I just thought of a Umeki joke.
An American is introduced to Miyoshi's brother Hamachi.
The American familiar with the word 'hamachi' only as a sushi fish says, "Hamachi Umeki?"
Hamachi replies, "About, 2,000 yen an hour."
I lol'd :)
shareFunny!
shareOh, yes, very funny!
Of course, I believe this is an extremely amusing play on English vs. Japanese pronunciations -- which I love! -- but not a real story perhaps...?
However, back when I was tangentially connected to the theatre in New York, I heard a gently humorous story about Miyoshi Umeki when she was playing a girl from "the old country" (China) coming to modern-day San Francisco in Rogers and Hammerstein's "Flower Drum Song" (this is somewhat related to the concept of actors like Ricardo Montalban playing a famous Kabuki actor in "Sayonara") ...
Usually actors show up anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half before curtain, however Umeki-san had a habit of arriving particularly early to get ready for the show. When asked why she needed so much time, her sweet but deadpan reply was, "Oriental make-up ... verrrry difficult ... "
Okay. so not laugh-out-loud funny, but for me, very cute nonetheless.
Cheers!
Ha ha to both jokes. I can just hear her saying, verrry difficult. I loved her as Mrs. Livingston. Why doesn't anyone rerun 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father'?
share[deleted]
Very sorry to read her obituary in the Herald-Tribune today in Hong Kong but it brought back many wonderful memories. Miss Umeki, sayonara."
shareOyaji gyagu samui!
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