Mako
Known for: Acting
Mako was born in Kobe, Japan, the son of noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the United States when he was a small child. He joined them there after World War II, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1956. When Mako first joined his parents in the USA, he studied architecture. During his military service, he discovered his theatrical talent, and trained at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Mako was married to actress Shizuko Hoshi with whom he had two daughters (both are actresses) and three grandchildren.
Filmography
Series
Monk
Master Zi
2002
Series
Columbo
Kanji Ousu
1971
Series
Supertrain
Kirby Yamashida
1979
Series
Frasier
Sam Tanaka
1993
Series
The West Wing
Dr. Yosh Takahashi
1999
Series
JAG
Ichiro Higashimori
1995
Series
M*A*S*H
Major Choi
1972
Series
Diagnosis: Murder
Lee Moy
1993
Series
Ironside
Phil Tsang
1967
Series
Magnum, P.I.
Tozan
1980
Series
Mannix
Tami Okada
1967
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Kazuo Tahashi
1969
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee / Performer
1956
Series
Love, American Style
Jack
1969
Series
The A-Team
Pastry Chef
1983
Series
Quincy, M.E.
John Moroshima
1976
Series
Quincy, M.E.
Mr. Yamaguchi
1976
Series
American Playhouse
Mike
1982
Series
American Playhouse
Nobu Matsumoto
1982
Series
I Dream of Jeannie
Kato
1965
Series
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Iroh (voice)
2005
Series
Walker, Texas Ranger
Dr. Henry Lee
1993
Series
Walker, Texas Ranger
Edward Song
1993
Series
The Big Valley
Wong Lo
1965
Series
The Facts of Life
Mr. Wakamatsu
1979
Series
The Incredible Hulk
Li Sung
1977
Series
The Equalizer
Jimmy Thanarat
1985
Series
The F.B.I.
Yoshimura
1965
Series
The F.B.I.
Angry Youth (uncredited)
1965
Series
Samurai Jack
Aku (voice)
2001
Series
7th Heaven
Henry Muranaka
1996
Series
Burke's Law
Happy Tuava
1963
Series
Burke's Law
Pete
1963
Series
77 Sunset Strip
Ito Nakayama
1958
Series
Tour of Duty
Tran
1987
Series
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
The Ancient One (voice)
2002
Series
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Li Sung
1993
Series
McHale's Navy
1962
Series
McHale's Navy
Lt. Sakawa
1962
Series
Martial Law
Master Reng
1998
Series
Duck Dodgers
Happy Cat (voice)
2003
Series
Duck Dodgers
Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)
2003
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Gardener / Minister
1982
Series
The Time Tunnel
Lt. Nakamura
1966
Series
Room 222
1969
Series
Wonder Woman
Mr. Brown
1975
Series
The Greatest American Hero
Master of Flowers
1981
Series
Spenser: For Hire
1985
Series
F Troop
Samurai Warrior
1965
Series
Lovejoy
Toshiro Tanaka
1986
Series
The Green Hornet
Low Sing
1966
Series
Arrest and Trial
Kyoto
1963
Film
Pearl Harbor
Admiral Yamamoto
2001
Series
Voyagers!
1982
Film
Conan the Barbarian
The Wizard
1982
Film
Memoirs of a Geisha
Sakamoto
2005
Series
Gidget
1965
Series
The Lloyd Bridges Show
Akai Takahashi
1962
Series
Flamingo Road
1981
Series
Ensign O'Toole
Yamada, Jr.
1962
Film
TMNT
Splinter (voice)
2007
Series
The Gallant Men
1962
Film
Seven Years in Tibet
Kungo Tsarong
1997
Film
Conan the Destroyer
Akiro 'The Wizard'
1984
Series
The Paradise Club
Mr. Yamamoto
1989
Series
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
2004
Series
Bring 'Em Back Alive
1982
Film
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Jimmy
1988
Series
Anna and the King
Sanum
1972
Film
Highlander III: The Sorcerer
Nakano
1994
Series
Paradise
Kao
1988
Series
Black Sash
Master Li
2003
Film
Rising Sun
Yoshida-san
1993
Film
RoboCop 3
Kanemitsu
1993
Series
A Man Called Sloane
Tanaka
1979
Series
Supercarrier
1988
Series
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
2000
Series
Platypus Man
Mr. Loo
1995
Film
Pacific Heights
Toshio Watanabe
1990
Film
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
2000
Film
Crying Freeman
Shudo Shimazaki
1995
Film
Bulletproof Monk
Mr. Kojima
2003
Film
Sidekicks
Mr. Lee
1992
Film
The Sand Pebbles
Po-han
1966
Film
Taking Care of Business
Mr. Sakamoto
1990
Film
The Big Brawl
Herbert
1980
Visions
1976
Series
Khan!
