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
Silent Assassins
Oyama
The Bird People in China
Shen
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.
The Gallant Men
Columbo
Kanji Ousu
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Iroh (voice)
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
M*A*S*H
Major Choi
Supertrain
77 Sunset Strip
Ito Nakayama
Burke's Law
Happy Tuava
Martial Law
Spenser: For Hire
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Li Sung
Kung Fu
Wong Ti Lu
F Troop
Samurai Warrior
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
Bring 'Em Back Alive
McHale's Navy
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 / Ah-Choo (voice)
Duck Dodgers
Happy Cat (voice)
Burke's Law
Pete
Faerie Tale Theatre
Gardener / Minister
Ensign O'Toole
Yamada, Jr.
The Paradise Club
Mr. Yamamoto
Quincy, M.E.
Mr. Yamaguchi
Quincy, M.E.
John Moroshima
The Streets of San Francisco
Kenji
Broadside
The Japanese Commander
Broadside
Captain Osato
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