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Dale Ishimoto

Dale Ishimoto

Actor · Died March 4, 2004, aged 80 · Delta County, Colorado, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dale Ishimoto (April 3, 1923 – March 4, 2004) was an American actor of Japanese descent. He was born in Delta, Colorado in 1923 and was raised in Guadalupe, California. After being sent to the Gila River internment camp in Arizona, Ishimoto volunteered to fight in World War II, joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. After two years, he was awarded a Purple Heart and given a medical discharge. After starting a business in Chicago, he moved back to California, where he grew up, and started his acting career by acting at the Altadena Playhouse. He became a "familiar figure" for playing "villainous Japanese soldiers". Over the course of his career, he acted in a wide variety of movies, such as a Japanese army captain in Beach Red (1967), a Korean doctor in MASH (1970), a karate instructor in Superchick (1973), and as Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya in Midway (1976). He became famous in the late 1990s for his appearances in television commercials for Nissan in which he portrayed Yutaka Katayama, the company's former president. He also appeared in one episode of Wanted:Dead or Alive"

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 3, 1923
Died
March 4, 2004 (aged 80)
From
Delta County, Colorado, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 25% in 30 days

What are Dale Ishimoto's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
36%
Morality
30%
Self
23%
Bonds
5%
Power
3%
Ideas
3%
Survival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 6 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Melancholic
4
Dread
3
Thrilling
3
Absurd
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dale Ishimoto's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dale Ishimoto's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Inconceivable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mr. Akiyama

  • Beverly Hills Ninja(1997)

    as Old Japanese Man

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance(1994)

    as Mr. Ing

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Come See the Paradise(1990)

    as Mr. Ogata

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Rambo: The Force of Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 65 episodes · Actor

  • Ninja III: The Domination(1984)

    as Okuda

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Cannonball Run II(1984)

    as Japanese Businessman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Cracking Up(1983)

    as Japanese Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Stockwell's contact

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Dangerous Company(1982)

    as Mr. Hikaru

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Enter the Ninja(1981)

    as Komori

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Mad Bull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Smitty

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Baa Baa Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Japanese Mechanic

  • Midway(1976)

    as Vice Admiral Moshiro Hosogaya

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Sharks' Treasure(1975)

    as Ishi

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • When the North Wind Blows(1974)

    as Yermak

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · as Chinese Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Man #1

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Games(1970)

    as Japanese Doctor

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • M*A*S*H(1970)

    as Korean Doctor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Shimura

  • Cocoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Arcturus Construction Guard

  • Beach Red(1967)

    as Capt. Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Sweet and the Bitter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Saburi

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Family Affair(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • King Rat(1965)

    as Yoshima

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Moro Witch Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Manuel Romblon

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Matsu · as Mr. Yu

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • PT 109(1963)

    as Commander (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • McHale's Navy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Beachcomber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Nakamira

  • The Nun and the Sergeant(1962)

    as Pak

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Operation Bottleneck(1961)

    as Matsu

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Wackiest Ship in the Army(1960)

    as Japanese Pilot (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Great Impostor(1960)

    as Korean Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Philip Marlowe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Yamazaki

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Taro Yamamoto

  • Run Silent Run Deep(1958)

    as Japanese sailor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Sea Hunt(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Lao

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Panic! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The King and I(1956)

    as Crewman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles from 1956 to 1998; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)

$31M worldwide

Highest rated

Beach Red (1967)

Midcredits 50th

Most popular right now

Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)

Film career

19561998

Peak 1997 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 48 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68th

By decade

1950s10 · acting1960s17 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s4 · acting

Billing

usually 21st · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
5666

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Dale Ishimoto's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 22; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 25th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Dangerous Company (1982)

84th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

King Rat (1965)

Midcredits 93rd · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 41/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 61, detractors 24. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Dale Ishimoto work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dale Ishimoto's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cornel Wilde shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Editors

Producers