James Shigeta: Actor-singer

James Shigeta is best remembered by Filipinos as an actor, particularly Manila, Open City, where he played a Japanese officer during the liberation of Manila. Sharing stellar billing with Shigeta in Manila, Open City (1968) is Charito Solis, a nun who saves children caught in the crossfire between Filipinos and American forces and the Japanese invaders.

Also in the cast are Alex Nicol, John Ashley, Ric Rodrigo, Mario Montenegro, Lauro Delgado. Directed by Eddie Romero for Nepomuceno Productions.

Shigeta is also a fine singer, known as ‘Frank Sinatra of Japan.’  A Sansei (American of Japanese ancestry), he didn’t speak Japanese until Toho Studios invited him to be a musical star, singing onstage, television, clubs, recording, movies in the ’50s. He also became popular in Australia when he played the male lead in the extravaganza Cherry Blossoms Show.

Born on June 17, 1929 in Oahu, Hawaii, Shigeta started his career in Hollywood and on Broadway. He played the romantic leads in the movies The Crimson Kimono and Bridge to the Sun and the musical Flower Drum Song in the late ’50s and early ’60s. He studied drama in New York University.

In 1960, the Golden Globes named him Most Promising Male Newcomer along with George Hamilton, Troy Donahue and Barry Coe. In 2005 and 2006, Shigeta was honored by Asian-American organizations for being one of the first Asian lead stars.

Through the years, Shigeta appeared non-stop onscreen and onstage in both lead and character roles in the US and other parts of the world. One of which, as earlier noted, is Manila, Open City.

Shigeta died on July 28, 2014 at age 85 in Los Angeles. —RKC

...on an ABC Television program