series - 2 episodes...? | Judo Club Captain (柔道部のキャプテン) | Japan | |||
| 1967.04.06 | Ā Dōki Sakura (あゝ同期の桜) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1967.05.31 | Special Tactical Police (特別機動捜査隊) | TV series - 1 episode | Member A (部員A) | Japan | |||
| 1970 | Chūgakusei Gunzō (中学生群像) | TV series | Japan | ||||
| 1970.12.20 - 1970.12.27 | Judo Straight Line (柔道一直線) | TV series - 2 episodes | Saburō Naruto (鳴門三郎) | Japan | |||
| 1971.09.12 | Haru no Sakamichi (春の坂道) | TV series - 1 episode | Chin Genpin (陳元贇) | Japan | |||
| 1974.05.11 - 1975.05.17 | Birdie (バーディー大作戦) | TV series | Dragon (ドラゴン) | Japan | |||
| 1974.07.02 - 1974.12.24 | Fight! Dragon (闘え！ドラゴン) | TV series - 26 episodes | "Dragon" Ryōma Shiranui ("竜" 不知火竜馬) | Japan | |||
| 1974.08.25 | The Young Detective (刑事くん) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1975.05.24 - 1979.04.14 | G-Men '75 (Gメン'75) | TV series | Detective Yasuaki Kusano (草野泰明刑事) | Japan | |||
| 1975.06.02 | Mito Komon (水戸黄門) | TV series - 1 episode | Eisuke Nishijima (西島英輔) | Japan | |||
| 1980.01.10 - 1980.08.28 | Dōshin Heya Goyō-chō Shin Edo no Kaze (同心部屋御用帳 新・江戸の旋風) | TV series | Ken Tōdō (藤堂拳) | Japan | |||
| 1980.04.08 | Shadow Warriors (服部半蔵 影の軍団) | TV series - 1 episode | Shimotsuge no Ōzaru (下柘植の大猿) | Japan | |||
| 1980.05.11 - 1980.10.05 | Sarutobi Sasuke (猿飛佐助) | TV series - 15 episodes | Saizō Kirigakure (霧隠才蔵) | Japan | |||
| 1980.10.25 | Setouchi Satsujin Kairyū Kaeranai Onna (瀬戸内殺人海流 帰らない女) | TV movie | Japan | ||||
| 1980.12.02 | Tabigarasu Jikenchō (旅がらす事件帖) | TV series - 1 episode | Ichizō Kitami (北見市蔵) | Japan | |||
| 1980.12.11 | Edo no Asayake (江戸の朝焼け) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1981.08.07 - 1981.08.14 | Taiyo ni Hoero!! (太陽にほえろ!) | TV series - 2 episodes | Inspector Sōma (相馬警部) | Japan | |||
| 1981.09.16 | Tokusō Saizensen (特捜最前線) | TV series - 1 episode | Hiroshi Sawaki (沢木弘) | Japan | |||
| 1983.01.01 | Kanei Command Performance (寛永御前試合) | TV movie | Seikō Ryū (Banryūken Sagawa) (龍成功（佐川幡竜軒）) | Japan | |||
| 1983.01.09 - 1983.12.18 | Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) | TV series | Kinzō (金蔵) | Japan | |||
| 1983.11.01 | Shōnen wa Mite Ita (少年は見ていた) | TV movie | Japan | ||||
| 1983.11.12 | Edo Dragnet (大江戸捜査網) | TV series - 1 episode | Shinzaburō Kuroki (黒木新三郎) | Japan | |||
| 1983.12.10 | Youthful Detective (青春はみだし刑事) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1984.01.01 | Seibu Keisatsu Part III 2 Hour Special "Burning Braves" (西部警察 PART-III 2時間スペシャル「燃える勇者たち」) | TV series movie special | Japan | ||||
| 1984.05.25 | Hissatsu Shigotonin IV (必殺仕事人IV) | TV series - 1 episode | Yaheiji (矢平次) | Japan | |||
| 1984.08.28 | Nagareboshi Sakichi (流れ星佐吉) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1984.10.22 | Farewell Seibu Keisatsu: Daimon Dies! Men Forever... (さよなら西部警察 「大門死す! 勇者たちよ永遠に...」) | TV series movie special | Ogata (緒方) | Japan | |||
| 1985.02.22 | The Hangman 4 (ザ・ハングマン4) | TV series - 1 episode | Eiji Tashiro (田代英司) | Japan | |||
| 1985.07.12 | Mission Detective The Cop (特命刑事ザ・コップ) | TV series - 1 episode | Japan | ||||
| 1985.11.30 - 1986.04.05 | Fei Hua Zhu Yue (飛花逐月) | TV series | Xiaoyao Gongzi (逍遥公子) | Taiwan | |||
| 1990.06.26 | Top Stewardess Story (トップスチュワーデス物語) | TV series - 1 episode | Passenger (乗客) | Japan | |||
| 1996.08.24 - 1996.09.28 | Kingyo no Fun (金魚のフン) | TV series | Ginko's father (銀子の父) | Japan | |||
| 1999.08.10 - 2000 | Fist of Hero (中華大丈夫) | TV series | Jūbei Yokoyama (横山十兵衛) | China | |||
| 2005 | Dragon Get Angry (天煞孤星) | TV movie | Jūbei Yokoyama (横山十兵衛 | Hong Kong | Fist of Hero | ||
| 2005.02.14 - 2005.03.30 | The Royal Swordsmen (天下第一) | TV series - 7 episodes | Tajima-no-kami Yagyū (柳生但馬守) | China, Taiwan, Hong Kong | |||
| 2013.04.05 - 2013.09.20 | Garo: The One Who Shines in the Darkness (牙狼〈GARO〉～闇を照らす者～) | TV series | Sonshi (尊士) | Japan | |||
| 2017.04.03 - 2017.09.29 | Yasuragi no Sato (やすらぎの郷) | TV series | Jūsaburō Nasu (那須十三郎) | Japan | |||
| 2018.05.15 - 2018.06.25 | The Great Adventurer Wesley: Mind Port (冒险王卫斯理之无名发) | TV series | Ryūta Fujiwara (藤原龍太) | China | |||
| 2019.04.08 - 2020.03.__ | Yasuragi no Toki - Michi (やすらぎの刻〜道) | TV series | Jūsaburō Nasu (那須十三郎) | Japan | |||
| 2021.08.18 | Pandora's Box 2021 (天目危机) | TV series | Hei Muhong (Not Yet Known) | China |