Yasuaki Kurata (; born March 20, 1946) is a Japanese actor and martial artist. He has worked extensively in Hong Kong action films, as well as in his native country, and is a two-time Hong Kong Film Award nominee.
Early life Kurata was born and raised in Sakura-mura, Niihari District, Ibaraki (now part of Tsukuba). He began studying Shitō-ryū karate under his father from a young age, and holds a 7th dan black belt. He also holds black belts in Judo (3rd dan), and Aikido (2nd dan), and also practices Kendo.
He studied performing arts at Nihon University and Toei Theater School.
Career In 1966, Kurata began his career as an actor in Marude Dameo, a Japanese TV series.
In 1971, Kurata made his Hong Kong debut in the Shaw Brothers Studio kung-fu movie Angry Guest (悪客). He went on to appear in numerous other films and TV series in the genre. In Japan, he gained popularity for his role in the television series G-Men '75. 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 and befriended Bruce Lee during his career.
In addition to acting, Kurata runs the stunt agency Kurata Promotion (established in 1976 under the name Kurata Action Club),Kurata Promotions (in Japanese) taught at a private college (University of Creation; Art, Music & Social Work),Sozo Gakuen Daigaku faculty list (bad link) serves as chief advisor to the All Japan Nunchaku League,Zen Nippon Nunchaku-do Renmei(bad link) and in 2004 published the book . He runs karate dojos in Tokyo, Osaka and Hong Kong.
Kenji Tanigaki is one of Kurata's pupils.
Filmography
Films
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) Lung Chien 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 Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread(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 (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 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters 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 Samourais 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 Origin: Spirits of the Past(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 Blood: The Last Vampire Takatora Kato Japan 2010.02.19 Jiu-Jitsu(柔術) Kobayakawa(小早川) Japan 2010.09.21 Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen(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(空手道) Akira Hirakawa(平川彰) Hong Kong 2017.06.30 God of War(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 BLACKFOX: Age of the Ninja Hyōei Isurugi(石動兵衛) Japan 2020 Future Fighters Mikoto Hong Kong
Television