Yuji Okumoto
Yuji Don Okumoto (雄二・ドン・奥本, Yūji Don Okumoto, born April 20, 1959) is an American actor, martial artist, filmmaker and Eagle Scout best known for his intimidating movie roles, primarily as a villain, such as Chozen Toguchi in The Karate Kid Part II and Cobra Kai. His other films include Aloha Summer, Nemesis, Pearl Harbor, Contact and The Truman Show, as well as guest roles on television series such as T.J. Hooker, Knots Landing, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Bones.
Yuji Okumoto | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | April 20, 1959
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Actor, martial artist |
Years active | 1985-present |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Spouse(s) | Angela (Present) |
Early life
Yuji Okumoto, a third generation Japanese American (Sansei), was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.[1] He graduated from Hollywood High School and Cal State Fullerton (where he studied acting).[1]
Career
His performance in the play Indians led to being signed by an agent, and eventually a role on The Young and the Restless. His first roles were in The Check is in the Mail, Real Genius , and Better Off Dead.[1] Perhaps his most well-known role is as Daniel's rival, Chozen Toguchi in the 1986 film, The Karate Kid Part II.[1] In 2005, he was Yukio Nakajo in Lane Nishikawa's film Only the Brave about the Japanese American segregated fighting unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of World War II. This film also included two other Karate Kid stars, Tamlyn Tomita and Pat Morita.[1] Other credits include his role as Shu Kai Kim, in the 1989 film True Believer, Pete Kapahala in the 1999 Disney Channel original movie Johnny Tsunami, Kaigun-Daii in Pearl Harbor, and Bruce Takedo in the television series, Bones.[1]
Okumoto reprised his role as Chozen Toguchi in Season 3 of Cobra Kai, which was released on January 1, 2021, on Netflix.[2][3][4][5][6]
Personal life
Okumoto lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Angie and their children.[7] They own and run a Hawaiian-themed restaurant, Kona Kitchen/Yuji Lounge.[7][3][4][8]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Real Genius | Fenton | Film |
1985 | Better Off Dead | Yee Sook Ree | Film |
1985 | Crime Killer | Vietnam Soldier | Film |
1986 | The Check Is in the Mail... | Bellboy | Film |
1986 | The Karate Kid Part II | Chozen Toguchi | Film |
1988 | Aloha Summer | Kenzo Konishi | Film |
1989 | True Believer | Shu Kai Kim | Film |
1991 | 3x3 Eyes | Chou / Transvestite #2 | Video (voice: English version) (as Yujii Okumoto) |
1992 | Nemesis | Yoshiro Han | Film |
1993 | Silent Cries | Mickey | Film, Uncredited |
1993 | Robot Wars | Chou-Sing | Film |
1993 | Brainsmasher... A Love Story | Wu | Video |
1993 | American Yakuza | Kazuo | Film |
1994 | Bloodfist V: Human Target | Tommy | Film |
1994 | Blue Tiger | Lieutenant Sakagami | Film |
1994 | Red Sun Rising | Yuji | Film |
1995 | Hard Justice | Jimmy Wong | Video |
1995 | 3x3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine Demon | Naparva | Video (voice: English version) (as Yujii Okumoto) |
1997 | Blast | FBI Agent | Film |
1997 | Mean Guns | Hoss | Film |
1997 | Contact | Electrical | Film |
1997 | The Game | Nikko Hotel Manager | Film |
1998 | The Truman Show | Japanese Family Man | Film |
1998 | Sorcerers | Secretary | Film |
2000 | Fortress 2: Re-Entry | Sato | Film |
2000 | I'll Remember April | Matsuo Yomma | Film |
2001 | Pearl Harbor | Japanese Shy Bomber | Film |
2001 | Ticker | Embassy Consul | Film |
2005 | The Crow: Wicked Prayer | Pestilence | Film |
2006 | Big Momma's House 2 | Parsons | Film |
2006 | Only the Brave | Sgt. Yukio 'Yuk' Nakajo | Film |
2006 | End Game | Doctor Lee | Film |
2007 | Cookies for Sale | Grumpy Man | Short |
2008 | Touch | Ken | Short |
2009 | Black Coffee | David | Short |
2009 | Anatomy of a Fly | Politician | Short |
2010 | Inception | Saito's Attendant | Film |
