Japanese Samurai Actor & Fight Choreographer.
The representative of the Samurai performance team “Katanayaichi“
As preservers of Japanese culture, we perform non-verbal Samurai performances around the world. So far, we have showcased our performances in 26 cities across 15 countries.
Having visited many countries, I’ve received so much support from people around the world. I’ve always wanted to give back to the foreign visitors who come to Japan. It was during this time that I was presented with the idea of creating something using a Taisho-era Japanese house.
I began thinking about what kind of space we could create. When traveling abroad, you usually visit tourist spots first. While fun, those spots lose their value after repeated visits.
I value meeting new people and experiencing their everyday lives. On one of my trips, I had the chance to visit someone’s home. Their mother cooked a meal for me, and while enjoying the food, listening to her proud descriptions of it, I truly felt like a part of the group. It was such a delightful experience.
Inspired by that experience, I created Studio Ichi, a photo studio where visitors can immerse themselves in everyday Japanese culture. Located in Tsukishima, Tokyo, our studio is housed in a historic Taisho-era building.
While Tsukiji’s food walks are wonderful, I encourage visitors to explore our Samurai Experience or Cosplay Photo Studio as well.
With our unique omotenashi (Japanese hospitality), we aim to share the beauty of Japan’s culture, bringing joy to both international visitors and the local community.
How I Started Sword Fighting
When I was 20, I moved to Tokyo from Gifu to become a star. I had no experience, but I believed that if I went to Tokyo, I could become a star. I loved movies and wanted to become a movie star, but the film industry seemed like a high barrier to cross. Theater seemed more accessible, so I applied for auditions listed in audition magazines and joined a small theater group called “Poco A Poco.”
The theater group was very strict. There were basic training sessions before we could get on stage, and I was constantly in practice. We practiced twice a week, but without any opportunity to perform, it felt like a training with no outlet. After three years, I graduated, but there was only one performance. The ticket price was 2500 yen. But in that harsh environment, I discovered the joy of being on stage, and I realized how much I enjoyed acting. That was the beginning of my career as an actor.
I wanted to join a bigger theater group, so I went to America. The biggest stage in the world is Broadway, after all. It was my first time traveling abroad, and I went on a solo trip for 40 days when I was 24. I traveled from LA to New York, Las Vegas, and finally Toronto. I saw many shows, and after watching performers from around the world, I decided I wanted to become a performer active on the global stage.
When I was 24, there was an action scene in one of the plays I was in, where I needed to throw punches and react. During that time, the action coach told me, “You’re not living on stage!” I didn’t understand it at the time. I was really trying my best. But now I understand. I wasn’t truly acting back then—I wasn’t fully embodying the role.
That’s when I decided to pursue a career as an action actor. During my early years, I apprenticed under two mentors. One was Azusa Mano, a TV star, and I learned how to live through being her assistant. The other was Tomotaka Tonuma, the person who had criticized my performance on stage. I learned sword fighting and acting from him. During my time as an assistant, I had weekends off, so I would learn sword fighting, which I enjoyed, and studied with Tonuma. During this time, I also appeared on TV and in movies.
At 28, I played the lead role in a big stage production. The cast included some celebrities, and despite being the lead, the celebrities were getting more attention. Of course, acting ability is important, but I realized that the ability to make an impact was also necessary. That’s when I started a Livedoor blog. Later, my mentor left, and I ended up taking over the theater group. However, my mentor returned a year later, so at that time, I left the group and established my own sword fighting organization, “Katanayaichi.”
I’ve appeared on TV, in movies, and in many stage productions, and I’ve had a lot of overseas performances. Now, I want to share the joy of action and sword fighting with as many people as possible. It’s strange, but teaching allows me to continue learning myself. That’s why I want to convey it properly to both Japanese and foreign audiences. Sword fighting is so much fun. By the way, I’m thinking of auditioning for the role of a “Shogun”.
Media Appearances
As an actor, appeared in over 50 stage productions and films.
