Biography
YOSHI AMAO Biography
Photo by Antonio M. Rosario
Since arriving in New York from Nara, Japan, in 1990, Yoshi Amao has been entertaining audience as an actor, emcee, and samurai martial artist.
After studying under the samurai master, Tahei Waki, Yoshi formed a unique performance group, Samurai Sword Soul (SSS) in 2003. He has been seeking for the spirit of samurai and ultimate sword fighting, and performing all over the world.
As a samurai artist, he was cast for the main role of the TV series, "Samurai Sportsman" (OLN, 2003) and invited as a guest for "The late night with Conan O'Brien" (NBC, 2004), Monday Night Football Promo. Also performed the main role, “Rogue” of "Deadly She-Wolf, Assassin at Armageddon!" at Japan Society NYC, 2005 in Mandell Theater, Philadelphia in 2006, and La MaMa Theater in 2013, which was highly acclaimed as an actor and a co-choreographer by New York Times.
On the other hand, he has been hosting a lot of events and game shows on TV in US and Europe such as "Big In Japan" for Greece, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal in 2008-2009, and “Japanizi Going Going Gong” (Disney XD) in 2013. He also has been emceeing the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri as well as Washington DC.
Yoshi also has been doing a lot of voice over works for TV/Radio programs, commercials, and corporate videos, etc.
FILM
My Daughter Yoshiko Hideyo 7 awarded in Film Festivals, Brian Blum, Dir.
Nippon FM 92.1 DJ Nao Takeru Thile
The Beaver Japanese Businessman #1 Jodie Foster, Dir.
Beneath Fiery Skies Ichii Cannes Film Festival, Nick and Adam Hayes, Dir.
An Ideal Marriage Yoshiro Watanabe Ted Sharks, Dir.
Save the underprivileged Photographer Yoshi Ted Sharks, Dir.
Ordinary Days Yoshi Takashi Horie, Dir.
A Man Full of Days Good Samaritan Enrico Cullen, Dir.
8:46 Ken Yoshida Jennifer Azano, Dir.
Ai Yoshizo (Principal) Raffi Asdourian, Dir.
A Samurai’s Story Genzo (Principle) Ittisak Eu-A.(NYFA), Dir.
Sleepy Heads Shun(a.k.a. Snakey Mao) Yoshifumi Hosoya, Dir.
Labor Pains Father (Day Player) Tracy Alexson, Dir.
Father of Mine Shiro Shimura (Principal) Aaron Mcfarlane, Dir.
TELEVISION
SHOGUN Sera (Guest Star) FX, Emmanuel Osei- Kuffour, Dir.
Mr. Robot Limousine Driver USA, Sam Esmail, Dir.
Blacklist Cab Driver NBC
Billions Samurai SHOW
White Collar Eye Patch (Chinese Gangster) USA
Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon Opening Host (April fool Prank) NBC
Samurai Sportsman Main (TV Series/13 Episodes) OLN, Rob Fruchtman, Dir.
Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien Myself (Guest) NBC
Monday Night Football Promo Samurai (Main) ESPN
Shinobi Girl Samurai Spirit Hulu, John Sirabella, Dir.
MTV2 Promotion Video Traditional & Modern Samurai MTV2
Today Show Samurai Performer NBC
Saturday Night Live Waiter for Halle Berry NBC
NewsInterviews SamuraiMaster ABC/NY1/FOX TV
HOST/EMCEE
Made in Japao Co-Host for Sabrina Sato RecordTV(Brazil), Eugenia Ruggeri, Dir.
Japanizi Going Going Gong Main Host Disney XD, Rene Dowhaniuk, Dir.
Big in Japan Main Host (4 countries) Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Denmark
Cherry Blossom Festival Main Host (since 2003) Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Washington DC,
Philadelphia
Memorial Ceremony for 911 Main Host Japan Society
JAM(Japan Arts Matsuri) Main Host Theater for the New York City
Ramen Contest Main Host Japan Street Festival
NY Cross-Industrial Party Main Host Janet, G-Labo
Quiz Show at Atlanta Main Host TV Japan
MBS Midnight Club Radio Personality MBS Radio, Japan
THEATER
Chushingura 47 Ronin Okado Denpachiro A.R.T./New York Theatres
Arai Kageyu, Nakamura
Deadly She-wolf Assassin Rogue (Main)/ La MaMa Theater, Sonoko Kawahara, Dir.
at Armageddon Choreographer Japan Society (NY) & Mandell Theateer
Utsuyo Kakuryo Izo Tachibana Theater HERE
Gekiryu Toshimitsu Theater DNA
Scattered Lives (Fringe NYC) Genji The Robert Moss Theater
The Soul of Samurai Masayuki Sasa Miller Theater, Columbia Univ., Tahei Waki, Dir.
The Karaoke Show Angelsan Project 400 (Off Broadway Show)
Cannibal the musical! Indian Chief Saturday Player Production
NY Nippon Republic Main (5 Roles) Jane Street 2R
PERFORMANCE
Target Free Thursday David Rubenstein Atrium of Lincoln replica rolexCenter
An Evening with Samurai Embassy of Japan, WDC,
The first Japanese Delegation 1869 Museum of the City of New York
Cherry Blossom Festival Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Washington DC, Branch Brook New Jersey, Mill River Park Stamford, Atlanta, Springfield, Cansas City, MO, etc.
All of them were done by Samurai Sword Soul.
For more info, Click HERE
Second Generation Concert Chorus Carnegie Hall
Amateure Night Comedy Rapper Apollo Theater