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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
POLITICALLY INCORRECT
“You’re opening a Chinese restaurant, Pop?” Noriyuki looked up from his homework. “But we’re Japanese.”
“The camps certainly taught me that.” Tamaru shrugged. “Chinese. Japanese. We all look alike to them. Let’s go to the movies.”
Noriyuki stretched his legs. After spending his childhood in a body cast with no hope of healing, he relished a walk to—anywhere.
On December 7, 1966, stand-up comic, Pat Noriyuki Morita, sweat running down his back, said, “Before I begin, I just want to say I’m sorry for messing up your harbor.”
After a moment of thick silence, the audience burst into laughter.
*Once billed as the Hip Nip, Pat Morita appeared in movies and television. You may remember him as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid or as Arnold Takahashi on Happy Days. As a child he was diagnosed with spinal TB. The doctors gave him little hope of ever walking. Alas after a procedure restored his legs, he was taken from hospital to a Japanese internment camp.
*As for the photo, I believe that food court is Korean. 😉
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Looking for skin-friendly foods in a Korean spread, yet hoping there’s no dog meat.
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We can but hope, Reena.
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🙂
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Thanks for sharing this inspiring story Rochelle
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Dear Sadje,
It just shows there’s always more to people than meets the eye. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very true. You’re most welcome
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I know him from The Karate Kid – thanks for the revealing insight into his past 🙂
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Dear Iain,
The irony is that the producer didn’t want to cast Pat Morita, a known stand-up comic, in a serious dramatic role. I remember when we saw the movie, thinking, that man has no more Japanese accent than I do. 😉 He did a fabulous job, didn’t he? Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved the joke and the hesitation
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Dear Neil,
If I’d had more words I could’ve elaborated that the audience was a group of Pearl Harbor survivors. Timing is everything. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it.
Loved Mr Miyagi 😁
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Dear Trish,
One of his most shining moments. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
This was a delightful snippet of Pat Morita’s life. I loved him in The Karate Kid.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
He was a great comic, too. Irreverent and politically incorrect. Very funny. He really shone as Mr. Miyagi. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love his role as Mr. Miyagi. What an inspiration his life story is. Great story, and glad to be back. Now, if I could just get wp not to ask for my email et al everytime I try to comment.
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Dear Bear,
I’m happy to see you back in Purpleville. 😀 Thank you re my story. WP does keep it “interesting” don’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Almost as bad as FB with changes. LOL! 🙂 ❤
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Great untold story about his overcoming tremendous adversity in life to become famous & successful. We could all take a lesson from his life. Good job M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
I remember when we went to see the Karate Kid wondering how this stand up comic who had as much of a Japanese accent as I did was going to pull it off. Very well, I’d say. He did overcome a lot…just not what he needed to in the end. 😦 Thanks M’luv.
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Fascinating story! Rarely do we know the history behind many of the faces we see in movies and TV. This one is truly outstanding 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Then there are some faces we see too much of. 😉 Thank you. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Very inspiring. Well done as always.
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Dear Andrea,
I love nothing more than fleshing out my favorite peeps. Thank you for coming by for a nosh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, I love how the restaurant issue takes so much of your story – several different tales of overcoming in this one piece. Excellent as ever, Rochelle.
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Dear Jen,
Thank you for your sweet comment. I savor them.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I knew that he’d survived ‘tuberculosis.’ I didn’t know that it was ‘spinal tuberculosis,’ or even that such a disease existed. 🙂
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Dear Archon,
Yeah, the spinal TB was a new one on me, too. What a way to spend your childhood and then only to be healed enough to walk into an internment camp.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very touching story, Rochelle. I still don’t know how those who have been to hell and back can keep a smile on their faces. Somehow they have found a way to prevail over darkness with their light.
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Dear Lisa,
He really overcame a lot, didn’t he? And in return he made the world laugh…and cry. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, yes he did. You’re very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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That last line! I bet he really said that, too. Great snipper of history. Thank you.
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Dear Lish,
Actually, that last line is a direct quote. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an inspirational story. Interesting and informative as ever, Great last section!
