James Shigeta Tribute

[@mistercool3859]

A handsome, romantic asian leading man with charisma!!! How come this is never shown on screen anymore?

[@cozadsmith]

I had a huge crush on James Shigeta!!! A wonderful actor, a handsome man who had a sexy voice; a true leading man!!!

[@paulaguenon1660]

I did too.

[@jungyew]

Wow, he was well ahead of his time. In fact, even in 21st century Hollywood, no one has been able to match Shigeta's diverse roles.

[@goldielocks513]

I remember when I was about 10 years old my neighbor was a giant Elvis Presley fan and she took me to see PARADISE HAWAIIAN STYLE. I came away with my first movie crush, but it wasn't Elvis, it was James Shigeta and have always enjoyed watching so many things he has done over the years.

[@margaritawelch1838]

He is not even what you would consider "my generation" of actors (although I did get to see him in Die Hard) but I noticed that he was a very classy act. And my mother knowing who he was piqued my interest. So it turns out he is one great actor. RIP.

[@eriksexton7660]

even his speaking voice is swoon worthy ! ! !

[@virginia7191]

Like so many others, I had the biggest crush on James Shigeta after seeing him in Flower Drum Song and it never went away! Such a handsome man and so much charm! I didn’t know he did a version of Lost Horizon. Got to find it! Thanks for such a great tribute to a talented and gifted performer!

[@johnmcgrew7128]

He was a great actor. Had the academy not been so blind, he would have won an academy award. He was that great an actor.

[@erenyeagerist7681]

Oscar is bias especially against Japanese

[@engitect]

James Shigeta's most hilarious dialogue, "Hey we're flexible. Pearl Harbor didn't work out so we got you with tape decks." I didn't like how his role ended in Die Hard though.

[@McGeeification]

an amazing range of skills and talents shattering the myth of the Asian stereotypes. A fine addition to any film.

[@cliveburrows6071]

My name is sylvia. I fell in love with James as a young girl. I loved everything he did America has lost an icon I hope he had a great life. His face and voice I will never forget

[@jcheng6]

He has a beautiful voice. Wow. And that's only one of his excellent qualities.

[@eriksexton7660]

you're right . . . there's so many ! ! !

[@teragramvz]

I had such a crush on James Shigeda when I was a teen-ager! What a dreamboat!

[@KuyaAccordionista]

Most definitely one of our pioneer Asian American performers (actor and singer). Thank you for paving the way, Mr. Shigeta. May you Rest in Paradise, bruddah.

[@silverakisame]

Asian men are so dreamy I wish there were more American movies with them in romantic roles. :)

[@ironheart5830]

Sadly it never happend for next 50 years after this movie ☹️

[@donovan3535]

I just watched Flower Drum Song on DVD and it is completely enchanting. Shigeta,Soo and Umeki were lovely. What a crime that we don't have their likes today!

[@wildstar999]

Why can't more Asian American actors today play respectable roles like this man?

[@lufsolitaire5351]

It’s cause a lot of them lack his assertive charisma, this innate confidence needed to be cast as leading man and not some dweeb or comic relief. There are a few like Henry Golding, John Cho, Steven Yeun, Brian Zhang who do break them mold and have been portrayed positively and as the main character.

[@wildstar999]

@@lufsolitaire5351 well they apparently did and do exist.

[@erenyeagerist7681]

@@lufsolitaire5351 but there are a lot of White cast as male leads in hollywood who are lame shit with terrible acting. The real reason is that hollywood doesn't want Asians to be cast as main leads. Hollywood is absolutely racist towards Asians periodt!

[@EdwardHongActor]

Rest in peace, good sir.

[@DerAdventurer]

You've gotta love Shigeta's voice. It's so elegant and distinguished. Very gentleman's thing. I consider him underrated due to his potential in Hollywood. One great artist!

[@tinadarwish622]

Please can we have more movies of him posted. He was a great actor ! And I love the way he sang.

[@llk-f2b]

Thank you for this tribute. He deserved much more recognition during his lifetime. He was a man of integrity that never gave in to degrading Asian roles. I was fortunate enough to witness his kindness and generosity towards others. Rest in peace Mr. Shigeta.

[@Fred7831]

James Shigeta a popular and proud actor who knows what acting is all about it. The reason is that I have be his loyal fan.

