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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
We’re still looking for more KOSUGI KICKS
16 Oct 2016

We’re still looking for more KOSUGI KICKS

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 3 - Toys and Merch, 4 - Collectibles, 5 - Art and Advertising | 0

Vintage Ninja still has an open call out for what we call “Kosugi Kicks” — images of ninja in movie posters, VHS sleeves, toy packaging, advertising, whatever, that are cribbed from the iconic two-sword jump kick publicity shot Sho Kosugi … Continued

Kosugi Kick, Sho Kosugi
More good Blu news for 2016!
10 Jan 2016

More good Blu news for 2016!

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

Well, it took 30 some odd years but we’re finally getting close to having all the classic Sho Kosugi fare well represented on home video. Arrow’s superb sounding release of Pray for Death hasn’t even shipped yet and they’ve already … Continued

RAGE OF HONOR, Scott Glenn, Sho Kosugi, THE CHALLENGE, Toshiro Mifune
PRAY FOR DEATH coming to Blu!
8 Nov 2015

PRAY FOR DEATH coming to Blu!

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

Restoration label Arrow Films continues to put out Criterion-level releases of films that are decidedly not in the Criterion oeuvre — Spaghetti Westerns, Japanese delinquent gang flicks, gory Giallo and slasher fare, and yes — now they’re going FULL 80s NINJA! … Continued

Pray for Death, Sho Kosugi
Enter the Revenge of the Blurays
18 Jun 2015

Enter the Revenge of the Blurays

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

We finally have the original Cannon Films Sho Kosugi ‘ninja trilogy’ on good home video formats! Sure, its a couple decades later than it should have happened, and at a time when the public is giving up physical media in droves, … Continued

Enter the Ninja, Michael Dudikoff, REVENGE OF THE NINJA, Sho Kosugi

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

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