Enough with Chekov, how big a deal was Sulu on the bridge?

[The Laughing Vulcan]

Season 2 Chekov was introduced as the Russian. It's the height of the Cold War, but a prime time sci-fi show has a Russian on the bridge of a starship, a hero character even, that appeals to the Davy Jones crowd.

But this far removed from the debut of Star Trek, I'm curious as to the general response to Sulu. He didn't have a first name, was predominantly a generic Asian character on the bridge...

But this was barely 20 years since the end of WWII, since the end of internment. Was Sulu recognised as a Japanese character by those who watched Star Trek? What was the general feeling in the US to having a Japanese character featuring predominantly on a prime time show? Was it as contraversial an addition to the cast as Chekov would be a year later?

Or had the antagonism of the war years become a distant memory at this point. Was it a non issue?

 

[MarsWeeps]

Was it a non issue?

Yes.

 

[J.T.B.]

But this was barely 20 years since the end of WWII, since the end of internment. Was Sulu recognised as a Japanese character by those who watched Star Trek? What was the general feeling in the US to having a Japanese character featuring predominantly on a prime time show? Was it as contraversial an addition to the cast as Chekov would be a year later?

Or had the antagonism of the war years become a distant memory at this point. Was it a non issue?

I don't think he was recognized specifically as Japanese by the audience nor was he intended to be. "Sulu" is a name associated geographically with the Philippines, obviously a very US-identified part of Asia. He did have the samurai experience in "Shore Leave," but I think his national origin was kept purposely vague.

Speaking of internment, it's interesting that in The Making of Star Trek the section on George Takei says simply that when WW2 started his family "moved to Arkansas"!


Justin

 

[KirksStuntMan]

I know that Shatner was not too happy to have Chekov aboard. He was critical of Koenigs' attempt at a Russian accent. It's kind of funny that Shatner, Nimoy, and Koenig are all Jewish, but none of them lobbied for a Jewish crewman on the Enterprise. What would Koenig's character have been like with a Yiddish accent?

 

[Bixby]

It probably bothered any World War II veterans who might catch an episode or two, but that war was still 20 years ago at that time. Public perception of Japan was changing, what with their products slowly gaining favour in North America.

People soon forget for the most part, just notice how quickly the russians were no longer on people's radars shortly after the dissolution of the soviet union by the early 90's.

A japanese character in the late 60's was not as much a potential minefield as a Korean character, or especially a Vietnamese one.

You want controversy? Try to imagine ST: Enterprise introducing an arab main character mid-way through its first season... (for those who don't remember, ENTERPRISE launched on UPN in September 2001)...

 

[Greg Cox]

Yeah, I don't remember it being an issue. People were worried about the communists back then, not the Japanese. Plus, anybody who watched Godzilla movies was used to Japanese heroes in their sci-fi . . . .

 

[Neutral Zone]

By the mid-sixties WW2 had become history and the antagonism had been virtually buried. But thinking about the Cold War with Russia it was quite intense at times during that period so I'm surprised that the show had gotten away with having a Russian at the helm of starship albeit fictional. Though Rodenberry was never too bothered about controvery. Just look at the storm he caused with the inter-racial kiss on tv and as I can see there was nothing wrong with that.

 

[C.E. Evans]

But this was barely 20 years since the end of WWII, since the end of internment. Was Sulu recognised as a Japanese character by those who watched Star Trek? What was the general feeling in the US to having a Japanese character featuring predominantly on a prime time show? Was it as contraversial an addition to the cast as Chekov would be a year later?

Or had the antagonism of the war years become a distant memory at this point. Was it a non issue?

I don't think he was recognized specifically as Japanese by the audience nor was he intended to be. "Sulu" is a name associated geographically with the Philippines, obviously a very US-identified part of Asia. He did have the samurai experience in "Shore Leave," but I think his national origin was kept purposely vague.

Yeah, Sulu could claim to have had early Japanese ancestors in his family, but after 300 years or so, he probably was essentially American (or Pan-Asian at the least), IMO. That would explain why his name isn't "Suru Hikaru."

 

[Bixby]

By the mid-sixties WW2 had become history and the antagonism had been virtually buried. But thinking about the Cold War with Russia it was quite intense at times during that period so I'm surprised that the show had gotten away with having a Russian at the helm of starship albeit fictional.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. had a russian main character as a good guy about 3 years before Trek did. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. premiered in september 1964, and season 2 of trek was in 1967.

