Six-part broadcast tells the story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
The BBC World Service has announced the launch of “Purple Heart Warriors,” a six-part drama inspired by real events by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita.
The series transports audiences to the fields of World War II alongside the brave young Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as they battle to liberate France from Nazi occupation.
Narrated by Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning actor Will Sharpe (“The White Lotus”), “Purple Heart Warriors” follows the story of Ken Morioka, played by Akie Kotabe. Ken is transported back in time from Little Tokyo in 2024’s Los Angeles to the 1940s, and finds himself trapped in his grandfather’s body as he enrolls in combat training.
The story takes listeners across the globe from Downtown Los Angeles to Hattiesburg, Miss., then across Europe, culminating in the Vosges Mountains of France. The series weaves historical narrative with contemporary reflections on identity, sacrifice, and belonging.
The cast also includes Tamlyn Tomita, Clyde Kusatsu, Derek Mio, Kurt Kanazawa, Aaron Ikeda, Raiko Gohara and Conrad Lihilihi.
The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was a segregated unit composed mostly of Nisei. Despite some soldiers’ families being labeled enemy aliens and facing incarceration in armed camps, the men of the 442nd were known for their bravery, earning over 4,000 Purple Hearts, 21 Medals of Honor, seven Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous other accolades.
Yamashita, an Academy Award nominee for “Letters from Iwo Jima,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Ken Watanabe, says: “I am so excited to be able to tell the story of the ‘Purple Heart Warriors,’ acknowledging the heroics and sacrifices made by Japanese American soldiers who volunteered to fight for the U.S. in Italy and France while their family members were being incarcerated in prison camps. I wanted to convey the reasons they fought and what they were fighting for.”
Sharpe says: “It is an honor to be narrating ‘Purple Heart Warriors,’ which tells the remarkable stories of the Japanese American soldiers that fought in World War II. It’s a part of history I am personally interested in and I loved working with the brilliant Iris Yamashita.”
Simon Pitts, commissioning editor, BBC World Service, says: “We’re thrilled to announce ‘Purple Heart Warriors’ … The 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team was a segregated unit of remarkable Japanese American young men, whose bravery in combat made them the most decorated unit in U.S. military history for size and duration of service. Their story has not been widely known and it’s exciting to be sharing this series with the world.”
All six episodes will be available as a boxset on BBC Sounds from Monday, Dec. 9. On other podcast platforms, the first three episodes will be available from Dec. 9, with the final three episodes released weekly thereafter. The series will air weekly on BBC World Service radio from Wednesday, Dec. 11.
“Purple Heart Warriors” is the latest season in the new Dramas podcast feed. It’s the home for original drama and immersive storytelling from the BBC World Service. Previous seasons include “Fukushima.”
“Purple Heart Warriors” is directed by Jessica Dromgoole. It is based on an idea by Simon Pitts and produced by Catherine Bailey Productions Limited for the BBC World Service.
Look for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or download the BBC Sounds app.