Shin Koyamada

Shin Koyamada (小山田 真) is a Japanese actor, producer, philanthropist, and martial artist. He is best known for roles in The Last Samurai (2003) and the Disney Channel television movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006). He is the founder of the entertainment company Shinca Entertainment, and the co-founder of the Koyamada International Foundation.

Early life
Koyamada was born in Okayama, Japan. He is descended from the Koyamada samurai clan. He graduated from Ichinomiya high school in Okayama in 2000. Koyamada subsequently moved to the United States to further his studies, enrolling in the ESL program at the University of California, Riverside. He later studied at Los Angeles City College, and began taking acting lessons.

A triathlete and gymnast in his youth, Koyamada holds black belts in Okinawan karate and Taekwondo, and has also practiced  Northern Shaolin kung fu, Kuk Sool Won, Iaido, Aikido, Kyūdō, Kendo and Yabusame.

Acting
Koyamada's first acting roles included a brief guest appearance in Power Rangers Wild Force and a co-starring role in the short film A Ninja Pays Half My Rent. His debut film role was in The Last Samurai (2003), co-starring as Nobutada. The film grossed $456 million at the box office and was nominated for several Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and National Board of Review Awards.

In 2005, Koyamada starred in and executive produced the Japanese documentary film Wine Road of the Samurai. In 2006, Koyamada co-starred with Brenda Song in the Disney Channel's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, which become one of the highest-rated Disney original television movies. From 2006 to 2008, Koyamada was a regular in the Disney Channel Games. In 2007, Koyamada starred in and produced the short film Good Soil. Koyamada next appeared in the 20th Century Fox drama Constellation (2007). In 2009, Koyamada co-founded comics company Laizen Comics. Laizen Comics published and distributed The Dreamhoppers (2010) to independent comic book stores throughout the United States.

In 2010, Koyamada starred in the Japanese stage production Ai No Shizuku. He also starred in and produced the film Heart of the Dragon (2013). Koyamada also produced a multi-part television and web series comprising Spirit Fashion Show (2013), Spirit Art Show (2013), Spirit Music Show (2013), Spirit Love Show (2013) and Spirit Earth Show (2014), distributed by Spirit Show Network. In 2022, Koyamada starred in and produced the independent film The Yokai King.

Producing
In 2005, Koyamada co-founded a production company Shinca Entertainment, based in Burbank, California. The company has produced multimedia content, including the comic book series The Dreamhoppers.

Philanthropy
Koyamada has also been involved with various global philanthropic efforts. Koyamada and his wife founded Koyamada International Foundation to improve quality of people's lives by providing humanitarian aid to promote world peace and sustainable development.

Koyamada was a representative of the Japan Karate Federation at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Koyamada is the Chair of the Japan-U.S. Sister City Association.

In 2022, Koyamada was appointed a cultural envoy by the government of Mongolia.

In January 2024, Koyamada was appointed by the World Karate Federation as an Ambassador.

Personal life
Koyamada is married to Carolina Manrique (known professionally as Nia Lyte), a Colombian-American producer. They have a son (born in 2021).