Shin Koyamada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shin Koyamada 小山田 真
Koyamada in 2015
Born	(1982-03-10) March 10, 1982 (age 43) Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Alma mater	University of California, Riverside (ESL) Los Angeles City College
Occupation	Actor< producer entrepreneur philanthropist
Organization	Shinobi Pictures Koyamada International Foundation Guardian Girls International
Spouse(s)	Nia Lyte
Children	1
Japanese name
Kanji	小山田 真
Hiragana	こやまだ しん
Transcriptions Romanization Koyamada Shin

Shin Koyamada (小山田 真, Koyamada Shin, born March 10, 1982) is a Japanese actor, producer, and martial artist. He is also known for his charity work. Shin is famous for his roles in The Last Samurai (2003) as Nobutada. He also starred in Disney's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006) as Shen.

Shin Koyamada produces many projects through his companies. These include Shinobi Pictures and N LITE Japan. He also helps lead several charity groups. These are the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF) and Guardian Girls International (GGI). Shin holds black belts in Karate and Tae Kwon Do. He has won gold medals in Shaolin Kung Fu at national events.

Early Life & Training

Shin Koyamada was born in Okayama, Japan. His family comes from the Koyamada clan, a famous samurai family. When he was young, Shin loved sports. He trained in running, basketball, and long-distance cycling. In high school, he was a gymnastics team captain. He also learned basic Judo.

Shin started training in traditional Japanese karate at age 16. By 18, he had earned black belts. He became very good and won national championships.

Moving to the U.S.A.

In 2000, Shin moved to the United States. He wanted to study more as an international student. He first joined an English language program at the University of California, Riverside. Later that year, he moved to Los Angeles by himself. He didn't speak English and had no friends or a place to stay.

Acting Career

Shin Koyamada began his acting journey in the early 2000s. He quickly found success in both commercials and films.

First Roles & Big Break

In 2001, Shin started taking acting lessons. His first acting job was in a TV commercial for Apple. Soon after, he appeared in commercials for JC Penney and Disneyland. In 2002, he had a small role in Power Rangers Wild Force. He also co-starred in the short film A Ninja Pays Half My Rent.

His first major film role was in The Last Samurai (2003). He played Nobutada, acting alongside Tom Cruise. This movie was a huge hit, earning over $456 million. It also received many awards. In 2004, he appeared in the TV series Jake 2.0.

Disney Success & Japan Projects

In 2006, Shin co-starred with Brenda Song in the Disney Channel movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. This movie became one of Disney's most popular TV films ever. It broke viewing records in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

Also in 2006, Shin starred in and helped produce a Japanese documentary. It was called Wine Road of the Samurai. In 2007, he starred in and produced the short film Good Soil. This film was about the history of Christianity in Japan. He also appeared in the film Constellation with Zoe Saldana. From 2006 to 2008, Shin was a regular on the Disney Channel Games. He appeared with stars like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers.

Stage and Series in Japan

In 2010, Shin starred in a Japanese stage play called Ai No Shizuku. This play was part of a big cultural festival in Japan. The current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, attended the show. In 2014, Shin starred in and produced the TV series The Yokai King. This series was filmed in Okinawa, Japan. It was based on famous Japanese folklore characters. In 2022, he starred in and produced a movie remake of the series.

Producing Career

Shin Koyamada is also a successful producer. He creates movies, TV shows, comics, and anime.

Movies & Series Production

In 2005, Shin co-founded Shinobi Pictures, a production company. He helped produce the Japanese documentary Wine Road of the Samurai in 2006. In 2007, he produced the short film Good Soil.

Shin has produced several TV and web series. These include Spirit Fashion Show and Spirit Love Show. In 2014, he was an executive producer for the American TV series The Yokai King. In 2022, he produced the award-winning short film Shadow Glass.

Comics, Stickers, & Games

In 2019, Shin co-founded Laizen Studios. He created and produced The Dreamhoppers, a comic book series. He also developed digital stickers called Kolala for the Line app. In 2013, he became an executive producer for a video game. This game was based on the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi.

Anime Projects

In 2022, Shin joined N LITE Media Corp. He also co-founded N LITE Japan, an anime and manga studio in Tokyo. He is a producer for their first afro-anime film, Mfinda. He works with famous anime producers like Masao Maruyama. In 2023, he announced an anime series called Zan. This series is based on art by Yoshitaka Amano, known for Final Fantasy.

Philanthropic Work

Shin Koyamada is very active in charity and helping others.

Early Efforts

In 2004, Shin started teaching karate at a local Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The next year, he joined a charity event for Kickstart Kids. This group was founded by actor Chuck Norris. Shin supported the program by inspiring young people in middle schools. He has also supported groups like the Japan-America Societies.

Global Efforts

Shin is involved in global charity work through the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF). He and his wife founded KIF in 2008. KIF helps improve people's lives by providing aid and promoting world peace. KIF has programs for youth leadership, women's empowerment, and disaster relief. It also supports education and nature. KIF has chapters in many countries.

Sister Cities

In 2017, Shin helped celebrate the 60th anniversary of the San Jose-Okayama Sister City relationship. He supported his hometown of Okayama. Later that year, he was elected to the Board of Directors for Sister Cities International (SCI). He was the first Japan-born person to join the board since 1956. He received the Chairman's Awards from SCI in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In 2019, Shin created the first Japan-Texas Leadership Symposium. This event helped build friendships between Japan and the U.S. through sister cities. It focused on business, culture, and education. In 2021, Shin founded the Japan United States Sister City Association (JUSSCA) in Tokyo. He leads this group to strengthen sister city ties between the two countries.

Personal Life

Shin Koyamada is married to Carolina Manrique, known as Nia Lyte. She is also a producer. They have one son.

Martial Arts Training

Shin started training in traditional Japanese karate in 1998. He earned his first-degree black belt in karate in 2000. He also learned Judo in high school.

After moving to the U.S., Shin began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. He trained six days a week and won gold medals in national championships. In 2002, for The Last Samurai, he trained daily in horseback riding and Kyudo for nine months. He mastered Yabusame, a type of archery on horseback.

In 2004, Shin was featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine. He also trained in Tae Kwon Do and earned his black belt in 2005. He trained in Iaido and Aikido as well. In 2008, he began training in Kung Jung Mu Sul, a Korean martial art. He earned his black belt in this art after two years. In 2009, he performed Japanese Iaido at a martial arts festival in Italy.

In 2010, Shin created the first United States Martial Arts Festival (USMAF). This event brought together different martial arts from around the world. It attracted over 1,000 participants, including grandmasters and celebrities.

Awards and Honors

Shin Koyamada has received many awards and honors for his work.

Awards

• Chairman's Awards (2018, 2019, 2020) - from Sister Cities International
• Community Leadership Awards (2024) - from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Goodwill Ambassador Roles

• Special Ambassador (2010) - for the Japan-America Society of Southern California
• International Goodwill Ambassador (2010) - for Okayama Prefecture
• Kyoto Tourism Ambassador (2011) - for the City of Kyoto
• 2020 Tokyo Olympics Karate Ambassador (2016) - for the Japan Karate Federation
• Cultural Envoy (2022) - for the Foreign Minister of Mongolia
• Ambassador (2023) - for the World Karate Federation

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Shin Koyamada para niños