When Miyoshi-sama says Sayonara to her Oscar

EST Media

Asian artists have achieved great success in Hollywood, in recent years, but getting that seat at the table has not been easy. Asian stars of the past like Anna May Wong, Sessue Hayakawa, and Miyoshi Umeki paved the way through challenging paths. Their journeys are a tale of resilience, adversity, and strength on the quest for authentic representation.  Wong, Hayakawa, and Umeki dealt with constant typecasting into stereotypical roles, despite their undeniable star talent. Their experiences underscore the serious challenges faced by Asian women and men in breaking free from stereotypes.  Beyond limited film choices, these stereotypes also meant financial hardships. Anna May Wong received unequal pay in 'Daughter of The Dragon’ in comparison to her white costar, even though she had a larger role. Even Miyoshi Umeki, who won a 1958 Oscar for 'Sayonara,' was confined to submissive Asian female roles, showcasing the challenging choices confronting minority actors. Hayakawa faced major criticism from the Japanese-American communities for perpetuating harmful racial stereotypes as an Asian man in Hollywood.  While recent progress in Asian representation deserves celebration, lingering challenges persist. The industry must learn from the struggles of these trailblazers to ensure meaningful representation and break free from the historical erasure of Asians in Hollywood. The legacies of Wong, Hayakawa, and Umeki continue to shape the narrative for future generations of Asian artists.  Credits Host Jenapher Zheng  Created by Ruolin Luyo  Editor-in-Chief Keshia Hannam  Head of Production Stephanie Tangkilisan  Senior Producer Joy Jihyun Jeong  Post Production Coordinator Skolastika Lupitawina  Assistant Editor Rendy Abi Pratama  Color Nadya Sabrina  Additional Music DaniHaDani - Bluming Ian Post - The Hollow Jakub Pietras - Femme Fatale Kevin Graham - Where Were Going Marco Martini - Theory of Lost Memories Max H. - Childhood Max H. - Empty Room Max H. - She Arrives in New York Michael Ellery - Myth Nim Sadot - The Spectrum Boys Nono - Agitato

Transcript

00:00 In 1958, Miyoshi Umeki won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

00:06 This was a huge moment for Asians in Hollywood.

00:09 But why did she throw away her Oscar trophy afterwards?

00:12 Born in Japan in 1929, Umeki came to the States to pursue acting and singing.

00:19 Just a few years before her big win.

00:23 Within those short years, she had landed a breakthrough role in Sayonara,

00:28 alongside Marlon Brando and Red Buttons.

00:31 But the win proved to have an adverse effect.

00:34 Miyoshi could only lock in submissive Asian female roles,

00:38 like the one that made her famous.

00:40 She had no choice but to take them on to survive as an actor.

00:44 This is a problem that many minority actors grappled with,

00:48 to take on the stereotypical roles or to not be seen at all.

00:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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