Member Ronin Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 We have lost a legend. Can't freaking believe it. Fuck COVID. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6e29075dd082748afe0cbe9f6941540e52b3e586 7 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Red Lion Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 So sad to hear this. Truly one of the great stars and pioneers with his JAC stunt team. He will forever be remembered. RIP 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 This hecka sucks! He was the symbol of Japanese karate/martial arts cinema (outside of jidai-geki). What a great career and a great man! RIP. 4 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 OMG! I am totally in shock! What a legend! It is so sad to read this :( RIP Sadao Maeda. 5 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 For those members living in Japan (like @Takuma), what is the media coverage like for this great tragedy? 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member odioustrident Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 This is hitting harder than similar bad news for some reason. He looked and sounded great at his 2018 Chiller Theater appearance in NJ. It really feels like end of an era even though the era is long gone. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member shukocarl1441996347 Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Very sad news, rip Chiba-san. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member saltysam Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Oh no .R.I.P. Sonny 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Karlos Posted August 19, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 19, 2021 https://www.cbr.com/sonny-chiba-obituary/ We have lost a true legend. Absolutely heartbroken to read this. Was so honored to meet him in 2018, along with my brother @KUNG FU BOB and his awesome son. Such happy memories. Rest well, Chiba-San. Your place in the martial arts pantheon is more than assured. 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) Absolutely terrible news. Chiba is my favourite actor of all time. I've seen more than 150 of his films. He was much more than just a karate film star, an endlessly inspiring actor who would make almost any film better with his sheer energy. A lot of his work from the 60s as well as TV work (including the incredible Yaguy Clan Conspiracy series which is even better than the Fukasaku film) is waiting to be discovered. I was lucky enough to meet him in Cinema Vera's 24 film Chiba retrospective back in 2014. He was energetic like a little boy, and at the same time modest and very grateful to fans. I got to ask him a question about Soul of Chiba (though he ended up asking me several questions in return), and later take a photo with him. But the nicest part was when Chiba was leaving the site and I was loitering in the corridor, he stopped by me to shake my hand and say “thank you for attending”. It only took 10 seconds of his time, but it was a really nice thing of him to do. Most big stars wouldn't have stopped. Chiba with his friend and Toei colleague Ken Takakura Edited August 19, 2021 by Takuma 11 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Treacherous Mastermind Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Rest in peace Sonny Chiba! You will always be remembered. 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member ZenkaigerBat Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sonny-chiba-martial-arts-legend-143909260.html I'm sadden to hear that Shinichi Sonny Chiba has passed away from Covid Complications. Being a huge fan of his work this sadden's me. Being exposed to the Street Fighter flims since i was a kid made me a fan of his work that i ended up getting alot of his flims on DVD. R.I.P to the Number one man! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Karlos Posted August 19, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 19, 2021 Such a lovely tribute @Takuma 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member OpiumKungFuCracker Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 RIP to one of the goats of Cinema and I mean that! He was the face of Saturday morning kung fu showcase on tv growing up and who can forget his role in Kill Bill that made him even more mainstream. Long Live Chiba!!! 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member sifu iron perm Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Rest in Paradise Chiba-San 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Just yesterday I heard about the passing of British comedian Sean Locke aged 58, and now this sad news. Mr Chiba opened my eyes to Japanese Martial Arts cinema, and Ill never forget watching the Street Fighter trilogy back to back for the first time. He should have been given a part in the John Wick movies, I know Keanu Reeves has always been a big fan/supporter of his work. I once went to see a Hip Hop/Breakdance performance of Romeo & Juliet. The theatre company were from New York, and they used clips from Sonny Chiba movies and the Venoms film in the performance. I was still fresh to the genre, and I didnt know who Chiba was. Despite being aware of the Venoms movies. When I asked one of the cast who it was, they told me alll about him and advised me to purchase his movies. R.I.P Sonny Chiba 6 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Drunken Monk Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 RIP Sonny Chiba. Truly one of the greats. 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member ShawAngela Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Very sad news ! Did I understand well the first post ? Did he die from the covid ? 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 6 minutes ago, ShawAngela said: Very sad news ! Did I understand well the first post ? Did he die from the covid ? Yes, it was complications due to COVID. 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Takuma Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, ShawAngela said: Very sad news ! Did I understand well the first post ? Did he die from the covid ? Yes, he did. Pneumonia caused by COVID. He had been hospitalized since Aug. 8. 1 hour ago, DrNgor said: For those members living in Japan (like @Takuma), what is the media coverage like for this great tragedy? It's all over the internet. Should be on TV tomorrow. The news only broke around 10 pm local time. Here's the national broadcaster NHK's article: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210819/k10013213051000.html 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Ronin Posted August 19, 2021 Author Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Here is Anime News Network's article: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-19/actor-sonny-chiba-passes-away-due-to-pneumonia-caused-by-covid-19/.176432 So glad I got to meet him and Kinji Fukasaku in Los Angeles in 2001 at a Fukasaku retrospective and US premiere of BATTLE ROYALE. 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Gaijin84 Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) Well that's about the worst news Asian cinema could get... a loss on par with Mifune. He'll never be forgotten. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2021/08/19/films/sonny-chiba-obit/ Edited August 19, 2021 by Gaijin84 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member MobFu1972 Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Horrible news.... Covid does truly suck. RIP LEGEND 🙏🙏🙏🙏✌✌✌✌❗ 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member BigDruDogg Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 RIP To one of my Favorite Actors!! So many Classic Roles/Movies 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Ah_Tao Posted August 19, 2021 Member Share Posted August 19, 2021 Worst news of the year. While everyone wanted to be Bruce Lee as a kid, I wanted to be Sonny Chiba. RIP 5 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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