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.
Movies
Seven Years in Tibet Kungo Tsarong
TMNT Splinter (voice)
Pearl Harbor Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto
Rise: Blood Hunter Poe
Hito Hata: Raise the Banner Oda
Pacific Heights Toshio Watanabe
RoboCop 3 Kanemitsu
The Sand Pebbles Po-han
Sidekicks Mr. Lee
Bulletproof Monk Mr. Kojima
Highlander III: The Sorcerer Nakano
The Killer Elite Yuen Chung
Rising Sun Yoshida-san
Conan the Destroyer Akiro 'The Wizard'
Conan the Barbarian The Wizard / Narrator
Tucker: The Man and His Dream Jimmy
The Bird People in China Shen
Silent Assassins Oyama
Cages Tan
The Island at the Top of the World Oomiak
An Eye for an Eye James Chan
The Last Ninja Aitaro Sakura
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)
The Challenge Yuro
Under the Rainbow Nakomuri
Kung Fu The Movie The Manchu
Armed Response Akira Tanaka
The Big Brawl Herbert
Silence Kichijiro
Sworn to Justice Mr. Young
The Hawaiians Mun Ki
Cruel Game Straw Hat
P.O.W. The Escape Capt. Vinh
Girls of the White Orchid Mori
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell Calvin Coolidge Ishimura
Red Sun Rising Buntoro Iga
The Wash Nobu Matsumoto
The Great Bank Robbery Secret Agent Fong
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' The Wizard (archive footage)
The Bushido Blade Enjiro
The Sea Wolf
Fatal Mission Trang
Midnight Man Buun Som
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders Tao Gan
An Unremarkable Life Max Chin
The Green Hornet Low Sing
Nightingale Narrator (voice)
The Slanted Screen Himself
A Dangerous Place Sensei
Hawaiian Heat Maj. Taro Oshira
Prisoners Sgt. Nguyen
Never So Few Soldier in Hospital
McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force Japanese Submarine Captain (uncredited)
Balance of Power Todo Matsumoto
Testament Mike
When Hell Was in Session Maj. Bai
Farewell to Manzanar Fukimoto
Wataridori: Birds of Passage narrator
Yokahama Mama Rooster (voice)
The Perfect Weapon Kim
Taking Care of Business Mr. Sakamoto
Crying Freeman Shido Shimazaki
My Samurai
The Ugly Dachshund Kenji
Pacific Overtures Reciter/Shogun/Jonathan Goble
The Nightingale Gardener / Minister
Samurai Jack: The Premiere Movie Aku
Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes Sgt. Moritaki
Murder in Paradise Capt. Kilalo
Strawberry Road Frank Machida
The Accomplice
Alegría: An Enchanting Fable Old Momo
Memoirs of a Geisha Sakamoto
Fools Psychiatrist
If Tomorrow Comes Tadashi
Riot Mr. Lee
Shows
The Time Tunnel Lt. Nakamura
Magnum, P.I.
Columbo Kanji Ousu
The Gallant Men
Avatar: The Last Airbender Iroh (voice)
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
M*A*S*H Major Choi
Supertrain
Burke's Law Happy Tuava
77 Sunset Strip Ito Nakayama
Martial Law
Spenser: For Hire
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Li Sung
F Troop Samurai Warrior
Kung Fu Wong Ti Lu
The A-Team Pastry Chef
Gidget
The Facts of Life
The F.B.I. Yoshimura
Love, American Style Jack
I Dream of Jeannie Kato
Monk Master Zi
The Greatest American Hero Master of Flowers
Hawaii Five-O Kazuo Tahashi
Flamingo Road
Walker, Texas Ranger Dr. Henry Lee
Room 222
Mannix Tami Okada
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!
Frasier Sam Tanaka
Diagnosis: Murder Lee Moy
A Man Called Sloane Tanaka
Platypus Man Mr. Loo
The Equalizer Jimmy Thanarat
Wonder Woman Mr. Brown
JAG Ichiro Higashimori
Voyagers!
7th Heaven Henry Muranaka
Lovejoy Toshiro Tanaka
Ironside Phil Tsang
Khan!
Maid in Akihabara
Anna and the King
Paradise Kao
Tour of Duty Tran
McHale's Navy
Bring 'Em Back Alive
Mr. T and Tina
The Big Valley Wong Lo
Black Sash
Supercarrier
Hawaiian Heat Maj. Taro Oshira
The Lloyd Bridges Show Akai Takahashi
The Green Hornet Low Sing
Visions
Lost at Home
The West Wing Dr. Yosh Takahashi
Samurai Jack Aku (voice)
Tony Awards Self - Nominee/Performer
Duck Dodgers Happy Cat (voice)
Duck Dodgers Happy Cat / Ah-Choo (voice)
Burke's Law Pete
Faerie Tale Theatre Gardener / Minister
Ensign O'Toole Yamada, Jr.
The Paradise Club Mr. Yamamoto
Quincy, M.E. John Moroshima
Quincy, M.E. Mr. Yamaguchi
The Streets of San Francisco Kenji
Broadside Captain Osato
Broadside The Japanese Commander
Arrest and Trial Kyoto
What's New, Scooby-Doo? The Ancient One (voice)
The F.B.I. Angry Youth (uncredited)
Walker, Texas Ranger Edward Song
The Incredible Hulk Li Sung