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Dear Shrawley,
It’s nice to know he attained international fame. Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey Rochelle,
Oh, that thing called history. Everyone has one. I never put the two character roles together. Thanks for the continuing education.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Bill,
Anytime I can educate, I will. 😉 Too bad I didn’t stay in college and become a teacher. Oh hindsight. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey Rochelle,
You are so talented and you do so much, so well.
I will send you as many many semester hours you need and the 50-year-old teaching certification that I’ve never used.
Peace,
Bill
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Dear Dr. Rudy Prodder W(T)F,
I’m thinking of opening a Hillbilly market. It’s gettin’ hard to find squirrel brains and poke (currently out of season) in Northwest Arkansas. So many folks have moved here from other countries like California and Florida that you have to get up before the crack of noon if you want fresh road kill.
I know how fond you and Jan are of Fricasseed Possum and Armadillo on the Half-Shell, so I’ll be sure and save you both a heaping’ helping for your next visit.
There’s always a spot for you at our table.
Pappy Yokum
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Dear Pappy Yokum,
You just save us a heapin’ helpin’ o your hospitality. But no thanks on the delicacies. I’m sure I already ate.
Shalom y’all,
Dr. Rudy Prodder W(T)F
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Whilst I remember The Karate Kid, I never knew anything about the actor that played him – until now! His ‘apology’ was just perfect!
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Dear Keith,
That apology was some pretty fast thinking on his feet. His audience happened to be a group of Pearl Harbor survivors. He didn’t know this until right before he went on. I can only imagine what was going through his mind. Glad you remember Karate Kid. Loved that movie. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i can relate. i’d been mistaken for Chinese, japanese, korean, vietname. cambodian, and indonesian too. :if anything, like him, i did survive. 🙂
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Dear Plaridel,
I can only imagine what that feels like. To tell the truth I do have a problem differentiating between the different Asians. But that doesn’t keep me from voicing my appreciation for the cultures. Thank you for weighing in.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An educational piece that inspires my curiosity to learn more about people. I tend to take actors for granted, well they earn more than me.
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Dear James,
Wouldn’t it be a better world if people appreciated their differences rather than fearing or hating? Asian actors had a tough road to hoe in the early days. Pat Morita was one of the best. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How do you find all these inspirational stories? 🙂
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Dear Bernadette,
For some reason Word Press wants to send your comments to my trash folder. And it’s not just yours. I try to scan my folder every day so I don’t miss valid comments.
At any rate, Many times these stories find me. I might be reading something about a favorite person and decide to dig deeper. Lots of wasiting time on the internet, YouTube etc. Thank you for reading and asking.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for answering 🙂 Though I agree about WordPress being annoying about comments, I literally had to sign in to comment for almost every 2nd post!
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Karate Kid. Oh, what a movie. Yes, the name and his act does ring a bell. Thanks for such a lovely snippet!
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Thank you for reading and leaving such a nice comment, Neel. Always appreciated.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow, what an overcomer. I love your inspirational stories. I remember him from Happy Days and Karate Kid (Wax on, wax off) but never imagined his life was so hard. Thank you for sharing this!
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Dear Brenda,
It seems the greatest comics have suffered the greatest pain in their lives. My pleasure to share. Thank you for the tasteful photo. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I loved this and I never knew that he did stand up. I confess that reading this sent me on a rabbit hole of watching clips on Youtube of his standup and also rewatching Mr. Miyagi moments. You have a great way of humanizing history. Have a great weekend!
-David
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Dera David,
When Pat Morita made his first appearance in Karate Kid I wondered how he’d pull it off. I knew him as the Hip Nip and said, “He has as much Japanese accent as I do.” He was magnificent, wasn’t he?
I’m happy you dug deeper. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Seriously, I never knew him before the Karate Kid. It was a shock to watch his earlier stuff. What a great actor.
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I didn’t know that about Mr Miyagi. I loved him in Karate Kid. Great story!
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Thank you so much, Fleur.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing
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Thank you, Vartika.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved him in everything I saw him in. He could do so much with just a facial expression.
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Dear Sascha,
He was adorable. One of my faves. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an incredible soul. Such a tough childhood. A fabulous story Rochelle.
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Thanks so much, Laurie.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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