Acting · Niihari, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan · Born March 20, 1946
Yasuaki Kurata (born March 20, 1946), a.k.a David Kurata, is a Japanese actor specializing in action movies. An accomplished martial artist, he has dan ranks in karate (5th degree), judo (3rd degree), and aikido (2nd degree). 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. Kurata's home town is Sakura-mura, Niihari District, Ibaraki (now part of Tsukuba). Having studied performing arts at Nihon University and Toei Theater School, he began to work as an actor in the late 1960s. In 1971, Kurata made his Hong Kong debut in the Shaw Brothers Studio kung-fu movie Angry Guest . Since then he has appeared in numerous other films and TV series within the genre. In addition to his work as an actor, Kurata runs the stunt agency Kurata Promotion (established 1976 under the name Kurata Action Club), teaches at a private college (the University of Creation, Art, Music & Social Work), is chief advisor to the All Japan Nunchaku League, and in 2004 published a book, Hong Kong Action Star Kōyūroku. Description above from the Wikipedia article Yasuaki Kurata, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
MovieThe Living Dragon
2026
MovieNinja Wars: BlackFox vs Shogun's Ninja
2026
as Hyoe Isurugi
MovieEnter the Clones of Bruce
2023
as Self
TVPandora's Box
2021
as Hiroshi Kuroki
TVWarriors Within
2020
as 武田寬
MovieBLACKFOX: Age of the Ninja
2019
as Hyoe Isurugi
TVYasuragi no Toki: Michi
2019
MovieIceman: The Time Traveler
2018
as Bei Tiao
MovieFat Buddies
2018
MovieGolden Job
2018
as Morimoto
TVThe Great Adventurer Wesley
2018
as 藤原龙太
MovieThe Brink
2017
as Chen Ding-Kui
MovieManhunt
2017
as Hideo Sakaguchi
MovieThe Empty Hands
2017
as Akira Hirakawa
MovieThe One
2017
as 新右卫门大师
MovieGod of War
2017
as Kumasawa
MovieKIRI – Profession: Assassin
2015
as Saburi
MovieThe Wrath of Vajra
2013
as Amano Kawao
MovieThe Last Tycoon
2012
MovieSword of Blood
2011
as Genjiro Mishima
MovieLegend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
2010
as Chikaraishis Vater
MovieBlood: The Last Vampire
2009
as Kato Takatora
MovieShinjuku Incident
2009
as Taro Watagawa
MovieGoGo Sentai Boukenger The Movie: The Greatest Precious
2006
as Kouichi Akashi
MovieLegend of Seven Monks
2006
as Santoku
MovieDragon Get Angry
2005
TVGARO
2005
as Sonshi
TVThe Royal Swordsmen
2005
as 柳生但马守
MovieFights of Fury
2004
MovieAnna in Kungfu-land
2003
as Sword Shek
MovieYellow Dragon
2003
as Gouzaburo "Go" Azuma
MovieSamouraïs
2002
as Fujiwara Morio
MovieSo Close
2002
as Master
MovieDark War
2001
as Chang
MovieConman in Tokyo
2000
as Tetsuo
MovieGinza Midnight Story — Utopia 2
2000
MovieGinza Midnight Story — Utopia
2000
MovieQuiet Don 11
2000
TVFist Of Hero
1999
as 横山十兵卫
MovieQuiet Don 10
1996
MovieQuiet Don 9
1996
MovieQuiet Don 8
1996
MovieQuiet Don 7
1995
MovieFist of Legend
1994
as Fuimo Funakoshi
MovieThe Fighting King
1994
MovieQuiet Don 6
1993
MovieQuiet Don 5
1993
MovieMy Home Yakuza
1993
MovieViolent Island: Dirty Money Hijack
1992
MovieQuiet Don 4
1992
MovieQuiet Don 3
1992
MovieThe Devil's Messenger DEATH MESSENGER
1991
MovieZodiac Killers
1991
as Ishikawa (cameo)
MovieBloodfight
1989
as Masahiko Kai
Above the War
1989
as Cook
MovieSeven Days War
1988
as Sakai
MovieCarry On Hotel
1988
as Tomohara
MovieEastern Condors
1987
as Vietnamese Captain
MovieThe Seventh Curse
1986
as Captain Ho
MovieA Book of Heroes
1986
as Yamashita sensei
MovieMillionaires' Express
1986
as Japanese Ninja
MoviePolice Story
1985
as Passerby (uncredited)
MovieMishima: A Life in Four Chapters
1985
as Takei
MovieTwinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
1985
as Parachute Assassin
MovieTo Catch a Thief
1984
MovieNinja Thunderbolt
1984
MovieKanei Command Performance
1983
MovieAces Go Places II
1983
as Bull
MovieImpossible Woman
1983
MovieDeadly Life of a Ninja
1983
as Iga Ninja Leader
Crisis
1983
as Chairman Sun Shao Hung
TVGメン'82
1982
MovieLegend of a Fighter
1982
as Teacher Kong Ho San
MovieThe Legend of the Owl
1981
Seed of Evil
1981
MovieShaolin Fighters vs. Ninja
1981
as Lonely Winner
MovieEijanaika
1981
as Hanjiro
MovieNinja In The Deadly Trap
1981
as Shi Ping-Wei, the Ninja Leader
MovieThe Magnificent 3
1980
as Japanese tourist
MovieHeroes of the East
1978
as Takeno
MovieEdge of Fury
1978
as Mr King
MovieSecret of the Shaolin Poles
1977
as Tiger Lei (as Shoji Kurada)
MovieV.I.P.
1977
MovieWhich Is Stronger, Karate or the Tiger?
1976
as Ryuzaki Tetsuji
MovieYoung Hero of Shaolin
1976
MovieDragon Princess
1976
as Masahiko Okizaki
MovieThe Return of Sister Street Fighter
1975
as Go Kurosaki
TVG-Men '75
1975
as 草野刑事
MovieFists for Revenge
1975
MovieThe Golden Triangle
1975
MovieFighting Dragon
1975
as Lung Yen Fei (Dragon)
MovieSister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread
1974
as Shunsuke Tsubaki
MovieThe Executioner
1974
as Kurayamada
TVFight! Dragon!
1974
as Dragon
MovieLittle Godfather from Hong Kong
1974
as Sakada (Chong)
MovieCall Me Dragon
1974
as Panther / Leopard Head
MovieFatal Strike
1974
MovieThe Fists of Vengeance
1974
as Kiro-san
MovieFerocious to Ferocious
1973
as Yamada
MovieGold Snatchers
1973
MovieBlack Panther
1973
as Chang Hui-Feng
The Unsubdued Furies
1973
MovieSeven to One
1973
as Nightclub Singer / Killer
MovieWin Them All
1973
as Iron Fingers
MovieA Gathering of Heroes
1973
MovieKnight Errant
1973
as Tetsuro
MovieFist of Unicorn
1973
as Sun
MovieRage of Wind
1973
as Taka
MovieKung Fu Powerhouse
1973
as Tiger
MovieA Girl Called Tigress
1973
as Chiau Kung
MovieKung Fu Inferno
1973
as Chiang Hung
MovieFour Riders
1972
as Lei Tai
MovieKung Fu: The Invisible Fist
1972
as Cpt. Jai Tai
MovieThe Prodigal Boxer
1972
as Iron Hand Tan
MovieThe King of Boxers
1972
as Tu Pien
MovieThe Angry Guest
1972
as Katsu
Tiger
1972
as Tze Chiang
MovieFight! Dragon (TV Pilot) - Dragon Flies to Hong Kong.
as Ryuma Shiranui (Dragon)
