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3 June 2024

Welcome to Japanifornia's J-Wiki where we track Japanese American (Nikkei) character actor's appearances in the early days of Asian Representation—some good, some cringe, but all interesting. See our listings for shows like M*A*S*H or Hawaii Five-O from the 1960s and 1970s.

Coming Soon: Ultraman: Rising (TV Show), co-directed by John Aoshima, starring Christopher Sean and featuring voice acting from Tamlyn Tomita, Rob Fukuzaki, Gedde Watanabe, and Keone Young. Also Artt Butler, Karen Maruyama, Mayumi Yoshida

Check Out: X-Men 97 (TV Show)

Hāfu Explore the fascinating world of people (and characters) who are half Japanese. Click to dive into stories, profiles, and more.	Nikkei Discover the lives of those with Japanese ancestry born or living long-term outside Japan. A treasure trove of heritage and culture awaits.	Gaijin in Japan Meet the non-Japanese adventurers living in Japan. Click to uncover their stories, experiences, and unique perspectives.
Nihonjin in the West Japanese born in Japan who have made their mark in the West. Click to see achievements and stories from around the globe.	Japanifornia Locations Explore fictional locations in the Japanifornia Universe. Click to discover iconic settings from games, movies, and more.	Nikkei who were Interned Learn about notable Japanese Americans interned during WWII. Click for stories of resilience, history, and legacy.
The 1970s The Age of Independence: TV on a strict schedule, vinyl music, and kids roaming free. Click to relive the 1970s glory.	The 1980s The Cable Age: Endless channels and mix tapes. Click to explore the 1980s with its iconic pop culture and tech.	The 1990s The Console Age: Digital rise, flannel fashion, and CDs. Click to dive into the 1990s with its alternative vibes.

Suggested Starting Points:

• Japanese Comic Book Characters
• Japanese in American Pop Culture

We tend to follow rabbit holes for Japanese and Japanese American character actors from the 70s and 80s.

Japanifornia Icons

• Miyoshi Umeki the first Eastr-Asian actor to win an Academy Award for her role in Sayonara in 1957.
• Larry Shinoda, a Japanese American car designer who designed the Chevrolet Corvette and the Ford Mustang.
• Yuri Kochiyama an American Civil Rights activist who worked with Malcom X in Harlem.
• Hiroshi Fujiwara, the Godfather of Streetwear from Japan, who collaborated with Tinker Hatfield and Mark Parker at Nike to produce the HTM sub-brand.
• Steve Yano, who with Dr. Dre and Tony A. Da Wizard, produced and sold the Roadium Mixed Tapes at Roadium Swap Meet in Gardena, California in the early 1980s.
• Wataru Misaka broke the color barrier in professional basketball when he played three games for the New York Knicks in 1947.
• Sessue Hayakawa was a Japanese actor and matinee idol during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s.
• Sono Osato was a half Japanese dancer in the 30s, and later an activist and philanthropist.
• Isamu Noguchi was a half Japanese sculptor and artists.
• Rocky Aoki founder of Benihana, and incorrigible 60s and 70s philanderer.

ChatGPT Nikkei Top Ten

• Yuri Kochiyama, 1921-2014, human rights activist
• Michio Kaku, born in 1947, theoretical physicist and science communicator
• Ellison Onizuka, 1946-1986, astronaut who died in the Challenger space shuttle disaster
• Kristi Yamaguchi, born in 1971, Olympic gold medalist figure skater
• Sab Shimono, born in 1943, actor and director
• Fred Korematsu, 1919-2005, civil rights activist
• Sessue Hayakawa, 1889-1973, actor and producer
• Patsy Mink, 1927-2002, first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress
• Richard Aoki, 1938-2009, civil rights activist and member of the Black Panther Party
• Steven Okazaki - documentary filmmaker who has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 1991.