Shin Koyamada

Moving to the United States

In mid June 2000, Koyamada first enrolled in the ESL program at the University of California, Riverside.^[3] Later that year, Koyamada moved to Hollywood alone, not knowing anyone, having no place to stay, and not knowing how to speak English. He began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu for 5 hours a day and 6 days a week at a Chinese martial arts school in Los Angeles. Koyamada specialized in the empty hand form Bot Bo (拔步) and a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Northern Shaolin. Koyamada then competed in six U.S national martial arts competitions in several major cities, including San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco and won gold medals in all but one.^[4] In 2001, he enrolled at Los Angeles City College as a full-time international student where he began taking intensive acting lessons in the theater academy.

Hollywood

Other ventures

In 2005, Koyamada and his wife established Shinca Group, an American corporation with its businesses of production company, international consulting and other ventures.

Youth, disaster and environment

In 2008, Koyamada and his wife established Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to empower youth and women to achieve their dreams, provide international disaster aid and promote environmental awareness.^[23][24]

In 2010 and 2011, Koyamada organized the United States Martial Arts Festival (USMAF), an international martial arts charity event to promote the arts and help educate the next generation to develop self-discipline, self-determination, self-affirmation, self-assertion, self-discovery and self-confidence through martial arts, held in Redondo Beach, CA. At USMAF, over 1,000 supporters and fans packed the auditorium to cheer up martial arts performances by different world renowned martial arts masters and youth performers representing different styles such as Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu, Krav Maga, Capoera, MMA, Tae Kwon Do, Shorinji Kempo, American Kenpo, Boxing, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and others that are originated from the United States, Israel, Japan, South Korea, China, Egypt, Brazil, Thailand and Taiwan. All of the proceeds funded itself and martial arts scholarship program that provides youth and children the necessary funds so they can pursue training in the martial arts as a means to cultivate self-discipline, improve their health, and learn respect, honor and courtesy.

In 2011, Koyamada raised over $120,000 to aid the victims of the Great East Japan earthquake from a charity concert, fashion show, private donors and organizations. Part of KIF's donation initiative also included shipping 20-foot containers filled with basic necessities such as food, clothing, shoes, blankets, water and toys.^[25]

In 2012, Koyamada established KIF Japan, a Japanese nonprofit organization in Tokyo to initially deliver the relief goods and items directly to the victims of the Great East Japan earthquake. During the relief efforts, Koyamada was invited by U.S. Embassy Tokyo and its consulate-general to lecture in several Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Okayama to promote study abroad programs in the United States among Japanese youth.^[26][27]

Koyamada speaking at Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka in Japan

To continue ongoing efforts to inspire Japanese youth to study abroad and pursue their dreams, KIF teamed up with U.S. Embassy Tokyo and its consulate-general for Koyamada and other speakers to lecture high school and undergrad university students to study abroad in the U.S. and promote Japan–United States relations in different universities and high schools throughout Japan.

In 2013 and 2014, Koyamada appointed his celebrity friends Dylan Sprouse and Cole Sprouse as KIF's International Ambassadors. KIF Japan invited them and hosted the US-Japan Discovery Tour touring 10 different cities in Japan to empower thousands of youth to pursue higher education and their dreams, and promote cultural diversity and mutual understanding among young people of Japan and the United States through a series of lectures and cross-cultural events. Koyamada and Sprouse brothers were warmly welcomed and greeted by Japanese governments, students, teachers, athletes, politicians and business leaders during the trip.

In 2015, KIF Japan first teamed up with Australian Embassy, Tokyo to invite the Australian Ambassador to Japan to talk about Australia–Japan relations at the University of Okayama, a national university in his hometown Okayama, Japan. In the same year, KIF and Embassy of Colombia, Tokyo have partnered up to host a networking event Colombian Night at the Colombian Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, KIF Japan organized a series of lecture events with Kansai University, Ritsumeikan University, Kindai University, Seinan Gakuin University, Okayama University, Okinawa International University, Miyazaki Municipal University and numerous high and middle schools throughout Japan.

In 2017, KIF partnered up with Embassy of Italy, Tokyo and its consulate to jointly organize a networking cross-cultural event Italian Night at a hotel by Seto Inland Sea or Setouchi in Okayama, Japan.

Sister cities and citizen diplomacy

In Washington D.C., Koyamada became the first native-born Japanese member of Sister Cities International's Board of Directors and Country representative for Japan and Eastern Asia in 2017. Since its founding at a White House Summit on Citizen Diplomacy convened by 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, the Sister Cities International Network has grown to be the oldest and largest global network of volunteer citizen diplomats, comprising over 2,000 communities in 145 countries. Koyamada's interest in Sister Cities International began when he sought to start a sister city program for his hometown of Okayama, Japan. Last April 2017, Shin attended the 60th Sister City Anniversary Celebration between the City of San Jose, CA and his hometown City of Okayama, Japan to support their sister city programs and learn more about getting involved.

In Tokyo, Koyamada became the Karate Ambassador representing Karate for Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in 2016, appointed by the Japan Karate Federation, an affiliated World Karate Federation that has more than ten million members in 191 countries.

In October 2012, Koyamada became as the Kyoto International Ambassador, appointed by its Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa to promote Kyoto globally.^[28][29] In May 2012, Koyamada became as Japan America Society of Southern California's Special Ambassador in Los Angeles, CA .^[30] In February 2010, Koyamada became as Okayama Prefecture International Ambassador by its then-Governor to promote tourism globally of his hometown Okayama Prefecture, Japan. In Washington D.C., Koyamada participated the Parade of National Cherry Blossom Festival and the 50th Sakura Matsuri in Washington DC in April 2010, to promote the Japan's 25th National Cultural Festival in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.^[31][32]

In mid-2003, Koyamada was given the Gold Key to the City of New Plymouth, New Zealand by then-Mayor Peter Tennent for his charity efforts in New Zealand.

Martial arts

By 16, Koyamada began to study Keishinkan Karate in Okayama, Japan, where he was awarded his first degree black belt.^[33] After relocating to the United States in 2000, Koyamada began training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu with the Harmonious Fist Chinese Athletic Association. Koyamada specialized in the empty hand form Bot Bo (拔步) and a double broadsword among other 18 Chinese classical weapons in Northern Shaolin. Koyamada competed in six U.S National Martial Arts Competitions in Northern Shaolin over five months and won first place in all but one.^[34] In 2005, Koyamada earned san-dan (third degree) black belt in traditional Keishinkan Karate in Japan. In 2005, Koyamada began training in Tae Kwon Do for which he earned the second degree black belt.^[35] In 2007, Koyamada began Korean Royal Court Martial Arts and was certified as a first degree black belt in 2008. Koyamada was featured on a cover of Black Belt Magazine in 2004. In 2009, he was invited to an annual Martial Arts Tour of Italy.^[36] In 2010, he founded the charity event "United States Martial Arts Festival", with funds raised going to a scholarship program to help youth train in private martial arts schools.

As actor

As producer