The scenario was based on the 1909 novel, Letters of a Japanese Schoolboy (Hashimura Togo) by Wallace Irwin, along with several of his other novels and short stories. “Togo” was a character and pseudonym created by Irwin in 1907, under which he wrote numerous first-person narratives of a Japanese immigrant’s humorous struggles with the English language and American culture. These stories appeared in such publications as Collier’s, Smith’s Magazine, The American Magazine, and Good Housekeeping.
       On 7 July 1917, Motion Picture News announced that Irwin had been “induced” by the Famous Players-Lasky Corp. to develop a screen adaptation of his character, portrayed by Japanese actor Sessue Hayakawa in his first comic role. The 18 August 1917 Moving Picture World stated that Irwin combined elements of Hayakawa’s life with that of Togo to create a back story. Marion Fairfax was credited as scenarist in the 11 August 1917 issue.
       In the April 1918 Motion Picture, Hayakawa discussed the place of ritualized suicide in Japanese culture, which he attempted to communicate through his portrayal of Togo. The May 1918 edition revealed that Hayakawa attempted to research his role by working incognito as a servant in a Hollywood, CA, household. Three days into the job, the actor discovered three close friends among a group of his employer’s dinner guests and was unable to continue the ruse.
       The 25 August 1917 Motion Picture News stated that Jesse L. Lasky, vice-president of Famous Players-Lasky, had recently visited his West Coast studios, where he observed the final stages of the film’s production and attended a screening of the completed feature.
       Hashimura Togo was released on 19 August 1917. Despite positive reviews, the 10 November 1917 Motion Picture News reported that the film was drawing only average business throughout the U.S. However, the 10 Aug 1918 issue indicated that it remained in circulation well into the following year. Shortly after the picture’s release, the 24 August 1917 Variety reported that Irwin was considering the creation of stage production based on Togo. Although Irwin had conceived a stage version years earlier, he reportedly abandoned the idea until he saw Hayakawa on the screen.
       Irwin adapted the scenario as a short story for the September 1917 Photo-Play Journal.
       The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of February 2021.