2014 | Awesome Asian Bad Guys | Yuji (2013) | |
2015 | Beta Test | The Surgeon | Film |
2017 | Unspoken: Diary of an Assassin | ||
2018 | Driven | Judge Takasugi | |
2018 | Ultra Low | Yuji | Film |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | T. J. Hooker | Howie Kalanuma | Episode: "Blood Sport" |
1987 | Simon & Simon | Masaki | Episode: "Desperately Seeking Dacody" |
1988 | Hunter | Jimmy | 2 episodes |
1990 | Murder in Paradise | n/a | TV movie |
1990 | Only One Survived | Peter Fujko | TV movie |
1990 | Midnight Caller | Lee Minh | Episode: "Home to Roost" |
1991 | American Playhouse | Teruo Kuroda | Episode: "Hot Summer Winds" |
1991-1993 | Knots Landing | Art Nam | 6 Episodes |
1994 | Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills | Lester Kuriyama | TV movie |
1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Chen Chow | Episode: "Chi of Steel" |
1995 | Vanishing Son | Nguyen | Episode: "Holy Ghosts" |
1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Kim Huan | Episode: "Murder a la Mode" |
1996 | Kindred: The Embraced | Lieutenant Kwan | 2 episodes |
1996 | Superman | Security Guard | Voice, Episode: "A Little Piece of Home" |
1996 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Chang | Episode: "Higher Power" |
1997 | Players | Mr. Hayashi | Episode: "Rashocon" |
1998 | The Sentinel | Lo | Episode: "Love Kills" |
1998 | JAG | Jiro Kitamura | (1995 TV series) Episode: "Innocence" |
1999 | Just Shoot Me! | Kevin Tanaka | Uncredited, Episode: "Miss Pretty" |
1999 | Johnny Tsunami | Pete | TV movie |
2000 | Martial Law | Mr. Strinc | Episode: "Scorpio Rising" |
2000 | Max Steel | n/a | Voice, Episode: "Seraphim" |
2000 | Guilty as Charged | Davis | TV movie |
2001 | The District | Officer | Episode: "A Southern Town" |
2001 | A Kitty Bobo Show | Graffiti | Voice, TV movie |
2001 | V.I.P. | Morton Zhou | Episode: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Val" |
2003 | Partners | One Eye | TV movie |
2007 | The Unit | Mr. Michael | Episode: "The Broom Cupboard" |
2007 | Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board | Pete | TV movie |
2008 | Heroes and Villains | Naomasa Ii | documentary, Episode: "Shogun" |
2008 | Mask of the Ninja | Nakano | TV movie |
2009 | Katana | Kenji | Episode: "Pilot" (also producer and writer) |
2009 | Bones | Bruce Takedo | Episode: "The Girl in the Mask" |
2018 | New Girl | Mr. Yukimura | Episode: "Godparents" |
2021 | Cobra Kai | Chozen Toguchi | 2 episodes |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Johnny Mnemonic: The Interactive Action Movie | Shinji | Voice, Video Game |
2001 | Throne of Darkness | Swordsman | Voice, Video Game |
2003 | True Crime: Streets of LA | Additional Voices | Voice, Video Game |
References
- "Meet Yuji Okumoto". konakitchen.com. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
- Show, Gee (2021-01-19). "'Cobra Kai' actor, co-owner of Seattle restaurant on how show became Netflix hit". MyNorthwest. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
- Baldwin, Kristen (2020-12-18). "Yuji Okumoto on Cobra Kai season 3: 'Chozen has gone through a lot of soul searching'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- Talbott, Chris (2021-01-04). "In Netflix's 'Cobra Kai,' Seattle restaurateur Yuji Okumoto reprises a role — and a life — he thought he'd left behind". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- Riddle, Eric (2021-01-28). "Seattle actor reprises his most famous role for Netflix hit series 'Cobra Kai'". KING-TV. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- Karlinski, Marla (2021-02-04). "Local actor Yuji Okumoto kicks butt in 'Cobra Kai'". Seattle Refined. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- "Yuji Okumoto's Kona Kitchen Is a Family Affair Actor-Restaurateur Keeps a Lot on His Plate". Japanese American Citizens League. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- Luthman, Jenna (2016-08-16). "Karate Kid II star owns awesome Seattle restaurant". Seattle Refined. Retrieved 2021-02-04.