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AMAZING GRACE/NBC/1995
**(Shuko Akune) County Clerk who bargains for dates.
ARTHUR GODFREY AND HIS FRIENDS/CBS/1949-59
**(Haleloke) Haleloke, a shy Hawaiian female musician who appeared regularly on
this musical variety program. In April, 1955 she was fired and replaced by a
Japanese girl, Miyoshi Umeki. Umeki later starred on THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S
FATHER as a housekeeper to a widower's small son.
BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP(BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON)/NBC/1976-78
**(Bryon Chung) Captain Tommy Harachi, a Asian-American pilot attached to a
World War II Marine Corps flying unit known as the Black Sheep Squadron
stationed in the South Pacific.
BABYLON 5/SYN/1994-98
**(Julia Nickson) Catherine Sakai, planetary scout, owner and pilot of the scout
ship Skydancer and on-again, off-again romance of Babylon 5 Commander Jeffrey
Sinclair. Also appearing for a time was Lt. Commander Laurel Takashima (Tamlyn
Tomita), Vice-Commander, of Babylon 5 who was later transferred and replaced by
Russian born Lt. commander, Susan Ivanova. Takashima had formerly worked at Mars
Colony Security after graduating from the academy. Other Japanese characters
mentioned were Captain Yoshi Kawagawa, commander of the E.A.S. Nemesis; Taro
Isogi (James Shigeta), Chief Executive Officer of FutureCorp; and Senator
Hidoshi, Earth senator and liaison to Babylon 5 in 2258 who was later voted out
of office and replaced by Ronald Quantrill in 2259.
BARNEY MILLER/ABC/1975-82
**(Jack Soo) Detective Nick Yemana, a sleepy-eyed Japanese-American police
detective who worked at the 12 precinct located in New York's Greenwich Village
area. Jack Soo's last episode was in October of 1978. He died in January, 1979
and later in May of that year a special episode was filmed, dedicated to the
memory of his character Det. Yemana. At the end of the tribute all officers
raised their coffee mugs in a final toast and tender gesture of farewell. (Det.
Yemana was known for making terrible coffee). In real life, Jack Soo had spent
most of WWII in a Japanese internment camp.
BEVERLY HILLS 90210/FOX/1990-2000
**(Lindsay Price) Janet Sosna, the Japanese-American wife of Steve Sanders, the
adopted white son of TV actress Samantha Sanders, the star of “Hartley House. On
episode #224 “Ready or Not” Janet first appears in the recurring role as Janet
Sosna when she is hired as an assistant for Brandon and Steve. who run a
magazine called The Beat. Janet officially joined the cast on episode #242.
Janet and Steve investigate a "haunted house," get locked inside a refrigerator
and have sex.. On episode #258 “Slipping Away, Janet hides her relationship with
Steve from her father, who only wants her to date Japanese men. After Steve
professes his love, Janet tells her father the truth and gets thrown out of the
house. Although her Japanese parents Ben (James Shigeta) and Michelle Sosna
(Leslie Ishii) at first did not approve of her marrying a Caucasian, their
hearts melted when they saw their interracial grandchild, Madeline “Maddy.”
Janet later turns down a job at the magazine Nouveau and agrees to start a new
magazine with her husband [so she could spend more time with her baby girl].
Lindsay Price also appeared as Michael Lai on the 1995-97 season of The Bold and
the Beautiful and as An Li Chen during the 1991-1993 seasons of All My Children.
Born in Arcadia, California, Lindsay’s family roots include a Korean mother and
a German Irish father.
BLANSKY'S BEAUTIES/ABC/1977
**(Noriyuki Pat Morita) Arnold Takahashi, a Japanese-American businessman
operating a coffee-shop at the Oasis Hotel in Las Vegas. Morita played a similar
character of the same name on the situation comedy HAPPY DAYS/ABC/1974-84.
BOSTON COMMON/NBC/1996-97
**(Amy Hill) Mrs. Sakini, plump, middle-aged Japanese-American executive
secretary working for Harrison Cross, a British-accented President of Harrington
College in Boston, Massachusetts. During “The Occidental Purists” episode to
satisfy the multicultural casting needs of the school play “The Tea Ceremony,”
Mrs. Sakini, was reluctantly recruited to play the role of a 16-year-old
Japanese girl named Lotus Flower.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS/NBC/1979
**(Marilyn Tokuda) Yoko, Japanese college student who lived at the Gamma Iota
Sorority, at Larry Krandall College in Pennsylvania.
BURKE'S LAW/ABC/1963-66
**(Leon Lontoc) Henry, oriental manservant and chauffeur who drove Los Angeles
millionaire police detective, Captain Amos Burke. Henry often drove his employer
to the scene of a crime in a Rolls Royce. When the series was revised on ABC
from 1993-95 Danny Kamekona appeared in the role of Henry.
