Yasuaki Kurata

Yasuaki Kurata

Born 1946-03-20 (age 80) Niihari, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
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Biography

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.

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Known For

Police Story
Police Story

1985

as Passerby (uncredited)

Fist of Legend
Fist of Legend

1994

as Fuimo Funakoshi

Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars
Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars

1985

as Parachute Assassin

The Wrath of Vajra
The Wrath of Vajra

2013

as Amano Kawao

So Close
So Close

2002

as Master

Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
Shinjuku Incident
Shinjuku Incident

2009

as Taro Watagawa

Millionaires' Express
Millionaires' Express

1986

as Japanese Ninja

Eastern Condors
Eastern Condors

1987

as Vietnamese Captain

God of War
God of War

2017

as Kumasawa

The Seventh Curse
The Seventh Curse

1986

as Captain Ho

Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood: The Last Vampire

2009

as Kato Takatora

Heroes of the East
Heroes of the East

1978

as Takeno

The Last Tycoon
Golden Job
Golden Job

2018

as Morimoto

Manhunt
Manhunt

2017

as Hideo Sakaguchi

The Angry Guest
The Angry Guest

1972

as Katsu

Aces Go Places II
Aces Go Places II

1983

as Bull

Four Riders
Four Riders

1972

as Lei Tai