Yoshio Yoda

James Yoshio Yoda (March 31, 1934 – January 13, 2023) was a Japanese-born American actor and businessman who played Takeo Fujiwara in the American television series McHale's Navy.

Yoshio Yoda
Yoda in 1965
Born(1934-03-31)March 31, 1934
Tokyo, Empire of Japan
DiedJanuary 13, 2023(2023-01-13) (aged 88)
Fullerton, California, U.S.
Other namesJames Yoda
Occupation(s)Actor, film producer, business executive
Years active1962–1965
Known forMcHale's Navy

Early life

Yoda was born on March 31, 1934, in Tokyo, Japan, the only son[1] of a family of manufacturers.[2] After Yoda graduated high school, he enrolled at Keio University to study law.[3] During this period, Yoda met Edward Ugast, then general manager in East Asia of 20th Century Fox. Ugast encouraged Yoda to pursue a career in acting. Yoda abandoned his studies and immigrated to the United States, whereupon he enrolled at University of Southern California in August 1958 with aspirations of becoming a film producer.[2][4] In summer 1961, William White, a USC faculty member, received a call from Joe Pasternak of MGM seeking a young man who could speak English and Japanese. White contacted Yoda, who was then put in touch with MGM's casting office. After a series of interviews, Yoda was cast in the part of Sgt. Roy Tada in The Horizontal Lieutenant.[1][4] Yoda's success in that role[5] led him to be cast as Imperial Japanese Navy Seaman 3rd Class Fujiwara "Fuji" Takeo Kobiashi in the American television series McHale's Navy.[6][2] He was recast in the role in the later feature-length films McHale's Navy[7] and McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force.[8]

Yoda continued attending school while acting,[1][2] eventually earning a degree in cinema arts.[9]

Later career

After McHale's Navy ended in 1966, Yoda acted in the 1969 segment of Love American Style titled "Love and the Letter." He was associate producer for "The Walking Major", which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1971.[9]

In the cast reunion extra feature on the McHale's Navy first season DVD set, Edson Stroll (Virgil in the series) stated that Yoda began primarily using his middle name of James and worked as a Toyota vice-president. He also reported that Yoda had secured his American citizenship. Yoda had lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for fifteen years, serving as assistant vice president of inventory for Toyota in Hawaii,[10] where he had become a United States citizen and was active in the Lions Club. From 2012 until his death, Yoda lived in Fullerton, California.[9]

Personal life

Yoda announced that he was to wed Yoko Okazaki, a Japanese fashion model, in June 1964.[11][12] In 1965, Yoda headed the panel of judges that chose the Nisei Week Festival Queen at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.[13]

Yoda died in Fullerton, California, on January 13, 2023, at the age of 88.[14]

References
  1. "New-Found Career For USC Student". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. May 11, 1962. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. "Yoshio Is In Another War In Video Show". Arizona Republic. October 7, 1962. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  3. Darr, Bert. "Bert Darr's TV and Radio Question Box". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. MacMinn, Arlene (August 1, 1965). "One of World War II's greatest mysteries". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  5. "The Horizontal Lieutenant". Kansas City Star. April 22, 1962. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. "Accidental Actor". Lansing State Journal. January 19, 1963. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. "McHale's Navy". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, NY. May 7, 1968. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  8. "Opening Tonight at Towne". Bristol Daily Courier. June 16, 1965. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. "Friends and Neighbors" (PDF). Morningside Newsletter Vol 22, March 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. "International Unit Formed by Monroe & Friedlander". March 26, 1987. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  11. Ladd, Bill (April 5, 1964). "Television-Radio Almanac". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, KY. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  12. "McHale and Yoshio Yoda getting married this year". Ottawa Citizen. March 14, 1964. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  13. "Name judges to pick '65 Festival queen". Rafu Shimpo. August 14, 1965. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  14. Barnes, Mike (January 23, 2023). "Yoshio Yoda, Actor on 'McHale's Navy,' Dies at 88". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
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