THE BURNING ZONE/UPN/1996-97
*(Tamlyn Tomita/costar) Dr. Kimberly Shiroma, a Japanese-American scientist
teamed to a squad of special researchers who track down and contain new strains
of viruses threatening to wipe out mankind.
CHICKEN SOUP/ABC/1989
**(Skiko Akune) Helen, a Japanese social worker working at the Henry Settlement
House in New York City.
CITY/CBS/1990
**(Rodney Ueno) Chuck, Asian mail room clerk working in the mayor's office of an
unnamed metropolis.
THE CLOSER/CBS/1999
**(Suzy Nakamura) Beverly Andolini, Asian female with an Italian surname working
for an advertising agency owned by Jack McLaren.
THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER/ABC/1969-72
*(Miyoshi Umeki/costar) Mrs. Livingston, a soft-spoken, philosophical Japanese
housekeeper who cared for Thomas Corbett, a widower publisher and his small son,
Eddie. Sometimes confused by American customs she asked advice from "Mr. Eddie's
father" as she called her employer. In her spare time Mrs. Livingston attended
night classes to improve her English.
DADDIO/NBC/2000
**(Suzy Nakamura) Holly Martin, Asian suburban wife and mother-to-be who never
misses an opportunity to remind a neighborhood stay-at-home father, Chris Woods
(a.k.a. “Daddio”) just how tough parenting can be. She attends meetings at a
local “Mommies Club.”
DAVIS RULES!/ABC/1991-92
**(Tamayo Otsuki) Mrs. Elaine Yamagami, a Japanese assistant principal working
for Pomahoc Elementary School near Seattle, Washington. Mrs. Yamagami's had
thick accent and was always talking about the differences between people in
Japan and America. Kristi Murakami played her daughter, Nickki.
THE DEVLIN CONNECTION/NBC/1982
*(Takayo) Mrs. Watanabe, the efficient Japanese housekeeper and cook of Brian
Devlin, a former intelligence officer who now ran the Los Angeles Cultural Arts
Center.
DICK TRACY/SYN/1961
*(Cartoon Character) Joe Jitsu (voice of Mel Blanc/Paul Frees) an oriental
policeman working with Dick Tracy nabbing such crooks as Sketch Paree, the Mole,
Itchy, Flat Top and Prune Face. His wrist radio call sign was "six, two and
even... over and out". This character was an extreme stereotype of an Asian with
large protruding teeth, heavy black-rimmed glasses and a derby hat. His slurred
vocabulary was filled with "Rots of Ruk" type phrases.
E/R/CBS/1984-85
**(Shuko Akune) Maria Amardo, a lazy Japanese-American receptionist with a smart
mouth who worked at a Chicago-based emergency room at Clark Street Hospital.
ER/NBC/1994+
**(Gedde Watnabe) Yosh Takata, Japanese nurse working at Cook County Hospital in
Chicago. His character was introduced during the 1997-98 season.
FOREVER KNIGHT/CBS/SYN/1989-1996
**(Natsuko Ohama) Captain Amanda Cohen, Asian-American police officer who
supervised homicide detectives on the nightshift of a Seattle police department.
Her character later died in a plane crash.
GUNG HO/ABC/1986
*(Gedde Watanabe) "Kaz" Kazuhiro, a Japanese manager stationed at the Assan
Motors automotive plant in Hadleyville, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Other
cast included Patti Yasutake as Kaz's wife, Umeki; Sab Shimono as Kaz's
assistant, Saito; Emily K. Kuroda as Saito's wife, Yukiko; Rodney Kageyama as
Ito; and Scott Atari as Kenji. The series was based on the Ron Howard film "Gung
Ho" (1985) about a group of Japanese businessman who participated in a joint
American-Japanese automotive plant venture.
HAPPY DAYS/ABC/1974-84
**(Noriyuki Pat Morita) Matsuo Takahashi, aka "Arnold," a Japanese-American
owner of a 1950s Milwaukee Drive-in hamburger joint called "Arnold's, the after
school hang-out for the teenagers of Jefferson High School. When he bought the
restaurant it was called Arnold's and so to save money, this Japanese-American
entrepreneur decided not to rename the restaurant to save on the cost of buying
a new sign. Arnold later sold the restaurant to a jovial, easy-going
Italian-American named Al Delvecchio who also retained the name of the
restaurant.
HASHIMOTO/NBC/1963-65
*(Animated Cartoon) Hashimoto, a Japanese mouse trained in the art of Judo who
was the star of a cartoon within a cartoon (component series) on THE HECTOR
HEATHCOTE SHOW/NBC/1963-65. The character which premiered in the theatrical
release HASHIMOTO SAN (Oct. 1959) was created by Bob Kuwahara. The cartoon told
stories of Japan and featured Hashimoto, his wife and their children Yuriko and
Saburo. Voices supplied by John Myers.
HAWAIIAN HEAT/ABC/1984
**(Mako) Major Taro Oshira, a Japanese-American police officer responsible for
supervising two Chicago street cops new to the Hawaiian Islands. Also featured
were bikini clad beauties Leila Hee Olsen as Leila; Tina Marie Machako as Tina;
and Julie Marie Olsen as Julie.
