Yukari Oshima

Yukari Ōshima (大島ゆかり, Ōshima Yukari, born December 31, 1963) is a Japanese former actress and martial artist. She gained prominence in Hong Kong and became popular in the Philippines as Cynthia Luster. Due to Filipinos' interest in Jackie Chan, she became Chan's pseudo female equivalent.[1]

Yukari Ōshima
Born
津村ゆかり (Tsumura Yukari)

(1963-12-31) December 31, 1963
Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Other namesCynthia Luster
Years active1984–2005
2011–present
Spouse(s)Mark Cheng (1991–1995)
Philip Ko (1995)

Biography

Born Tsumura Yukari (津村ゆかり) in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, to a Japanese businessman and fashion designer and a Chinese woman, Oshima began studying Gōjū-ryū Seigokan karate at Ennouji Dojo in junior high school. She was one of Japan's brightest female martial artists during the 1980s and a leading figure in the babes and bullets fad of Hong Kong action cinema. She played the role of "Farrah Cat" in Bioman, which aired not only in Japan originally but also worldwide. She is best known to Western audiences as Yomi in Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky. After her Hong Kong career dried up, she embarked on a new career in the Philippines in the 1990s with the stage name Cynthia Luster.

Oshima now resides in Fukuoka, Japan,[1] where she has promoted tourism in the city. She is commonly known to Western audiences as the actress in the Marlboro Lite commercials (in the late 1990s).

Selected filmography
  • Space Sheriff Gavan (1983, TV series)
  • Kagaku Sentai Dynaman (1983, Ep. 28) as Doll Assassin
  • Choudenshi Bioman (1984–1985, TV series) as Farrah Cat
  • Chodenshi Baioman the Movie (1984) as Farrah Cat
  • Space Sheriff Shaider (1984, TV series)
  • Sukeban Deka II (1986, ep. 1)
  • Millionaire's Express (1986) as Samurai
  • A Book of Heroes (1986) as Yamashita's fighter
  • The Funny Family (1986) as Tempura
  • Kung Fu Wonder Child (1986)
  • Angel (1987) as Madame Yeung / Sue (English version)
  • Final Run (1989) as Mon Ta Yee-Wa
  • Burning Ambition (1989) as Chau Siao-Tao
  • Close Escape (1989) as Migi
  • Lucky Seven 2 (1989)
  • Framed (1989) as Kitty Li
  • A Punch to Revenge (1989)
  • Never Say Regret (1990)
  • Outlaw Brothers (1990) as Tequila
  • Angel's Mission (1990) as Hing-tse
  • Brave Young Girls (1990)
  • Midnight Angels (1990) as Ying
  • That's Money (1990)
  • The Godfather's Daughter Mafia Blues (1991)
  • Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) as Huang Chaun
  • Spiritually a Cop (1991)
  • Tian shi te jing (1991) as Arms Trafficker
  • The Angels (1991)
  • Nu gui sheng si lian (1991)
  • Devil Cat (1991) as Black Cat
  • Mao bian (1991)
  • Hei xing feng yun (1991) as Lin Ho-Hung
  • Dreaming the Reality (1991)
  • Du gui zong dou yuan (1991)
  • Lover's Tear (1992) as Police officer
  • Full Contact (1992) (新龙争虎斗) as Mrs. Wang
  • The Big Deal (1992) as Sim-Lan
  • The Direct Line (1992) as Mok Yu Xia, CID Madam
  • Nv xiao feng yun: Xie jiao ru qin (1992)
  • Fatal Chase (1992) as Cynthia
  • Beauty Investigator (1992) as The Hitwoman
  • Jin san jiao qun ying hui (1992) as Bullet
  • Hard to Kill (1992)
  • Mission of Justice (1992)
  • Patio (1992)
  • The Story of the Gun (1992)
  • Win Them All (1992)
  • Zong heng tian xia (1993) (uncredited)
  • Angel the Kickboxer (1993)
  • Lethal Panther (1993) as Jane Matsuko/Shoko (international version)
  • Serious Shock! Yes Madam! (1993) as Coco
  • The Avenging Quartet (1993) as Oshima
  • Project S (1993, cameo) as Terrorist
  • Ghost's Love (1993)
  • Love to Kill (1993)
  • Angel of Vengeance (1993)
  • Kakambal ko sa tapang (1993) as Michelle
  • Angel Terminators II (1993) as Bullet
  • 1/3 qing ren (1993) as Lin Ching-Hsia
  • Xing Qi Gong Zhi Tan Bi (1993)
  • Once Upon a Time in Manila (1994, Cynthia Luster's first Filipino movie) as Lt. Cynthia Wang
  • Yue gui zhi lang (1994)
  • Pintsik (1994) as May Leng
  • His Way, Her Way, Their Ways! (1994)
  • Hong tian mi ling (1994) as Inspector Cynthia Lee Lai-Nga/Lisa Li
  • Deadly Target (1994)
  • Drugs Fighters (1995) as Yi Chian
  • Kinkyu yobidashi - Emâjenshî kôru (1995)
  • Ultracop 2000 (1995) as Trishia Marks
  • 1/3 Lover (1995)[2]
  • Emergency Call '95 (1995, cameo)
  • Hubungan jenayah (1995) as Heung Lan
  • Power Connection (1995)
  • Guardian Angel (1996)
  • Tiger Angels (1997)
  • Tapang sa Tapang (1997) Jane Nakamoto & Alana sim (沈诗芳-小慧欣) as Jane Nakamoto
  • Super Cops (1997) as Interpol Agent Yukari
  • Challenge (1997)
  • Vengeance Is Mine (1997)
  • Gold Rush (1998)[3]
  • The Golden Nightmare (1998) as Nikki
  • Leopard Hunting (1998) as Chieko
  • To Kiss Is Fatal (1998) as Diana Pama Aller
  • Digital Warriors (1999) as Jean Chung
  • Double Sin (1999)
  • It Takes a Thief (1999)[4]
  • Hakata Movie: Chinchiromai (2000) as Fay Ian
  • Xtreme Warriors (2001)
  • Ashita wa kitto (2001) as Girl in grape field
  • Legendary Amazons (2011) as Zou Lanying (final film role)

See also
  •  Biography portal
  •  Japan portal
  •  Martial arts portal
  •  Sports portal

Citations
  1. Macuja, Lista (March 24, 2014). "5 memorable movie "imports"". www.starcinema.abs-cbn.com. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. 大島由加里 (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  3. Gold Rush at HK cinemagic
  4. It Takes a Thief at HK cinemagic

General sources
  • Williams, Tony (2000). "Yukari Oshima: Hong Kong Cinema's Japanese Panther; A career profile". Asian Cult Cinema. 28 (3rd Quarter): 44–47.
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