Ken Hakuta (born 1951), known as Dr. Fad since 1983, is a South Korean-born Japanese-American inventor and television personality. Hakuta, as Dr. Fad, was the host of the popular children's inventionTV showThe Dr. Fad Show, which ran from 1988 to 1994. The show featured children's inventions, and promoted creativity and inventiveness in children. Hakuta was the organizer of four Fad Fairs, conventions of inventors with fun, wacky ideas, in Detroit, New York City and Philadelphia.
Hakuta imported and merchandised the Wacky Wall Walker,[1][2] one of the best selling toys of the 1980s. The Wacky Wall Walker became a fad hit in 1983, and over 240 million units have sold. In 1983, NBC aired an animated Christmas special, Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls, to capitalize on the toy fad.[3] Their popularity peaked after the Kellogg Company inserted them as free prizes in cereal boxes. The VH1 program "I Love the 80s: 1983" features Dr. Fad and the Wall Walkers.
Hakuta is also an art collector[4] and is particularly known for a large group of Shaker items, furniture and other pieces, that he purchased in 1991. These are now part of the so-called Mount Lebanon Shaker Society collection.[5]
In 1998, Hakuta built on his long-standing interest in herbal medicine to found AllHerb.com, an eCommerce company offering herbal remedy products and information. AllHerb.com sought to differentiate itself from other competitors in the space by positioning itself as "the most authentic resource for herbal medicine available today"; for instance, one of its spokespeople was a shaman, tribal healer, and herbalist from the Peruvianrainforest. AllHerb.com ceased operations in February 2000.[6]
Hakuta was born in Seoul, South Korea. His Korean name is Paik Kun (백건) and he was born as the first child of Paik Nam-il, who was the CEO of a textile company originally owned by his father Paik Nag-seung [ko] who was accused in 2002 of having been a Chinilpa, or traitor/collaborator with the Japanese during their occupation of Korea. The textile company was the biggest of its kind during the Japanese colonial era in Korea. His family relocated to Japan in 1951 where they changed their Korean surname to a Japanese name based on the original Chinese character (白). Ken Hakuta subsequently grew up in Japan. Hakuta married Marilou Cantiller, a Filipina he met while the pair worked at the World Bank, in 1977. The pair have three children: Justin, Kenzo, and Aki.[7] Justin is the former husband of comedian Ali Wong.[8]
Hakuta is the nephew of the video artist Nam June Paik and was the manager of Paik's New York City studio at the time of his death.[9] He is the executor of his uncle's estate.[4]
References
^"In Manila, a New Nam June Paik Show Is Taken as a Sign of the Growth of the Contemporary Art Market in the Philippines". artnet News. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
^"Got a zany product idea? Call Dr. Fad". The Christian Science Monitor. 11 August 1988. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
^Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 108–109. ISBN0-8108-2198-2. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
hakuta, born, 1951, known, since, 1983, south, korean, born, japanese, american, inventor, television, personality, hakuta, host, popular, children, invention, show, show, which, from, 1988, 1994, show, featured, children, inventions, promoted, creativity, inv. Ken Hakuta born 1951 known as Dr Fad since 1983 is a South Korean born Japanese American inventor and television personality Hakuta as Dr Fad was the host of the popular children s invention TV show The Dr Fad Show which ran from 1988 to 1994 The show featured children s inventions and promoted creativity and inventiveness in children Hakuta was the organizer of four Fad Fairs conventions of inventors with fun wacky ideas in Detroit New York City and Philadelphia Ken Hakuta白田 健BornPaik Kun 白健 1951 age 71 72 Seoul South KoreaOther namesDr FadOccupation s Inventor television personalitySpouseMarilou CantillerChildren3RelativesNam June Paik uncle Ali Wong daughter in law Contents 1 Overview 2 Personal life 3 References 4 External linksOverview EditHakuta imported and merchandised the Wacky Wall Walker 1 2 one of the best selling toys of the 1980s The Wacky Wall Walker became a fad hit in 1983 and over 240 million units have sold In 1983 NBC aired an animated Christmas special Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls to capitalize on the toy fad 3 Their popularity peaked after the Kellogg Company inserted them as free prizes in cereal boxes The VH1 program I Love the 80s 1983 features Dr Fad and the Wall Walkers Hakuta is also an art collector 4 and is particularly known for a large group of Shaker items furniture and other pieces that he purchased in 1991 These are now part of the so called Mount Lebanon Shaker Society collection 5 In 1998 Hakuta built on his long standing interest in herbal medicine to found AllHerb com an eCommerce company offering herbal remedy products and information AllHerb com sought to differentiate itself from other competitors in the space by positioning itself as the most authentic resource for herbal medicine available today for instance one of its spokespeople was a shaman tribal healer and herbalist from the Peruvian rainforest AllHerb com ceased operations in February 2000 6 Hakuta has been featured in numerous media including The Washington Post The New York Times the Los Angeles Times the Detroit Free Press USA Today Time Newsweek Forbes Fortune Inc Entrepreneurship Business Week CBS Evening News 60 Minutes 48 Hours Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Oprah Geraldo Today Show The Tonight Show Late Night with Conan O Brien The Don and Mike Show Larry King and numerous radio shows around the country There are two Harvard Business School case studies on AllHerb com Ken Hakuta AllHerb com and AllHerb com Evolution of an E tailer Personal life EditHakuta was born in Seoul South Korea His Korean name is Paik Kun 백건 and he was born as the first child of Paik Nam il who was the CEO of a textile company originally owned by his father Paik Nag seung ko who was accused in 2002 of having been a Chinilpa or traitor collaborator with the Japanese during their occupation of Korea The textile company was the biggest of its kind during the Japanese colonial era in Korea His family relocated to Japan in 1951 where they changed their Korean surname to a Japanese name based on the original Chinese character 白 Ken Hakuta subsequently grew up in Japan Hakuta married Marilou Cantiller a Filipina he met while the pair worked at the World Bank in 1977 The pair have three children Justin Kenzo and Aki 7 Justin is the former husband of comedian Ali Wong 8 Hakuta is the nephew of the video artist Nam June Paik and was the manager of Paik s New York City studio at the time of his death 9 He is the executor of his uncle s estate 4 References Edit In Manila a New Nam June Paik Show Is Taken as a Sign of the Growth of the Contemporary Art Market in the Philippines artnet News 2018 11 15 Retrieved 2019 06 05 Got a zany product idea Call Dr Fad The Christian Science Monitor 11 August 1988 Retrieved 16 August 2017 Woolery George W 1989 Animated TV Specials The Complete Directory to the First Twenty Five Years 1962 1987 Scarecrow Press pp 108 109 ISBN 0 8108 2198 2 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b Nguyen Sophia 2018 07 31 Silver Screens Harvard Magazine Retrieved 2019 06 05 Chicago Tribune Hbs edu Justin Hakuta Everything You Need to Know about Ali Wong s Husband earnthenecklace com 2017 08 04 Who Is Ali Wong s Husband New Details On Justin Hakuta YourTango 2018 07 03 Retrieved 2019 06 05 The New York TimesExternal links EditKen Hakuta at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken Hakuta amp oldid 1110293232, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
