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Mako

Mako

Actor · Died July 21, 2006, aged 72 · Kobe, Japan

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 10, 1933
Died
July 21, 2006 (aged 72)
From
Kobe, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
78 on MovieCove · 146 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are Mako's films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 43 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 18 · Serious 15 · Dark 10

Grounded 16 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 9

Gentle 4 · Charged 26 · Intense 13

Steady 17 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 3

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 5

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 26 · Relentless 4

Casual 26 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 3

A split, not a type: Easy watch 21 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 4

Resolved 38 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

29 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 12 of 29 analyzed roles.

Mentor
12 of 29
Shadow
10 of 29
Ally
4 of 29
Trickster
2 of 29
Threshold guardian
1 of 29
Show the 29 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
31
Thrilling
23
Melancholic
14
Hopeful
8
Absurd
8
Other
33

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Mako's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 44 of their 78 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Subscription and free streaming for Mako'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

146 credits, 78 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Rise: Blood Hunter(2007)

    as Poe

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • TMNT(2007)

    In Memory Of · as Splinter (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films
  • Cages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Tan

  • Memoirs of a Geisha(2005)

    as Sakamoto

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Maid in Akihabara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Iroh

  • Avatar: The Last Airbender(2005)

    Show 40 episodes · as Iroh (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
  • Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows
  • Duck Dodgers(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Happy Cat (voice) · as Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
  • Lost at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bulletproof Monk(2003)

    as Mr. Kojima

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • Cruel Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Straw Hat

  • What's New, Scooby-Doo?(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as The Ancient One (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Master Zi

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • Samurai Jack(2001)

    Show 50 episodes · as Aku (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Pearl Harbor(2001)

    as Admiral Yamamoto

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Rugrats in Paris(2000)

    as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Conan the Barbarian: Unchained(2000)

    as The Wizard (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Yosh Takahashi

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • The Accomplice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Santos

  • Alegría(1999)

    as Old Momo

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Martial Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · as Master Reng

  • The Bird People in China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Shen

  • Seven Years in Tibet(1997)

    as Kungo Tsarong

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • Riot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mr. Lee

  • The Sea Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Sworn to Justice(1996)

    as Mr. Young

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • 7th Heaven(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Muranaka

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows
  • Balance of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Todo Matsumoto

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Ichiro Higashimori

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows
  • Midnight Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Buun Som

  • Crying Freeman(1995)

    as Shudo Shimazaki

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Platypus Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Loo

  • Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • A Dangerous Place(1994)

    as Sensei

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • Red Sun Rising(1994)

    as Buntoro Iga

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lee Moy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • Rising Sun(1993)

    as Yoshida-san

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Henry Lee · as Edward Song

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
  • Kung Fu: The Legend Continues(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Li Sung

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows
  • RoboCop 3(1993)

    as Kanemitsu

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Sidekicks(1992)

    as Mr. Lee

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • My Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Strawberry Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Frank Machida

  • The Perfect Weapon(1991)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Pacific Heights(1990)

    as Toshio Watanabe

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Taking Care of Business(1990)

    as Mr. Sakamoto

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes(1990)

    as Sgt. Moritaki

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Fatal Mission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Trang

  • Murder in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Capt. Kilalo

  • An Unremarkable Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Max Chin

  • The Paradise Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Yamamoto

  • Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Kao

  • The Wash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Nobu Matsumoto

  • Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Silent Assassins(1988)

    as Oyama

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Supercarrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tour of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Tran

  • Armed Response(1986)

    as Akira Tanaka

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • P.O.W. the Escape(1986)

    as Capt. Vinh

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • Kung Fu: The Movie(1986)

    as The Manchu

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Toshiro Tanaka

  • Spenser: For Hire(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Thanarat

  • Hawaiian Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Maj. Taro Oshira

  • Hawaiian Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 11 episodes · as Maj. Taro Oshira

  • Conan the Destroyer(1984)

    as Akiro 'The Wizard'

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Testament(1983)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • The Last Ninja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Aitaro Sakura

  • The Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Gardener / Minister

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Pastry Chef

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows
  • Voyagers!(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Bring 'Em Back Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Faerie Tale Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Gardener / Minister

  • Conan the Barbarian(1982)

    as The Wizard

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike · as Nobu Matsumoto

  • An Eye for an Eye(1981)

    as James Chan

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Under the Rainbow(1981)

    as Nakomuri

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Bushido Blade(1981)

    as Enjiro

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • The Greatest American Hero(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Master of Flowers

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows
  • Flamingo Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Tozan

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Hito Hata: Raise the Banner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Oda

  • Battle Creek Brawl(1980)

    as Herbert

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • When Hell Was in Session(1979)

    as Maj. Bai

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • A Man Called Sloane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Tanaka

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Wakamatsu

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows
  • Supertrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Kirby Yamashida

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Li Sung

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • Visions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

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

    Show 1 episode · as John Moroshima · as Mr. Yamaguchi

  • Mr. T and Tina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Pacific Overtures(1976)

    as Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
  • Anatomy of a Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Farewell to Manzanar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fukimoto

  • Wataridori: Birds of Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Narrator

  • The Killer Elite(1975)

    as Yuen Chung

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Wonder Woman(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Brown

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows
  • Prisoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Sgt. Nguyen

  • Karate Sensei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Narrator

  • Khan! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • The Green Hornet(1974)

    as Low Sing

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Yokahama Mama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Rooster (voice)

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Wong Ti Lu

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
  • M*A*S*H(1972)

    Show 4 episodes · as Major Choi

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Kenji

  • Anna and the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Sanum

  • If Tomorrow Comes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Tadashi

  • Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Production Design · as Kichijiro

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Kanji Ousu

  • Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Psychiatrist

  • The Hawaiians(1970)

    as Mun Ki

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Challenge(1970)

    as Yuro

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack

  • Room 222 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Great Bank Robbery(1969)

    as Secret Agent Fong

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Kazuo Tahashi

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell(1968)

    as Calvin Coolidge Ishimura

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Tami Okada

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil Tsang

  • The Sand Pebbles(1966)

    as Po-han

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • The Green Hornet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Low Sing

  • The Time Tunnel(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Nakamura

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
  • The Ugly Dachshund(1966)

    as Kenji

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Angry Youth (uncredited) · as Yoshimura

  • I Dream of Jeannie(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Kato

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows
  • Gidget(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows
  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Wong Lo

  • F Troop(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Samurai Warrior

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows
  • McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force(1965)

    as Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Happy Tuava · as Pete

  • Arrest and Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Kyoto

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

    Show 7 episodes · as Lt. Sakawa

  • The Gallant Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ensign O'Toole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Yamada, Jr.

  • The Lloyd Bridges Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Akai Takahashi

  • Never So Few(1959)

    as Soldier in Hospital

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Ito Nakayama

  • Black Sash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 6 episodes · as Master Li

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 146 titles, 145 of them dated from 1958 to 2017; peak year 1991.

Film career

19582017

Peak 1991 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting146 of 146: 144 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndOther crew2 of 146: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1950s2 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s31 · 31 acting · 1 crew1980s35 · acting1990s34 · acting2000s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 34 roles
5979849499

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 Mako's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 43 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 43

Midcredits score across 78 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th14

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 78 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed23

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 35. 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.

Is Mako's work okay for kids?

Across up to 19 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles37–76 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity19 titles8–72 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles13–69 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs14 titles11–48 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles43–64 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Mako work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mako's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Soon-Tek Oh shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers