[2] He is known for voicing the character of Ling in the animated film Mulan (1998) and its sequel Mulan II (2004), as well as playing Long Duk Dong in the film Sixteen Candles (1984) and Takahara "Kaz" Kazihiro in Gung Ho (1986), and Nurse Yosh Takata in the NBC medical drama ER from 1997 to 2003.

He was also an original cast member of the Stephen Sondheim musical Pacific Overtures.

After graduation, Watanabe relocated to San Francisco, where he worked as a street musician while honing his acting skills.

[2] In the 1989 movie UHF [2] starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, Watanabe co-starred as Kuni, a karate instructor and abusive host of a TV game show called Wheel of Fish.

Watanabe appeared on Sesame Street from 1988 to 1991 as Hiroshi and had a recurring role as gay nurse Yosh Takata on the television drama ER [2] from 1997 to 2003.