In You Only Live Twice, Bond is sent to Japan to investigate the disappearance of American and Soviet spacecraft. As ever, SPECTRE is the culprit behind the incident which was carried out to provoke a war between the superpowers. The screenplay was written by author Roald Dahl and marks the first time that the film is only loosely based on the novel.
The distinctly Asian flavour is reflected in the two Bond girls.
Aki, an agent with the Japanese SIS, was played by Akiko Wakabayashi. Unfortunately, Aki meets her doom ... as she slept with Bond, drops of poison are dripped down a thin cord ... meant for Bond but instead enters Aki's lips.
Naturally, Bond wastes no time in finding a replacement for Aki upon her demise in the form of the equally delectable Kissy Suzuki, an Ama diving girl. Kissy was played by Mie Hama.
It is also notable to mention the appearance of German actress Karin Dor as SPECTRE assassin, Helga Brandt. Unfortunately, after a failed attempt on Bond's life, Helga was fed to the piranhas.
The title song was sung by Nancy Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra. The single, too, had an oriental flavour and made No.11 in the UK.
Of course, the year before, Nancy Sinatra had hit the top of the charts with her worldwide smash, These Boots Are Made For Walkin', and she got the gig off the back of her hit single, beating Aretha Franklin to it.
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