Yasuaki Kurata

Yasuaki Kurata

Known For

Police Story

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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Movies Featuring Yasuaki Kurata

The Brink

The Brink (2017)

as Chen Ding-Kui
Manhunt

Manhunt (2017)

as Hideo Sakaguchi
The Empty Hands

The Empty Hands (2017)

as Akira Hirakawa
The One

The One (2017)

as 新右卫门大师
Sword of Blood

Sword of Blood (2011)

as Genjiro Mishima
Yellow Dragon

Yellow Dragon (2003)

as Gouzaburo "Go" Azuma
Samouraïs

Samouraïs (2002)

as Fujiwara Morio
Fist of Legend

Fist of Legend (1994)

as Fuimo Funakoshi
Zodiac Killers

Zodiac Killers (1991)

as Ishikawa (cameo)
Bloodfight

Bloodfight (1989)

as Masahiko Kai
Eastern Condors

Eastern Condors (1987)

as Vietnamese Captain
A Book of Heroes

A Book of Heroes (1986)

as Yamashita sensei
Police Story

Police Story (1985)

as Passerby (uncredited)
No Image

Crisis (1983)

as Chairman Sun Shao Hung
Legend of a Fighter

Legend of a Fighter (1982)

as Teacher Kong Ho San
Ninja In The Deadly Trap

Ninja In The Deadly Trap (1981)

as Shi Ping-Wei, the Ninja Leader
The Magnificent 3

The Magnificent 3 (1980)

as Japanese tourist
Secret of the Shaolin Poles

Secret of the Shaolin Poles (1977)

as Tiger Lei (as Shoji Kurada)
Dragon Princess

Dragon Princess (1976)

as Masahiko Okizaki
Fighting Dragon

Fighting Dragon (1975)

as Lung Yen Fei (Dragon)
Call Me Dragon

Call Me Dragon (1974)

as Panther / Leopard Head
Black Panther

Black Panther (1973)

as Chang Hui-Feng
Seven to One

Seven to One (1973)

as Nightclub Singer / Killer
Win Them All

Win Them All (1973)

as Iron Fingers
No Image

Tiger (1972)

as Tze Chiang