1975
Film
Rise: Blood Hunter
Poe
2007
Film
The Perfect Weapon
Kim
1991
Series
Hawaiian Heat
Maj. Taro Oshira
1984
Film
An Eye for an Eye
James Chan
1981
Mr. T and Tina
1976
Film
Testament
Mike
1983
Film
Girls of the White Orchid
Mori
1983
Film
P.O.W. The Escape
Capt. Vinh
1986
Film
A Dangerous Place
Sensei
1994
Film
The Island at the Top of the World
Oomiak
1974
Lost at Home
2003
Film
The Killer Elite
Yuen Chung
1975
Film
Never So Few
Soldier in Hospital
1959
Series
Kung Fu
Wong Ti Lu
1972
Film
Sworn to Justice
Mr. Young
1996
Film
Alegría
Old Momo
1999
Film
The Ugly Dachshund
Kenji
1966
Film
The Great Bank Robbery
Secret Agent Fong
1969
Film
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders
Tao Gan
1974
Film
The Bushido Blade
Enjiro
1981
Film
The Bird People in China
Shen
1998
Film
Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie
Aku (voice)
2017
Film
Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes
Sgt. Moritaki
1990
Film
Red Sun Rising
Buntoro Iga
1994
Film
Silence
Kichijiro
1971
Film
The Slanted Screen
Himself
2006
Film
Kung Fu: The Movie
The Manchu
1986
Film
Harsh Canvas: The Art & Life of Henry Sugimoto
Self - Voice of Henry Sugimoto
2001
Film
The Hawaiians
Mun Ki
1970
Film
Midnight Man
Buun Som
1995
Film
Yokahama Mama
Rooster (voice)
1972
Film
Under the Rainbow
Nakomuri
1981
Film
The Nightingale
Gardener / Minister
1983
Film
When Hell Was in Session
Maj. Bai
1979
Film
Strawberry Road
Frank Machida
1991
Film
The Streets of San Francisco
Kenji
1972
Film
McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
1965
Film
Pacific Overtures
Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
1976
Film
Riot
Mr. Lee
1997
Film
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
1968
Film
The Green Hornet
Low Sing
1974
Film
Armed Response
Akira Tanaka
1986
Film
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
The Wizard (archive footage)
2000
Film
The Last Ninja
Aitaro Sakura
1983
Film
Hito Hata: Raise the Banner
Oda
1980
Film
Fools
Psychiatrist
1970
Film
The Challenge
Yuro
1970
Film
Balance of Power
Todo Matsumoto
1996
Film
If Tomorrow Comes
Tadashi
1971
Maid in Akihabara
2005
Film
Cruel Game
Straw Hat
2002
Film
The Sea Wolf
1997
Film
Wataridori: Birds of Passage
Narrator
1976
Film
The Wash
Nobu Matsumoto
1988
Film
Anatomy of a Song
1976
Film
Silent Assassins
Oyama
1988
Film
The Accomplice
Santos
1999
Film
Murder in Paradise
Capt. Kilalo
1990
Film
My Samurai
1992
Film
Farewell to Manzanar
Fukimoto
1976
Film
Hawaiian Heat
Maj. Taro Oshira
1984
Film
Genndy's Scrapbook: The Story of Genndy Tartakovsky
Self/Narrator
2005
Film
Prisoners
Sgt. Nguyen
1975
Film
Fatal Mission
Trang
1990
Film
Nightingale
Narrator (voice)
1992
Film
An Unremarkable Life
Max Chin
1989
Film
Cages
Tan
2007
Film
Karate Sensei
Narrator
1975