Biography
Hawaii-born leading man James Shigeta made his first film appearance in 1959. Generally cast as everything but Hawaiian--Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan--Shigeta has alternated between heroes and villains, depending on the requirements of the script (e.g. whether or not the plot is set during World War II). He briefly became a fan-magazine heartthrob when he played the romantic lead in the 1961 filmization of Rodgers & Hammerstein's
Flower Drum Song. Though James Shigeta has never been a television series regular, he has popped up with frequency as a TV guest star. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide