George Takei's early appearance on Perry Mason eerily predicted his Star Trek character's name

Listen closely for ''Sulu'' in ''The Case of the Blushing Pearls.''

George Takei and Raymond Burr had a subtle cinematic link. Before they were television stars, the actors both worked with Godzilla. Hollywood inserted Burr into Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, the 1956 re-edited, re-dubbed version of the original Godzilla (1954) for the American market. Takei provided the vocal overdubs for characters in the sequel, Godzilla Raids Again (1955).

But it was more than a massive kaiju monster that ties these TV icons together. They acted together, as well. Takei and Burr crossed paths on Perry Mason, naturally, in a standout episode titled "The Case of the Blushing Pearls."

That mystery aired in 1959, during the third season of Perry Mason. The investigation led Perry into the Japanese community of Los Angeles — and offered the opportunity for several actors of Asian descent to work together in primetime. That included Nobu McCarthy, who appeared on the small screen throughout the Sixties and Seventies, in everything from Batman to Happy Days. This episode also happened to include the first significant speaking part for a Black actor on Perry Mason, as Bill Walker portrayed a building watchman.

One more quick bit of trivia before we get back to Takei. "Blushing Pearls" features some wonderful, quick glimpses of vintage Los Angeles. Take a look:

The "Kinema," as the marquee says in katakana, was originally known as the Fuji Kan Theatre and renamed the Nichibei Kinema in 1955. Located at 324 E. 1st St. in Little Tokyo, the movie house would show Japanese films until it closed in the 1960s. This is a rare glimpse of it, next to Lem's Chop Suey. Today, the Japanese Village Plaza shopping area sits on the land.

So, back to Takei. He gets to share a couple of scenes with Burr, including this bit in the middle of the episode.

But pay close attention to an early scene with Takei, when Perry and Della head to Ito Kamuri's import business to inquire about pearls. As Takei works at his desk in the background, Mr. Kamuri (Rollin Moriyama) talks cultured pearls with Perry. 

"These with the faint yellow cast are from the Sulu Seas," Kamuri explains.

Did you catch the reference? Indeed, Takei's beloved Star Trek character, Hikaru Sulu, was named after the Sulu Sea! The body of water sits off the southern shores of the Philippines. Why did Gene Roddenberry choose that particular sea as the namesake for the Enterprise's Japanese helmsman? Takei explained in 2015:

"[Roddenberry] had a map of Asia pinned on the wall and he was staring at it, trying to get some inspiration for the Asian character," Takei said. "He thought, 'Ah, the waters of the sea touch all shores, embracing all of Asia. And that's how my character came to have the name Sulu."

Of course, it's also possible Roddenberry was a big fan of Perry Mason and had the name in the back of his mind. Maybe?


Watch Perry Mason on MeTV!

Weekdays at 9 AM
Weeknights at 11:30 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

18 Comments

dmarkwind 25 months ago
I always assumed that like Chekov, Sulu was named after a famous person from his character's cultural background.
Hogansucks1 45 months ago
Oh my ! How we humans turn on each other so quickly. Navigation (in life) for Takei, was probably a lot more difficult than the Enterprise. 🤺
jholton30062 45 months ago
Not that it matters, but both men were gay.
MarkSpeck 45 months ago
Takei wound up working with Burr again sometime later, in the Ironside episode "No Motive For Murder".
45 months ago
George Takei is Antifaa. Can't stand the little weasel!
Gary Pilaf 45 months ago
All the Americans who fought fascists in WW2 were antifa.
Vee Pilaf 45 months ago
There is nothing wrong with being Antifa, unless you support extremist right-wing lunacy.
nd1irish Vee 45 months ago
Two sides of the same coin. So how long have you lived in Portland? Or is it Seattle? San Francisco? Minneapolis? Haha
bayman50cal Vee 45 months ago
There is a lot wrong with being associated with those thugs, cowards. Sneaking up behind someone and hitting them and then run is what a coward does.
UTZAAKE Pilaf 45 months ago
Antifa = Anti-fascist = part of the solution.
Opponents of antifa = fascist = part of the problem.
You are part of the problem!
George Takei fights the good fight though at times he can be somewhat too pro-Democratic Party (one side of dreaded Duopoly along with GOP).
Gary 45 months ago
Different time, different motives and agenda.
Catman Pilaf 45 months ago
[image=https://weigel-comments.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/7ejvD-1610406147-cc6ff9f827f07bf59aeeb17547b5ca61--marriage-equality-its-ok.jpg]
Hogansucks1 45 months ago
Ironic!!! My, how fate/density- what ever you want to call IT, shows it’s face to us from time to time !!! 🧐
texasluva 45 months ago
Listen Shatner! The name is Takei. Remember George Takei! The one that might have been captain instead. Calling me Captain Han Solo Sulu .
bayman50cal texasluva 45 months ago
Please do not associate Solo with the likes of Sulu. Solo was a real man.
texasluva bayman50cal 45 months ago
It was just wordplay regarding Takei's complaint about Shatner axing his time to play Captain on an episode or two. Whether true or not. Imagine Dennis Weaver complaining that James Arness would not let him be Marshal for a couple of days. Inane grievances.
Wiseguy bayman50cal 45 months ago
They're both fictional characters. Join reality, stupid.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?