Website And Trailer For OYAJI With Sonny Chiba

You know, I could've sworn that Sonny Chiba announced his impending retirement from the film industry after a long and illustrious career not so long ago but either I'm delusional or this one was committed to before he arrived at that decision. Titled Oyaji - which translates basically as Old Man - this represents a major change of pace for how we're used to seeing the former Street Fighter star on this side of the ocean, with Chiba taking on a straight dramatic role as the titular old man in this drama about a family struck by tragedy. Well, it's a change of pace until he starts beating guys with a shovel and metal pipe but I'd say calling this an action film by any definition would be a significant stretch. The website is now online, complete with trailer.

Mack tells me that Chiba's retirement is from action film only and that he is retiring the Shinichi Chiba moniker. He'll continue with dramatic roles under his proper Japanese name (Sadaho Maeda) and also with international roles as Sonny Chiba.