Eighty-four-year-old Eido Sumiyoshi — aka Eddie Mohandas Sabnani, Eddie Arab, and Eddie Staire — is an actor and the founder of E-promotion, one of Japan's first talent agencies specializing in foreign models and actors. The son of an Indian businessman and a Japanese interpreter, Eddie was raised by his grandparents in Hokkaido's Otaru, where they owned Kaiyoutei, a famous ryotei (luxurious restaurant) frequented by Japan's top movie stars. Although World War II put an abrupt end to the parties, it couldn't break Eddie's spirit, or his funny bones. He's been winning hearts in every role in life that he's ever played: soldier, dishwasher, tap dancer, advertising whiz and cook. Eddie's favorite story has been playing out on the home front, where he and his wife have had starring roles for over 50 years.
I might not know how to be winner, but I know how to pick one. Success in life means you picked the right partner, and I sure did!
In war, how one survives makes absolutely no sense. I was hospitalized in the city of Hokko in Taiwan. Two U.S. fighters were dropping bombs on us, attached to parachutes. One fell about 10 meters from me and exploded with a huge bang. There was no time to run, so I had only hid under my blanket. When I peeked out, I saw it was covered with chunks of shrapnel. That little blanket saved my life, and I still don't know how.