Koyamada became best known worldwide for his film debut co-starring with Tom Cruise in The
Last Samurai, which was nominated for Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two
National Board of Review Awards, with a worldwide box office of $456 million. Koyamada
starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, which
received the highest rated kids channel in Japan, U.K. and Europe. In addition, he is also well
known for producing numerous movies, shows, comics and video games through his production
company Shinca Entertainment since 2005.
In addition to his prominent work in Hollywood, Koyamada became eminent for his longtime
global philanthropic efforts in youth leadership, international education, humanitarian aid,
gender equality and sports diplomacy. Since 2008, most of his efforts are achieved through
Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), an international ngos with its national chapter
members around the world and global partners such as UN agencies. Koyamada is an
Executive Committee member and National Board of Directors of Sister Cities International, the
world's largest citizen diplomacy organization representing over 500 member cities, counties,
states with over 2,000 sister cities partnerships in 130 countries.
Koyamada is Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Ambassador for Karate. Koyamada holds black
belts in Japanese and Korean martial arts, and won U.S. national championships in Chinese
martial arts. Koyamada immigrated from Japan to the United States in June 2000. He is
bilingual in Japanese and English.