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Sho Kosugi

A Japanese Take on America’s Ninja Boom
27 Dec 2024

A Japanese Take on America’s Ninja Boom

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Around 15 years ago I scored some souvenir movie programs and marketing flyers from Japan, mostly to get ahold of a Ninja III: The Domination piece. While it didn’t present any sort of new imagery or info, I was fascinated … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Cannon Films, Ninja III: The Domination, Ninja Mission, Sho Kosugi, Yasu Kurata
And even MORE ‘Kosugi Kicks’
21 Apr 2024

And even MORE ‘Kosugi Kicks’

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 3 - Toys and Merch, 4 - Collectibles, 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

Since this site started I’ve collected every instance of knock-offs and rip-offs of the iconic Sho Kosugi jump kick from the Enter the Ninja marketing I can find. Been a while since I’ve dumped them on here though, so here’s … Continued

Kosugi Kick, Sho Kosugi
The only reason any of us are even here is REVENGE…
17 Sep 2023

The only reason any of us are even here is REVENGE…

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

The Moment Forty years ago… a time when a pay-cable service like HBO would have half-hour monthly trailer shows previewing the new batch of arriving movies. I’m a highly impressionable 14-year old watching a guy catch arrows in his teeth … Continued

Cannon Films, REVENGE OF THE NINJA, Sam Firstenberg, Sho Kosugi, Steve Lambert
To hell with summer vacation, spend your ninja dollars here instead!
30 May 2023

To hell with summer vacation, spend your ninja dollars here instead!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 3 - Toys and Merch | 0

Two new projects I want to highlight immediately before you people go and spend your money on Disneyland or Six Flags or other sorts of respectable family activities instead of on gratuitous ninja stuff like you should be… Pasadena, California’s … Continued

Legends of the Hidden Force, Republic of Ninja, Sho Kosugi
MIKE STONE: ‘THE FIRST NINJA’
10 Jun 2021

MIKE STONE: ‘THE FIRST NINJA’

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

“Aloha friends, another beautiful day in paradise.” It’s how Mike Stone begins every post on Facebook from his home in the Philippines, where he’s currently working with a writer on an extensive biography of his storied life and career(s). He’s … Continued

AMERICAN NINJA, Cannon Films, Enter the Ninja, Franco Nero, Mike Stone, Sho Kosugi, Tadashi Yamashita
REVIEW: The Cannon Film Guide
10 Aug 2020

REVIEW: The Cannon Film Guide

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 2 - Books and Manga | 0

If there’s one speck of light in the dark months of the pandemic shutdown, it’s been some great quarantine reading for fans of Cannon Films, and that continues with Austin Trunick‘s The Cannon Film Guide Volume 1: 1980—1984. After an … Continued

Cannon Films, Sam Firstenberg, Sho Kosugi
I can finally enjoy THE MASTER
12 Mar 2018

I can finally enjoy THE MASTER

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV | 0

Back in 1984, at least for this teenage ninja-maniac, four words began a turning point for the ninja craze: “Hi, I’m Max Keller.” Timothy Van Patten‘s intro to each episode of The Master has since become iconic for me. His … Continued

Lee Van Cleef, Sho Kosugi, The Master
New from Kosugi and Firstenberg
7 May 2017

New from Kosugi and Firstenberg

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 2 - Books and Manga, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Sho Kosugi returns to home video with a series of training DVDs via Masters Magazine! An expansion on his 1980’s VHS release Master Class, The Art of Hollywood Ninja Action Film Making is a five part ‘course’ on ninja-centric choreography and … Continued

Cannon Films, Sam Fistenberg, Sho Kosugi
Kosugi and Van Cleef in Japan
20 Feb 2017

Kosugi and Van Cleef in Japan

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

One of the great head-scratchers of the 80s American ninja boom was the NBC TV series The Master, created by Michael Sloan but driven by the one-man craze-catalyst that was Sho Kosugi. On one hand its very existence spoke to the … Continued

Lee Van Cleef, Sho Kosugi, The Master
Wait… WHO rented Cannon their house?
31 Jan 2017

Wait… WHO rented Cannon their house?

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

If you weren’t able to make the Revenge of the Ninja CD signing event in Januar,y the score and exclusive event print are now available via mail order, all signed by ROTN director Sam Firstenberg, stunt coordinator and silver-masked ninja … Continued

REVENGE OF THE NINJA, Sam Firstenberg, Sho Kosugi, Steve Lambert

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Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja media from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze, and beyond — with a ton of ninja movies, vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

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50+ Japanese ninja movies reviewed

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