Steven Jay Rubin celebrate Mie Hama on her 77th birthday
Website last updated: 26-4-2024

Steven Jay Rubin celebrate Mie Hama on her 77th birthday

By: Steven Jay Rubin
Published:
2020-11-20
Mie Hama You Only Live Twice
The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia presents This Day in James Bond Movie History - wishing a very happy birthday to Japanese beauty Mie Hama, who pronounces her first name Mee-Ay.

Mie Hama portrayed a Japanese Secret Service agent who, as the married bride of James Bond (Sean Connery) goes undercover as an Ama Island pearl diver in You Only Live Twice (1967) directed by Lewis Gilbert. Oddly, she is not referred to by name in the film, although the original Ian Fleming novel identified her as Kissy Suzuki.

Prior to 1967, if Japanese actresses were seen in American films they were more often portrayed as Geisha girls, or terrified citizens running from giant beasts like Godzilla.


The Bond movie gave thespians like Hama the opportunity to be portrayed as modern women who were completely capable of taking care of themselves, as is demonstrated both by Hama and her co-star Akiko Wakabayashi. Connery and Hama have some wonderful chemistry in the film, aided enormously by John Barry’s rich musical score. Hama later left acting and became a popular morning show host In Japan, a kind of Japanese Katie Couric.

So let’s hoist a warm glass of sake to this Far Eastern beauty. Kampai!

All text. Copyright © 2020 Steven Jay Rubin. All rights reserved.

Editor's Note:


Steve's fully revised and updated Bond encyclopedia was published on 17th November by Chicago Review Press. A must-read for all Bond scholars!

The 2020 edition of The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia
Cover for the 2020 edition of The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2020 Chicago Review Press. All rights reserved.

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