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Son of the noted children's book author and illustrator Taro Yashima. His parents moved to the USA when he was a small child. He joined them there after WWII, in 1949, joining the military in the 1950s. He became a naturalised American citizen in 1956. When he 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.