Yukari Oshima

Yukari Ōshima (大島ゆかり, Ōshima Yukari, born December 31, 1963) is a Japanese 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
大島ゆかり
Born
Yukari Tsumura

(1963-12-31) December 31, 1963
Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Other namesCynthia Luster
Occupation(s)Actress, martial artist
Years active1984–2005
2011–present
Spouse(s)Mark Cheng (1991–1995)
Philip Ko (1995-2017)

Biography

Born Yukari Tsumura (津村ゆかり, Tsumura Yukari) 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

Television

Film
Year English title Original title Role Notes Ref.
International Philippines
1984 Chodenshi Baioman the Movie 超電子バイオマン Farrah Cat
1986 Millionaires Express China Warriors 富貴列車 Samurai [2]
A Book of Heroes Fight to Win Again 歡樂龍虎榜 Yamashita's fighter [3]
The Funny Family 頑皮家族 Tempura
Kung Fu Wonder Child 靈幻童子 Hai Chiu Hse
1987 Angel 天使行動 Madame Yeung / Sue (English version)
1989 Final Run 目中無人 Mon Ta Yee-Wa
Burning Ambition 龍之爭霸 Chau Siao-Tao
Close Escape 飛越危牆 Migi
Lucky Seven 2 7小福 2
Framed 沉底鱷 Kitty Li
A Punch to Revenge 十面埋伏
1990 Never Say Regret 無悔行動
Outlaw Brothers 最佳賊拍檔 Tequila
Angel's Mission 先發制人 Hing-tse
Brave Young Girls 黑海霸王花 Lady Overlord
Midnight Angel 午夜天使 Ying
That's Money 越軌行動 Typist
1991 The Godfather's Daughter Mafia Blues 烈火情仇 Amy Lee
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky 力王 Huang Chaun
Spiritually a Cop 駁腳差佬
Angel Force 天使特警 Arms Trafficker
The Angels 天使風雲
Ghost's Love 雲雨生死戀 Kicking policewoman
Devil Cat 貓變 Black Cat
The Story of the Gun 黑星風雲 Lin Ho-Hung
Dreaming the Reality 夢醒血未停
Gambling Ghost Are Ready 賭鬼總動員
  • 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 (also known as The Best of Lady Kickboxers,[4] 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)[5]
  • 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)[6]
  • 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)[7]
  • 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

Citations
  1. Macuja, Lista (March 24, 2014). "5 memorable movie "imports"". www.starcinema.abs-cbn.com. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. "2nd Action-Packed Day!". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. 21 August 1987. p. 9. Retrieved 23 August 2020. The Fiercest Encounter of Martial Arts Experts in a Gigantic Movie!
  3. "Opens Today". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. 25 August 1987. p. 13. Retrieved 28 September 2020. In 1986, we introduced Chuck Norris' student Cindy Rothrock[.] Now in 1987, we are proud to present Bruce Lee's top female student[:] Cynthia Luster)
  4. "Grand Opening Today!". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. April 30, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved 24 April 2021. The super combination of the three LADY MASTERS of KICKBOXING in the most HARD-KICKING MOVIE of the YEAR!
  5. 大島由加里 (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  6. Gold Rush at HK cinemagic
  7. 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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