Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Patrick is joined by friend, actor, director, and producer Yuji Okumoto. He talks about the experience of playing the role of Chozen in The Karate Kid Part 2 in 1986 and revisiting the role decades later on Cobra Kai. He talks about the audition process, memories of the great Pat Morita and Tamlyn Tomita, and the aftermath of being in a massively popular movie in the 1980s.

(0:00) Intros
(0:48) What was it like auditioning for Chozen?
(4:48) Afterwards did he feel like you had a good shot?
(7:32) Reaction after getting the part?
(9:30) Tamlyn Tomita
(11:28) Toughest part of the shoot?
(15:21) What's the deal with Chozen's massive pecs?
(20:24) The Tomato-Throwing scene
(25:35) Knowing Chozen was going to be an iconic character?
(30:48) Karate Kid Part 2 blows up
(38:31) Instant fame post-KK2
(42:38) Are people still surprised Yuji "speaks English well"?
(46:41) What was it like finding roles AFTER The Karate Kid Part 2?
(1:00:54) Shooting True Believer in Folsom State Prison
(1:03:27) Pat Morita liked to party
(1:05:32) On Asian American representation today
(1:10:05) On the return of Chozen in Cobra Kai
(1:14:53) Where Chozen's been the past 3 decades
(1:19:50) Yuji's recommendations for actors, filmmakers, and restaurateurs
(1:25:21) Outro

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The National Film Society podcast is hosted by filmmaker Patrick Epino. Patrick interviews filmmaker friends and artists about film, television, craft, and career. It's a conversational setting to get insights into the lives and journeys of his guests.

Yuji Okumoto
twitter.com/yujiokumoto
instagram.com/yuji_okumoto

Kona Kitchen, Yuji's restaurants
konakitchen.com

Cobra Kai
netflix.com/title/81002370

Awesome Asian Bad Guys
amzn.to/3RNmvXD

The Paper Tigers
https://amazon.com/Paper-Tigers-Jim-S...

Odesza
youtube.com/watch?v=ZkwoBbkSh7k

Patrick Epino
twitter.com/PatrickEpino
instagram.com/patrickepino

National Film Society
nationalfilmsociety.com
twitter.com/NatFilmSociety
https://instagram.com/nationalfilmsoc...

Email the show
nationalfilmsociety@gmail.com

Music by
Paper Son
paperson.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/paper-son