Hana Shimozumi (October 22, 1893 — July 12, 1978), sometimes written as Hannah Shimozumi, and later Hana Shimozumi Iki, was an American singer, billed as "the Japanese Nightingale", best known for playing Yum Yum in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado in 1919.
Hana Shimozumi was billed as "the Japanese Nightingale".[3] She first gained wider attention when she sang an aria from Madame Butterfly at a movie house in San Francisco in 1918; her performance was called "a real novelty" by one report, which went on to explain that Shimozumi was "like a little Japanese doll".[4] The New York Times also called her 1919 performance as Yum Yum in The Mikado with the Gallo English Opera Company a "novelty".[5] She was said to be the first woman of Japanese ancestry to play the role.[6][7] Another reviewer went beyond the novelty, to describer her voice as "a pure, sweet, light, flexible soprano", further noting that "she is also a vivacious and intelligent actress."[8]
After she married, Shimozumi Iki left the light opera stage "temporarily",[7] but continued to perform on radio,[6] and in revues, through the 1920s.[9]
^Advertisement for "Japa-Knees" revue, Daily Capital Journal (May 26, 1928): 2. via Newspapers.com
^"Dr. George Iki Joins Inter-Racial Clinic in Los Angeles" The Colorado Times (July 7, 1945): 1.
^"Yum Yum Does Not Speak Japanese" Boston Post (November 26, 1920): 15. via Newspapers.com
External linksedit
A photograph of Hana Shimozumi from the 1910s, in the George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress.
An oral history interview with Hana Shimozumi's daughter, Marsha Iki, conducted in 1979, in the Issei Oral History Project, Center for Sacramento History.
April 08, 2024
hana, shimozumi, october, 1893, july, 1978, sometimes, written, hannah, shimozumi, later, american, singer, billed, japanese, nightingale, best, known, playing, gilbert, sullivan, mikado, 1919, born22, october, 1893honoluludied12, july, 1978nationalityamerican. Hana Shimozumi October 22 1893 July 12 1978 sometimes written as Hannah Shimozumi and later Hana Shimozumi Iki was an American singer billed as the Japanese Nightingale best known for playing Yum Yum in Gilbert and Sullivan s The Mikado in 1919 Hana ShimozumiBorn22 October 1893HonoluluDied12 July 1978NationalityAmericanOccupationSingerSpouseGeorge Iki Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editHana Shimozumi was born in Honolulu Hawaii 1 She was raised by adoptive parents in San Francisco California 2 Career editHana Shimozumi was billed as the Japanese Nightingale 3 She first gained wider attention when she sang an aria from Madame Butterfly at a movie house in San Francisco in 1918 her performance was called a real novelty by one report which went on to explain that Shimozumi was like a little Japanese doll 4 The New York Times also called her 1919 performance as Yum Yum in The Mikado with the Gallo English Opera Company a novelty 5 She was said to be the first woman of Japanese ancestry to play the role 6 7 Another reviewer went beyond the novelty to describer her voice as a pure sweet light flexible soprano further noting that she is also a vivacious and intelligent actress 8 After she married Shimozumi Iki left the light opera stage temporarily 7 but continued to perform on radio 6 and in revues through the 1920s 9 Personal life editHana Shimozumi married George S Iki a surgeon They had a daughter Marsha born in 1922 and lived in Sacramento California and later in Los Angeles California 10 During World War II following the signing of Executive Order 9066 Hana Shimozumi Iki was interned with her family at Tule Lake Relocation Center She had visited Japan only once as a child and did not speak read or write Japanese 11 Hannah Shimozumi Iki died in 1978 aged 84 years References edit Japanese Girl Born Here Winning Fame as Mainland Vocalist Honolulu Star Bulletin September 4 1918 2 via Newspapers com nbsp Vella Winner Japanese Has American Tastes Oregon Daily Journal September 1 1920 10 via Newspapers com nbsp Auditorium Concert Sunday Evening Municipal Record March 20 1919 91 Music at San Francisco Musical Leader September 5 1918 218 The Mikado with Novelty Little Hana Shimozumi Japanese Wins a Triumph as Yum Yum New York Times September 9 1919 15 a b Mme Hana Shimozumi Iki Radio Digest Illustrated February 1928 17 a b News and Views of Women Monroe News Star February 15 1927 3 via Newspapers com nbsp The Mikado The Argonaut March 27 1920 202 Advertisement for Japa Knees revue Daily Capital Journal May 26 1928 2 via Newspapers com nbsp Dr George Iki Joins Inter Racial Clinic in Los Angeles The Colorado Times July 7 1945 1 Yum Yum Does Not Speak Japanese Boston Post November 26 1920 15 via Newspapers com nbsp External links editA photograph of Hana Shimozumi from the 1910s in the George Grantham Bain Collection Library of Congress An oral history interview with Hana Shimozumi s daughter Marsha Iki conducted in 1979 in the Issei Oral History Project Center for Sacramento History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hana Shimozumi amp oldid 1168157507, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
