Masashi Ishibashi (actor)

In 1978, Ishibashi appeared in Fuji TV's Ōrusutā kazoku taikō utagassen [ja], where his personality was evaluated by Kinichi Hagimoto, who also hosted the show. In 1979, he made a regular appearance in the TV Asashi's variety show Kinchan'nodokomadeyaruno! [ja], where he played the role of a neighbor of the house where Kinichi Hagimoto's character lives.

He had a starring role in the 1974 Sonny Chiba vehicle The Street Fighter. He had been chosen to play the role of "Tateki Shikenbaru", by the recommendation of Sonny Chiba, based of the experiences in the prior movie. He was also stunt coordinator directing all the fighting scenes at the request of the leading Chiba and director Shigehiro Ozawa.

Ishibashi had significant presence in television productions like NHK's Taiga drama series, The Unfettered Shogun, Hissatsu series and Nashonaru gekijō [jp]. He also had frequent roles in various 1970s and 1980s Tokusatsu TV series, most notably in Super Sentai series. His movie career was mostly specialized in martial arts movies and crime dramas. One of his best known starring roles in the west is the role of the villain Tateki Shikenbaru, a.k.a. "Junjo", in the Sonny Chiba vehicle The Street Fighter.

Most of Ishibashi's acting career is focused on Television work. His first movie role was in the 1970 Toho film Yajūtoshi (野獣都市), based on the 1961 novel by Haruhiko Oyabu [ja]. He had his career breakthrough in the 1973 action film Bodigaado Kiba: Hissatsu sankaku tobi starring Sonny Chiba, playing an antagonist role against the main character.

Since then, Ishibashi was active in Toei Company's Martial arts films and action dramas during the 1970s. Ishibashi was also Sonny Chiba's Kyokushin instructor at the Oyama Dojo. Ishibashi also taught karate at the Japan Action Club [ja] founded by Chiba.

He married in 1963 and has a son. His own blog states that he is practicing his karate while also training his juniors, and often posted his own haikus.

On the stage, he had roles in the plays Sono hito o shirazu (その人を知らず) (1957) and honō no hito (炎の人) (1958). After leaving Bungakuza in 1964, he became active in TV dramas and movies.

In 1956, at the same time as graduating from university, he joined a Bungakuza-affiliated Theater Institute and went on to become an actor. Eventually, he became a member of the Bungakuza theater company proper, but he also worked as greengrocer, a pachinko parlor clerk, and a laborer on the side. As Ishibashi had been practicing Goju-Ryu style of Karate since he was a school student, he was hired by Mas Oyama as a Karate Instructor for his Oyama Dojo and the Kyokushin Kaikan, earning his living expenses that way as well.

Ishibashi is one of Oyama's so-called legends and was often asked to show the "10-yen coin bending" at Oyama's Karate demonstrations. Ishibashi was also present in witnessing Mas Oyama fighting the 550 kg bull at the Denen Coliseum in November 1956. He is also a "kotei" of Oyama. Many of Oyama's students under the guidance of Ishibashi later played the role furthering the International Karate Organization.

Masashi Ishibashi (石橋雅史, Ishibashi Masashi, January 4, 1933 – December 19, 2018), was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Ishibashi had a extensive career in Japanese television, where was famous as portraying villains in historical dramas, in roles such as bad lieutenants, shifty merchants, yakuza, bandits, and corrupt priests.