Seeing the American in Tokyo Rose

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Iva Toguri was imprisoned in Yokohama, Japan, in 1945. She later married and now lives in Chicago. Advertiser library photo • 1945

He wants to do an indie film, "Tokyo Rose: American Patriot," to clear Iva Toguri's reputation. She was an infamous wartime American of Japanese ancestry who says she was forced to broadcast Japanese propaganda on the radio. Toguri was later accused of being a spy and a traitor, harassed and imprisoned. In a celebrated trial fueled by postwar hysteria, she was found guilty and her citizenship questioned.

Takei wants to do the film in Hawai'i to take advantage of tax breaks and do his share toward building a viable film industry here. One of the prospects to play the title role is an actress, with Hawai'i ties, now living in Los Angeles, he said, though there are other potential candidates, too.

But like many other producers, he's short of money and is seeking investors.

"I've been meeting with potential investors from Hawai'i," said Takei, who says his reputation as a sci-fi figure has helped open doors. "A few investors are already on board from Hawai'i."

The would-be filmmaker says that while critical attention has been focused Act 221 — state legislation enabling film investors to get technology-oriented tax breaks — he is "puzzled" by the controversy, because in his view, film spending benefits the Hawai'i economy. "Ours would be a $5.5 million independent production which will spend $4 million in Hawai'i," he said.

Takei was in town recently to attend the launching of "Japan & Paris," the blockbuster exhibit now at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. He provided voice on tape as part of the museum's French and Japanese audiotour.

He's since zipped to "Star Trek" conventions in New Zealand and Australia, but he fielded some questions before taking off:

Q. Why your focus on Hawai'i for this film?

A. "We qualified for Act 221, and we want to have a role in building a more diversified economy in Hawai'i. Many one-time productions spend a lot more than tourists do. We want to build an infrastructure for TV series that would be there for a long time. Hawai'i has a lot of competitors when it comes to attracting film and TV companies; Canada has been hot, and of course, New Zealand. But Berlin is now the new hot spot. Honolulu should be part of that landscape."

Q. Does being Sulu help or hinder your efforts in doing business?

A. "I'm determined to make it a positive experience. When you talk film, though, being Sulu gives me a leg up, whether I'm approaching investors or journalists."

Q. What's been your trump card, and who's your target audience?

A. "The script's been read by Martin Sheen, who plays the president on 'The West Wing,' and that's our target audience: the issue-oriented, politically-engaged crowd. And, of course, the Japanese Americans who connect with issues, some having lived through anti-Japanese sentiment after the war. We're hoping for a larger Asian-American audience, too, since this is a deeply moving personal story of an incredibly courageous woman who withstood pressures to give up her American citizenship."

Q. What about casting?

A. "We hope Martin Sheen would be interested in portraying Wayne Collins, a civil-rights attorney and one of the two leads, and we've already got a list of potential actresses for the role of Iva Toguri, who was known as Tokyo Rose. I can't reveal names at this point, but one potential candidate is a Hawai'i actress who now lives in Los Angeles. The point is that the dramatic story would play well to a broad-base movie audience; we're doing an indie, so we don't have, or can afford, a huge box-office name."

Q. What's the advantage of doing this independently, compared to a studio project?

A. "We keep the control. Inevitably, when you do a studio film, you have too many voices telling you what to do. An indie has better prospects. Who knew Hilary Swank when she did 'Boys Don't Cry'? Or Adrian Brody, when he did 'The Pianist'? And while Charlize Theron was known, she wasn't expected to be a dramatic actress in 'Monster.' If we were doing a studio film, they'd tell me that I have to get a Lucy Liu in the Iva Toguri part."

Q. Will you be on screen, too?

A. "My full mission is to produce, but there are roles I could play. Minor roles. A cameo."

Q. So what's the Hawai'i fit?

A. "There are a couple of scenes that take place in the South Pacific, so Hawai'i lends itself well for that. Other scenes need authentic locales, like Japan. When Iva was coerced in signing a sheet of paper that she was Tokyo Rose, it was at the Imperial Hotel in Japan designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. And a courtroom in San Francisco where she was tried — we'd do exteriors there."

Q. And your timetable?

A. "Right now, we're planting seeds, having discussions. We've had our irons in the fire for a good year. It's time to take those irons out soon. We hope to start pre-production in late summer and begin filming later this year, or early next."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.