Marginally related to the topic, but Rikouran died yesterday. Aya Ueto played her ni a biopic.
I had meant much earlier to comment on this.
山口淑子 Yoshiko Yamaguchi passed away, at age 94, on 7 September, 2014.
Born on 12 February in Manchuria, her Father was an Employee of the Japanese
owned South Manchuria Railway. She grew up fluent in Japanese and Mandarin.
She became a singing and film star in China, known as
Li Xianglan (Fragrant Orchard), and Chinese fans believed her
to be a Chinese citizen. A Star in the 30's, her fans became horrified
As she took part in Japanese Propoganda Films, and by the time the war
ended, she was arrested for Treason, and most likely would face death.
Charges were dropped when Identity papers proving that she was Japanese
were produced.
She the returned to Japan and worked as a performer in both Japan and the U.S.
She later retired to follow in the footsteps of her second husband, who was a Japanese Diplomat.
Under her married name, Yoshiko Otaka, she was elected to the Upper House of the Japanese Diet,
serving 18 years until 1992.
Always regretting her role in wartime propoganda,
she urged that Japanese Education should teach students
the truth about the Japanese brutality during the war.
With thanks for much of the information to writer Jason Wordie,
Whose story appeared in the South China Morning Post Magazine
September 28, 2014 edition.
Aya san, as Li Xianglan
Here is a clip of Aya Ueto, playing Yoshiko Yamaguchi:
夜来香 上戸彩 「李香蘭」
Topic: Aya Ueto (Read 424465 times)