[@christinegruenberg3120]

What a good looking man he was and a great actor RIP

[@lamfam0801]

Beautiful singing voice.

[@KauaiSis]

Thanks for posting this!! I've loved James Shigeta since I was a young girl and watching this now makes me nostalgic.

[@stevensstage323]

Shigeta's death should remind us all of the profound lack of opportunities for Asians in film and TV today. I can only think of HAWAII 5-0 and TWO BROKE GIRLS among the network shows. And where were the mainstream follow-up Asian-themed films AFTER "Flower Drum Song?"

[@stupor_mundi]

I love handsome, intelligent, and so well-mannered Japanese men with that air of true masculinity coupled with charm. They are always so irresistable and exotic

[@KauaiSis]

Growing up in Hawaii, I so admired James Shigeta. As a young man he was so handsome, talented, and classy. As he grew older, he was always so dignified and of course still so handsome, playing distinguished roles rather than merely stereotypical ones. Not to mention he won the "American Idol" of his day (Ted Mack's Amateur Hour).

[@AuntMame]

Thank you so much for this video. He has always been magnificent.

[@adelinewilhel]

R.I.P. to a talented actor.

[@jsbach15]

This is done so exceptionally well! No wonder James Shigeta wanted acopy for himself (smile). Thanks for wonderful tribute and memories.

[@Butterball121252]

I fell in love with him at first sight in "Flower Drum Song" .. I'd sell my soul for a video of him singing the entire "You Are Beautiful" song. Awesome actor! Thanks so much for this video yellowstarx4!

[@stevepang7018]

It was so hard to break the road a long time ago. Now it's taken as normal. We always have to be thankful to someone in the past who pioneered and excelled. And left a presence. The world is so much richer now because of all these.

[@outinsider]

I hope this isn't an unfair assumption to make- but it seems James Shigeta was the Sidney Poitier for Asian Americans.

[@melindawood3644]

Love this tribute. James Shigeta was such an awesome actor! I miss him! ❤😢

[@bybybaby49]

Love him. Love all his movies.

[@lafk52]

Thank you...for this lovely tribute. I am not Asian but I always appreciated how great James Shigeta was.

[@test-ky8tu]

Damn y’all in the comments were ahead of the times hahah respect💪💪🙏

[@laughingkuma]

Fantastic tribute, thanks for putting together

[@doradedham9162]

Does James have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Actor, Singer, Television star- he certainly should have one.

[@NinaDeSole]

Soooo romantic!!

[@tuberme5790]

Rest in peace James

[@DiscountPotato]

Very Handsome!

[@KevinValdez1999]

R.I.P. James Shigeta.

[@Udui1o1]

James Shigeta is a Nisei from Hawaii. He is one of the early actors with an Asian background and have roots in Hawaii. Others Asians like Kelly Hu, Keanu Reeves, Tia Carrere, and others making a mark on the American cinema.

[@lyndyfu1124]

He is so handsome :)

[@victoriaodegaard1]

A voice as deep and calming as Gregory Peck… and so handsome

[@dargon1084]

How did I just knew this awesome person!

[@greenmachine5600]

Awesome

[@NorCalBrah916]

legend

[@lisawilliams7836]

Beautiful young and old 😊

[@Butterball121252]

I don't know how I missed that, thank you so very much, I really appreciate it, Genevieve Autumn! I now have the mp3 and video versions downloaded and will treasure them!

[@l154479reserve]

I have always loved James Shigeta!

[@MrCranberrysnickers]

The godfather. R.I.P Mr. Shigeta.

[@thepromocompany]

very interesting. we need to bring this back.

[@TsunamiSkweek]

thanks, very well done.

[@EternalHennessy]

It is ironic, as people have mentioned here, that the roles Mr. Shigeta played (well) are far less regressive than say the stereotypical roles Ken Jeong plays today despite the intense bias & limitations of the past. I am surprised that no one here mentioned the wicked sexual innuendo of when they cut to a scene of Mr. Shigeta picking up a carrot (I think it is) with his chopsticks while talking to the woman in the scene at about .24 early in the reel. So sexual & phallic! Many older films were loaded with such suggestive scenes & dialogue that could be quite suggestive to say the least. I also loved them dancing in their room. Such elegant, swoonable moments are not to be anymore. RIP. P.S. Can someone please identify the film with the dancing in the room scene? Thanks.

