Members
Yoshi Amao
Yoshi Amao is an actor/founder/director of Samurai Sword Soul.
He plays a role of Sera in FX’s SHOGUN, which wins 19 Emmy Award including Best Drama.
Yoshi was born in Osaka and moved to New York in 1990. He learned Waki-ryu Tate (Japanese sword fighting) under Tahei Waki, and formed Samurai Sword Soul in 2003.
His theatrical acting careers are Off Broadway Shows; Chushingura~47 ronin at A.R.T./New York Theatres, and Deadly She-Wolf Assassin at Armageddon! at La MaMa Theater (NYC) as a lead actor/co choreographer, which was highly acclaimed by the New York Times.
He also worked as a fight director for Pacific Overtures at Signature Theater in DC and Tarantino Live in London.
Other actor’s credits on TVs/Films are Mr. Robot (USA), Blacklist (NBC), Billions (Showtime), Samurai Sportsman (OLN) and 11 award-winning short film, My Daughter Yoshiko, etc.
Koji
Nishiyama
Koji Nishiyama was born and raised in Nagoya, Japan. After completing his civil engineering degree, he decided to pursue his long time passion – acting. He came to New Yorin in 2009 where he graduated from New York Film Academy acting program. He then joined Samurai Sword Soul theater company where he trained in sword fighting. He has been working and performing with them ever since. Koiji is not a stranger to dramatic, action and comedic roles. Theatre credits include She-Wolf, Assassin, The Wrestler, Red Bull and The Infinite Spirits. Film credits include Bounty Warz, Vampire Hunter, Afro Samurai, Chase and Wax Museum. Koji’s hunger for new knowledge and experiences encorages him to continuously advance in his acting career.
Masaya
Okubo
Masaya Okubo was born and raised in Aichi, Japan.
SAG-AFTRA. His on-camera credits include many independent films, TV; "Shola's Voice" "Impractical Jokers", Theater/Performance; "Coltrane in Japan", and as a featured performer in Samurai Sword Soul.
He was recently in the SquareSpace Superbowl ad 2024 directed by Martin Scorsese.
As a voice artist, he has a regular role in a Japanese dubbed American cartoon “Caillou” as Daddy. Commercials: Google, YouTube, Gucci, Audi, Swiss Airline, Amazon and more. Video Games: Wayfinder (Digital Extreme Ltd. / Playstation 5 and PC), Firefight (Sean O'Conner / Android, iOS and STEAM), Master of Knights- Tactics RPG (Neowiz Games / Android, iOS). A Netflix movie “Kate” commercial that he gave a narration won the Best Internet Commercial Award in 2022 LA American Advertising Awards.
Saori
Goda
Saori Goda was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. In 2009, Saori moved to NY and brushed up on her acting skills at HB studio and Stella Adler. Her TV debut was as Janet Fujimoto on Travel Channel which led to a number of roles in the following years, including Love Your Selfie (NBC), Related Parts’ film A Man Full Of Days, Global Film Network Inc’s film Cocktail Party and Disney Vacation Club Video. Besides, Goda has been appearing on NHK’s North America Cable’s TV Japan Club, has hosted at Carnegie Hall, Cherry Blossom Festivals at BBG and in DC, and also has done voice works for Apple, NFL, Panasonic etc.
George Basley
George grew up in Rockland County, New York, and moved into the city after receiving his degree in fine arts. He first saw Samurai Sword Soul perform in 2012 Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Two years later, he began studying under Yoshi Amao. He made his stage debut in 2018, and looks forward to future performances. George also practices Shanxi Seven Star Praying Mantis under Master Longfei Yang, and has been studying the style since 2015. When he's not practicing martial arts, George teaches high school history and English, coaches debate, and works on writing and game design projects. He continues to commit himself to both teaching and learning.
Philippe Javier Garcesto is proud to make his debut performances with Samurai Sword Soul during the Spring of 2024. He was born in Iloilo City, Philippines and moved to Maplewood, New Jersey in 1993. He earned his BFA from Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2007. He is a mixed media performance artist and Actor. He was recently published in February 2024 with two pieces in "Poetic People Power: Three Spoken Word Shows for Social Change" Award winning compilation courtesy of National Indie Excellence Awards. Most recent film credits include the leading role in Indie Filipino-American Comedy "Filipinos Get Some" and his film stunt performer debut in "Dark Aces". He is a certified Krav Maga instructor and also studies Filipino Martial Arts, Longsword, Quarterstaff, and Saber. He is proud to announce that he will be writing his first One Man Show during an Artist Residency with The Bar Hill Players in July 2024.
www.philippegarcesto.com
Philippe Garcesto
Shiho
Matsuoka
Shiho Matsuoka is an actor/model/singer/gamer based in NYC, originally from Kyoto Japan. Shiho (志保), means to ‘keep the passion’ in Japanese, and she lives up to her name. After working as a producer in journalism for 10 years, she has decided to become a full time actor and joined SSS.
TV/Film credits include WrestleNMania, Zo in Exile and The FunikiJam Show Holiday Specials.
Theatre credits include Off Broadway Funikijam Totally Awesome Summer, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act, Stuffy Fluffy and To Live in Peace.
Natalie
Thomas
Natalie Thomas is proud to be a member of Samurai Sword Soul starting in August 2024 and started performing for the Spring 2025 season. As acting and performance is still a new passion for her, she started out graduating college with a degree in fashion design. After moving to NYC from her hometown of Westfield Indiana, Natalie has worked for several designer brands including Theory, Helmut Lang, and Ralph Lauren.
Later in her career she started skateboarding which led to physical expression through movement. Samurai Sword Soul is the perfect intersection where Natalie can combine her artistic eye with kinetic play. She will be attending Kawashima Textile School for the Summer 2025 International student course to expand her fashion design and will return for more performances in the fall.