HEROES/NBC/2006+
*(Masi Oka) Hiro Nakamura, Japanese business executive who learns that he
has the ability to stop and travel through time. With the help of a samurai
sword once owned by a heroic samurai, Takezo Kensei, Hiro must fulfill his mission ("Save the Cheerleader and Save the World) and
prevent the destruction of New York City. Hiro's sidekick is his business
companion Ando Mashahasi (James Kyson Lee) who followed Hiro from Japan to
battle evil. Hiro uses a mystical comic book whose panels reveal Hiro's moves.
George Takei (who played Ensign Hikaru Sulu on the classic sci-fi series STAR
TREK), plays Hiro's father, a powerful Japanese business man who is a master of
the Samurai sword. He teaches his son how to use the blade so he can vanquish
his enemies.
HEY LANDLORD!/NBC/1966-67
**(Miko Mayama) Kyoko Mitsui, a Japanese woman who shares an upstairs apartment
with her roommate Timothy "Timmi" Morgan in a ten-room brownstone apartment
house owned by Woodrow "Woody" Banner.
HOUSE OF BUGGIN'/FOX/1995
*(John Leguizamo) Kogi, an arrogant Japanese talk show host featured on this
half-hour comedy sketch show.
ISLAND SON/CBS/1989-90
**(Clyde Kusatsu) Kenji Fushida, an amiable Japanese-American Chief of Surgery
who worked as a physician at Kamehameha Medical Center in Honolulu .with Dr.
Daniel Kulani, the adopted son of Hawaiian parents.
JOHNNY MIDNIGHT/SYN/1960
**(Yuki Shimoda) Aki, Japanese houseboy of New York private detective, Johnny
Midnight. Aki politely addressed his employer as "Mr Johnny Midnight."
THE KARATE KID/NBC/1989-90
*(Cartoon Character) Miyagi (voice of Pat Morita), a sage oriental from Okinawa,
Japan with martial arts skills who originally worked as an apartment handyman in
Southern California. This animated cartoon based on the motion picture The
Karate Kid (1984) and two sequel films, followed Miyagi and his student
Daniel as they traveled about the world in search of a religious artifact with
mystic powers. They were accompanied by an Okinawan girl named Taki.
THE LAST RESORT/CBS/1979-80
**(John Fujioka) Kevin, a Japanese chef working at a Catskill Mountain resort
who often feigned ignorance of the English language when it suited his fancy.
MAGNUM, P.I./CBS/1980-88
**(Kwan Hi Lim) Lt. Tanaka, Japanese-American police detective based in Honolulu
who often crossed paths with private detective, Thomas Magnum during the 1982-88
seasons.
MARKER/UPN/1995
*(Keone Young/costar) Mr. Tacheo Mochidomi (a.k.a. Moch), the business assistant
of Joseph Rhoades, the owner of the Hawaiian Rose Hotel. When Rhoades died, Moch
advised Rhoades' sole heir Richard DeMorra on his family's legacy and
responsibilities. Andy Bumatai appeared as Danny "Pipeline" Kahala, a local
surfer and hustler who spouted off Hawaiian myths.
MCHALE'S NAVY/ABC/1962-66
**(Yoshio Yoda) Fuji Kobiaji, an AWOL Japanese soldier living with the American
navy crew of the PT Boat # 73 near the Island of Taratupa in the South Pacific
during World War II. Fuji, a Seaman Third Calss in the Imperial Japanese navy,
was the opposite of his zealot kamakazi countrymen. Choosing not to be sent to a
POW camp, he befriended his American captors and became their chief cook and
bottle washer, living in constant threat of being discovered by outsiders. When
Lt. Cdr. McHale and his men were transfered to the European Front (Italy), Fuji
followed, incognito, of course.
MR. BROADWAY/CBS/1964
**(Lani Miyazaki) Toki, an efficient and very beautiful Japanese-American girl
Friday employed by successful public relations man.
MR. T. AND TINA/ABC/1976
*(Noriyuki Pat Morita) Taro Takahashi ("Mr. T"), brilliant Japanese inventor who
transferred from Tokyo to Chicago with his family which included Pat Suzuki as
his sister-in-law, Michi; "Jerry" Hatsuo Fujikawa as Uncle Matsu; June Angela as
his daughter, Sachi; and Gene Profanato as his son, Aki. His
household was run by a Nebraska born "Tina" Kelly.
MURPHY'S LAW/ABC/1988-89
*(Maggie Han/costar) Kimiko Fannuchi, a beautiful Eurasian fashion model who
lived in San Francisco loft apartment with Daedalus Patrick Murphy, a lovable,
but alcoholic insurance investigator. Kimiko's father was Italian; her mother
was Japanese. In 1985, Maggie Han played Cindy Rhee, a beautiful Asian female in
the miniseries James A. Michener's Space.
A-M /
N - Z
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