[@engitect]

It was a lipstick, not a carrot. Bridge to the Sun (1961) is a very beautiful movie that every James Shigeta fan should watch.

[@miyoshiumeki]

This is so truly wonderful

[@johnsdao3917]

Such a lovely man ❤🎉❤

[@lisawilliams7836]

Thank you very, very much.

[@christinegruenberg3120]

A couple of other great Asian actors are Robert Ito who played Sam on Quincy(I know he was born in Canada) and Sessue Hayakawa. He had a thick accent, but I liked it.

[@detectivefiction3701]

Yes, Robert Ito was very talented and handsome. Tbh, I'd never heard of James Shigeta before today (I was born in 1977).

[@eunicemuir7957]

James Shigeta is an American born actor of Japanese ancestry.

[@DanRobSo]

A film producer once told James Shigeta "if you were white, I could make you a star". That simply how the Hollywood machine was, and in some ways still is.

[@TsunamiSkweek]

Look up Sessue Hayakawa. regarded as hollywood's first romantic leading man.

[@marthacantrell6953]

I loved "Bridge to the Sun", and it being a true story, I always feel a little sad when I read the book or see the movie, especially at the end. I have to say, I never thought of that scene as being sexual, she only dropped her lipstick!

[@nenabunena]

@MisterCool He was so handsome, sexy & brooding charming in Bridge to the Sun! He looks better with his hair slicked back & not parted.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

About that 'phallic carrot' scene in Bridge to the Sun..yes..I wonder if in fact the director was saying in an innuendo-ed, left handed way that Asian men ARE sexual, and also attracted to Caucasian women. In this case, Carroll Baker who will be the wife of the character (Terasaki) in the film.

[@bmw128racer]

RIP.

[@SeptemberAdam]

This guy is like Japan's answer for a Tony Kurtis or something next to it, like a Cary Grant.

[@sasfunc6170]

Nice. Thank You!

[@szewei85]

love this dude in die hard...he should get more lead roles some day haha

[@MRCAB]

Very cool! Is there anyway for you to upload a higher quality version of this?

[@idontcareproductions]

James is "shigettin'" it!

[@arnyjk]

Had he been white, he would have been another Rock Hudson or Burt Lancaster. Very talented and charismatic.

[@sublimityeternal]

he was hot.

[@GenevieveAutumn]

its on youtube, just search his name and the song, I can't post the link but its HD quality and sounds so good! :)

[@easternsmile]

Wow...I never thought the Hollywood really casted Asian man in romantic movies. Back then, it was almost taboo.

[@aaartnaz]

very brando like, i like it, handsome too

[@mrtechnique]

I'm looking to change the way Asian-American men are portrayed in Hollywood.

[@mistercool3859]

@diddymuck You can add Rick Yune to your list. There are exceptions but how often do you see these exceptions in American films?

[@cyfkilla]

fuck yeah, that's my homie!

[@diddymuck]

@MisterCool Jackie Chan? Chow Yun Fat? Toshiro Mifune? Sessue Hayakawa?

[@jacquelinevalle2797]

Wow mmm

[@empyreanlc]

I love the cut to the chopsticks, hahah. nowadays though Asian American actors just go to Asia.

[@markko17]

@ 5:20 they're walking west on San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo, about the only thing still the same is the steeple of the Catholic church way in the background.

[@diddymuck]

@renoplayer2351 Toshiro Mifune in Red Sun? Cow Yun Fat in Anna and the King?

[@pitherra]

Like the part he was going to translate to that white sailor.

[@waikitjim5668]

So many kiss scenes

[@yeyoungshim]

i want to watch bridge to the sun except its nowhere to be found!! :(

[@engitect]

Damn! I can't believe this was true even 10 years ago. Today, it is available on Amazon Prime in some countries and on a DVD if you're lucky.

[@LeSimpleton]

Yummy!!!!!!

[@mrtechnique]

@Ascentist Through MMA and maybe some stand-up comedy. We don't have to walk around with our heads down and feel inferior.

[@TsunamiSkweek]

look up sessue hayakawa.

[@Hewillcome]

I think he's in china cry, or?

[@LordSuperCow]

Chinese Cowboys

[@StukInBuf]

RIP.