Before ninjas were everywhere—from cartoons and video games to Halloween costumes—there was Sho Kosugi, the man who helped introduce the mysterious, masked martial artist to Western audiences and turned ninja films into a full-blown pop culture phenomenon.

In the 1980s, if there was a ninja on screen, chances are it was Kosugi—silent, swift, and deadly.

Born in Tokyo in 1948, Sho Kosugi began martial arts training at age 5, eventually earning black belts in karate and kendo, and studying judo and ninjutsu. He moved to Los Angeles in his twenties, where he worked odd jobs before landing a breakout role in Enter the Ninja (1981).

Though he played the villain opposite Franco Nero, Kosugi’s intensity, technique, and charisma outshone the lead—audiences couldn’t take their eyes off him.

That performance launched a trilogy of ninja classics for Cannon Films:

• Revenge of the Ninja (1983): Kosugi stars as a grieving father who relocates to the U.S., only to be pulled into a deadly web of betrayal and crime. This is arguably his most famous role and features his real-life son Kane Kosugi as his on-screen son.

• Ninja III: The Domination (1984): A campy cult favorite that blends martial arts with horror and supernatural possession—Kosugi plays the exorcist ninja trying to stop a vengeful spirit.

• Pray for Death (1985): Kosugi plays a peaceful man forced to become a ninja once again to protect his family in a brutal, action-packed revenge tale.

He followed with Rage of Honor (1987) and Blind Fury (1989), then later returned as the antagonist Lord Ozunu in Ninja Assassin (2009), bringing his career full circle for a new generation of fans.

Kane Kosugi (left) and his father, Sho Kosugi (right)

Kosugi didn’t just play a ninja—he defined what audiences worldwide would imagine when they heard the word. His legacy shaped action cinema, inspired a generation of martial artists, and ensured the ninja would remain a symbol of mystery and power.

In the shadows of cinema history, Sho Kosugi still stands tall—katana in hand, eyes sharply looking ahead, and legacy untouchable.

Fun Facts:

• Sho Kosugi trained and fought in many martial arts (karate, kendo, judo, iaido, kobudo, Aikido, ninjutsu, plus Shotokan and Taekwondo), lending authenticity to his films.

• He served as stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and technical advisor on his projects.

• His son Kane Kosugi became a Japanese media star: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, Godzilla: Final Wars, DOA: Dead or Alive, and roles in Sentai, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider series.

• Sho founded the Sho Kosugi Institute, authored martial arts writings, and taught martial arts and acting seminars across Japan, the U.S., and beyond

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