Toraichi Kono(1885-1971)
- Transportation Department
- Actor
Born in 1888 and raised in Hiroshima, Japan, Toraichi Kono immigrated
to the U.S. around 1906 to study law and become a lawyer. In 1916, when
Charles Chaplin was recruiting a trusty for his secretary, Kono applied
for the position and immediately obtained it. Chaplin hired the
Japanese allegedly because the cane, one of the trademarks of the
Little Tramp character Chaplin played, was made in Japan. During the
next 18 years, Kono was Chaplin's right-hand butler both in his public
and private life. As a result, strongly impressed and admired by Kono's
trustful job performances, Chaplin visited Japan 4 times in his
lifetime (1932, twice in 1936, 1961). However, their close relationship
with trust ended in 1934 when Kono reproached Paulette Goddard,
Chaplin's 3rd wife, for being a spendthrift. It made Chaplin angry and
made him dismiss Kono after 18 years as his butler. As Kono, 1-year
older than his boss, was thinking of returning home to Japan, Chaplin
appointed him as the chief manager of the United Artists Japan.
According to Kono himself, Chaplin visited him one day at his house and
appeared to be eager to have him back, but Kono declined. Not fitting
in the new position as well as the old one, Kono came back to Los
Angeles and worked as a lawyer. Toraichi Kono died in his home
Hiroshima, Japan in 1971 at age 83.
