Shin'ichi Chiba

Sonny Chiba, born Sadao Maeda in Fukuoka, Japan, was a man of many talents. The son of a military test pilot, he was talented enough to make the Japanese Olympic team in his youth, though a chronic back injury sadly ended his dreams of glory. However, he soon discovered a new passion in karate, and under the guidance of the renowned Mas Oyama, he soon earned his first black belt. His life changed when he was discovered by Toei Studios in 1960, and he began his screen career under the name Shinichi Chiba. As he busied himself with appearances in Japanese crime thrillers, he earned a reputation for being a man of few words and direct actions. With his prowess in karate, judo and kenpo, he seized the opportunity presented by the early 1970s martial arts boom and starred in several martial arts films and television series. Such was the greatness of this man, who is rightly considered a noble of the martial arts.