Sandy Chase
Sandy Chase went from studying mechanical engineering to touring the world as a professional modern dancer, performing with both MOMIX and Pilobolus. He helped start Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon in 1998, and was certified in Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® by Juliu Horvath. Along the way, he studied Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, earning a second degree black belt, while cross training and competing in Judo. He began training and performing with Samurai Sword Soul in 2010. In his latest incarnation, Sandy is a cinematographer and media producer, working in TV and independent film. He has produced or collaborated with SSS on several exciting film projects. Check out the latest projects at FluidFilm.com
Dom Mancuso
Driven by a deep interest in mixed martial arts, fantasy (especially Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series), sci-fi (Star Wars) and classical and medieval history Dom began training Waki Style Tate under the direction of Yoshi Amao in October 2012. He quickly immersed himself in Japanese swordsmanship and began studying Shinkendo (traditional Japanese swordsmanship) at Modern Samurai Dojo under the direction of Sensei Lou D’Agostino in June 2013.After nearly a year and a half of training Dom made his debut with Samurai Sword Soul in March 2014. Dom’s strong motivation and desire to learn continues to drive him in his study of stage and traditional Japanese swordsmanship.
Kenny
"Nomura"
Fong
Kenny Fong was born in New Jersey. He studies Hung Ga Kung fu under his father, Sifu Bill Fong. He has deep interests in cooking, martial arts as well as acting. When he is not working, he cooks food or he trains his fighting technique. He currently attends the East Brunswick high school as a student. Kenny studies under Yoshi Amao with the Samurai Sword Soul sword fighting. He is motivated to learn more and immerse himself with the knowledge of acting and the arts of fighting.
Musician
Seiichiro Koizumi
Shamisen (Japanese three strings guitar) / Flute
Seiichiro has been a live musician for Samurai Sword Soul since launching the company in 2003. He plays Shamisen (Japanese traditional instrument), Japanese Flute, Hyoushigi (Japanese wooden clapper), and other sound effects. He also plays for some other performance groups and his own. Seiichiro also plays E.guitar and E.bass with: urban gourd psychedelic POP “Small Mountain Path“, hard core experimental heavy rock “YABUHEBI“, and support member of under ground ero-gro hard-core progressive rock. “GELATINE“.
Hirotoshi Umeda
Percussion / Drums
Born in KUMAMOTO, JAPAN is a percussionist and drummer.
He started playing the drums when he was 18 years old and has performed at several Japanese tours, appeared in some festivals.
- From 2006-2010 he performed as a drummer in the Fukuoka band called ALOHA(Japan).
- In 2014 he moved to New York.
Now he joined with Samurai Sword Soul at Sakura Matsuri. And he supports artists of various genres according to their style of music.
Japan
Atsunori Hayamizu
aka Umihei
Umihei was born in Japan. He began his dance training the age of 19. He moved to New York City in 2005 and now is training at Peridance Center. His training includes Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, House, Locking, Poping, Breking, Pilates, Yoga, and Samurai Sword. He is a free-style of overgrand. Umhei performs with various artists and also choreographs his own works. When he is not training at the studio, he is dancing on the streets of New York. He would like to say special thanks from the bottom of his heart to his family, teachers, friends, and all the people of his support. LOVE &PEAE.
to contact Umihei: denace_u-a@hotmail.co.jp
Akira
Ito
Akira Ito was born in Kobe, Japan, and started acting as a member of The Second Theater Company in Osaka. He performed in many productions including Straw Band, Bond In The Twilight, Relaxing Room, Average Man, Where Justice Exists, Kuma-Chaka Pharmacy, and also in a mime performance, Fugue for X and Y. He came to New York in 2008 to study acting and dance. In New York, he has performed as a dancer in Hatch, Evolve Dance Festival, J-summit, Movement Research, as an actor in Samovar at the Bar, Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
Yoichiro
Kawakami
As Radio personality at WALLOP and Smile FM. Learned sword fight by Ei Kawakami.
He was inspired with New York City when he traveled United States by himself. In 2014 he moved to NY to find a New World. And then met Yoshi and joined SSS. He is performing Film, Theater, Voice over, etc...Now his challenge is going on...
For More Info, www.yoichirokawakami.com
An Actor from Japan.
He's performed in the film industry in Japan since 2000. Starting on roles in Youth-H series Making of Love(2010), The sorrows of younger “Lotte”(2012), Hoshi’s long day(2013).
Shunsaku
Yanai
Shunsaku Yanai is a NYC based actor, who was born in Osaka, Japan. After acting training in Tokyo, he decided to moved to NYC in early 2019 and joined Samurai Sword Soul. Shunsaku is also a proficient martial artist with a black belt in karate and stage combat experience. Recently, Shunsaku graduated from The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute® in NYC. Now, he works both in theatre and on-camera industry. Since he was trained in tap dance and musical theatre singing, Shunsaku also performs in musicals as well.Shunsaku has worked on [STAGE] Samurai AI(2019), Samurai Combi(2019), A Christmas Carol(2019), Twilight: Los Angels 1992(2016), and [FILM] One(2019), If The Weather Was Different(2017) Disconnected(2016), [COMMERCIAL] Schick How To Shave(2019) etc. https://www.shunsakuyanai.com
Kaoru
Tani
Kaoru Tani was born in Tokyo. She is a Dancer, Singer, Musical actress and Free style performer. She graduated Acting and Musical Theater major at KANTO International High School. She's been performing in New York since 2017. In addition, she performed at APOLLO Theatre Amateur Night in 2019.Tani joined Samura Swrod Soul in 2018 and debuted at the Branch Brook Park Sakura Matsuri (NJ) and the Brooklyn Sakura Matsuri (NY) as the heroin "Sakura".