
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.

Pearl Harbor
2001 · as Admiral Yamamoto

Conan the Barbarian
1982 · as The Wizard / Narrator

TMNT
2007 · as Splinter (voice)

Memoirs of a Geisha
2005 · as Sakamoto

Conan the Destroyer
1984 · as Akiro 'The Wizard'

RoboCop 3
1993 · as Kanemitsu

Pacific Heights
1990 · as Toshio Watanabe

Seven Years in Tibet
1997 · as Kungo Tsarong

Crying Freeman
1995 · as Shudo Shimazaki

Sidekicks
1992 · as Mr. Lee

Bulletproof Monk
2003 · as Mr. Kojima

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
2000 · as Mr. Yamaguchi (voice)

Highlander III: The Sorcerer
1994 · as Nakano

Rising Sun
1993 · as Yoshida-san

The Sand Pebbles
1966 · as Po-han

The Big Brawl
1980 · as Herbert

Testament
1983 · as Mike

P.O.W. The Escape
1986 · as Capt. Vinh