We were lucky to catch up with Kazu Nagahama recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kazu, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Life takes a risk for many ways everyday. Especially my career is own risk at every move. Being an actor is survival and especially now we are facing the greatest challenges that hollywood workers are on strike for the better life with fair treatment. I have been walking at the picket lines since the writer’s guild (WGA ) authorized the strike in May and my union , SAG-AFTRA decided to join the strike in July. Its very interesting experience that i have never seen the both unions that work so closely and united. Our labor movement is not only risky but also important to let the society know “ we are surviving in this difficult time” . I believe in the righteousness and social justice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Kazu was raised by his grandparents and moved along with them to various locations. His creative instincts are inspired by nature, Japanese traditional dance, and theatre experiences throughout his childhood. His first play started when he was 7 years old at his elementary school play house as Japanese famous folk tale MITO KOMON (Lord of Mito) as Lord Mito.

He learned Japanese opera and dance from the authentic Japanese groups related to Kabuki clan.

When he was at age 12, his grandfather died of heart disease and he moved to the big city of Sapporo where his father resides.

Then when he was at age 13, he experienced chronic heart attacks at a rare age. His doctor told his grandmother that he wouldn’t live to see his 20’s.

He started to seek the spiritual path and entered the Catholic Brotherhood of Marian (society of Maria) to fulfill his spiritual needs, and continued his education during the mission.

He moved to Tokyo for a higher education and studied Law and global politics. Several times he went overseas to study the cultures and histories of different countries.

His professors expected him to become a lawyer and eventually a politician in Japan.

At the age of 18, he converted himself to Buddhism and started working with various performers in Tokyo. He combined his traditional dance opera background with some new modern acts and entered the famous comedy clan “Hayashiya” and performed on their stages. After graduating college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his graduate degree but after many difficulties changed his path, he started helping a struggling business in Beverly Hills.

Another difficulty hit him hard after 9/11 and he planned to leave the business because of the poor economy. After selling the business, he had a chance to work in the entertainment business with old friends from Japan and found the passion in acting again.

However his all rich Japanese acting background didn’t help him get gigs much in Hollywood because of the “stereotypical cast” as being Asian. He found it much easier to be a comedic actor. He is known as a comedy actor but most people don’t know of his rich drama education in Japan. His struggle represents the struggle of many other Asian actors in Hollywood.

At the age of 27, Kazu reunited with his biological mother after a lifetime of separation. It happened in Los Angeles with help from some good friends. He didn’t even know her name or face before that. It was a heartwarming moment making first contact with his mother.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

During this hollywood strike, i have been reading the book by Miguel de Cervantes “ Don Quixote”. As you know , Don Quixote is a classic novel from 1605 which portraits the life and insightful journey of Don Quixote de la Mancha, a Spanish man who seems to be losing his mind on his quest to become a knight and restore chivalry alongside with a farmer named Sancho Panza, with whom he fights multiple imaginary ..
He was sometimes portrayed as an idealistic person who believed in his own world. But i see his strong faith in his pride and journey.
I want to share my favorite quote from the book with you.
“The scariest dragons and the fiercest giants usually turn out to be no more than windmills “

Basically my involvement with this historical hollywood labor movement is about our pride and dream for my next generations.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission that has been driving a force in my life is all about the passion for the audience who watch the shows i work on. I am nothing without the supports of audience. I just always wish if i can make a one person who laughs and be happy for a moment, that makes me happy and satisfy my dream.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kazunagahama.com
• Instagram: Jazzy_kazzy_comedy