(yes I know we keep highjacking a Sulu thread with facts or opinions on Checkov )

 

[T'Girl]

It's kind of funny that Shatner, Nimoy, and Koenig are all Jewish, but none of them lobbied for a Jewish crewman on the Enterprise.

Lenard Nimoy did lobby Roddenberry, for the hand gesture use in Jewish religious blessings to become the Vulcan hand salute. The split finger gesture.

What would Koenig's character have been like with a Yiddish accent?

Oy vey!

 

[erastus25]

It's kind of funny that Shatner, Nimoy, and Koenig are all Jewish, but none of them lobbied for a Jewish crewman on the Enterprise.

Lenard Nimoy did lobby Roddenberry, for the hand gesture use in Jewish religious blessings to become the Vulcan hand salute. The split finger gesture.

But I believe that wasn't intended as a pro-Jewish gesture - rather it was just something unique they could do.

I think the reason there were no Jews on the Enterprise was the same reason there were no Christians, Pagans, Muslims, etc. on the ship. GR didn't want his show to be directly about religion or Christianity so, instead, he didn't have any crew members identify to a certain belief system.

 

[Therin of Andor]

But thinking about the Cold War with Russia it was quite intense at times during that period so I'm surprised that the show had gotten away with having a Russian at the helm of starship albeit fictional.

During the lead-up to one of ST's big anniversaries, the then-ST Office actually did a microfilm search through back-issues of Pravda, since the media often reports that Chekov was added to ST as a result of an actual review/letter that embarrassed Roddenberry re the omission of Russians, the Earth's first space explorers, in his original multiracial crew.

No article was found, but it may have been a private letter to Roddenberry from someone at Pravda, or yet another one of those GR anecdotes that grew with the telling.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Sulu could claim to have had early Japanese ancestors in his family, but after 300 years or so, he probably was essentially American (or Pan-Asian at the least), IMO. That would explain why his name isn't "Suru Hikaru."

A group of Aussie fans once took George Takei to our regular, favourite, inner city restaurant, The Philippino (now long defunct). During the night, we realised we'd sat George under a big wall banner that had a map of the Philippines on it, and in big letters off the coast, right above his head, the map was marked "SULU SEA".

Cue the sound of a dying seal (aka as George Takei laughing).

"Oh my."

 

[Harvey]

During the lead-up to one of ST's big anniversaries, the then-ST Office actually did a microfilm search through back-issues of Pravda, since the media often reports that Chekov was added to ST as a result of an actual review/letter that embarrassed Roddenberry re the omission of Russians, the Earth's first space explorers, in his original multiracial crew.

Do you have any more information about that search? I've read this article online, but it isn't conclusive.

 

[KirksStuntMan]

I think the reason there were no Jews on the Enterprise was the same reason there were no Christians, Pagans, Muslims, etc. on the ship. GR didn't want his show to be directly about religion or Christianity so, instead, he didn't have any crew members identify to a certain belief system.

Thanks for the enlightenment. I really didn't think of this. So everyone in Starfleet practiced the (pardon the pun) universal religion.

 

[erastus25]

I think the reason there were no Jews on the Enterprise was the same reason there were no Christians, Pagans, Muslims, etc. on the ship. GR didn't want his show to be directly about religion or Christianity so, instead, he didn't have any crew members identify to a certain belief system.

Thanks for the enlightenment. I really didn't think of this. So everyone in Starfleet practiced the (pardon the pun) universal religion.

Yeah, pretty ridiculous, if you ask me. I think it was one of the weaknesses of GR's Utopian vision - by taking away the humans spirituality it often gave made them look almost smug and "holier than though." Granted, that was more of a problem in early TNG.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Do you have any more information about that search? I've read this article online, but it isn't conclusive.

No. I believe it was Richard Arnold mentioned at an Australian convention that they'd tried to track down the article, with no success, but it could just as easily have been a letter from a Russian journalist, TV critic or ST fan sent to the Desilu Studios.

 

[T'Girl]

[Roddenberry] didn't have any crew members identify to a certain belief system.

Angela Martine was apparently either Catholic or Episcopalian, because she was crossing herself as part of her marriage ceremony.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

I think Chekov was a Jew, though--ethnically if not religiously (there are a lot of atheists who still identify as Jews): his use of "Cossacks" as an insult suggests it.

 

[Scrambo]

I didn't think sulu was brought aboard as a Japanese, rather gene just wanted someone to represent the Asian population. What's more Sulu does have a 1st name = hikaru.