David T. Yokozeki, Nacirema Productions, and the Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s First Nisei Film Company

On Jan. 22, 1956, The Los Angeles Times reported on the latest production company to appear in Hollywood: a firm formed and backed by Japanese Americans.Named Nacirema Productions (hint: it’s “American” spelled backwards), the company produced several B movies, ranging from westerns like “Sierra Stranger” to Japan-themed films like “Tokyo After Dark.”

While none of Nacirema’s films earned critical acclaim like rivals MGM or Paramount, Times reporter Philip Scheuer found that the company’s backers — Kenwood Electronics founder George Aratani and Pacific Citizen columnist Lawrence Nakatsuka — and Nacirema’s founder, David T. Yokozeki, represented a more fascinating story to readers. What follows is the story of one of the first successful Hollywood companies run by Asian Americans.

Source: David T. Yokozeki, Nacirema Productions, and the Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s First Nisei Film Company – Rafu Shimpo