Yoshiko “Shirley” Yamaguchi, who starred in Japanese WWII pics posing as a Chinese but segued postwar to fame in Japanese and Hollywood films such as Samuel Fuller’s “House of Bamboo,” died at her Tokyo home of heart failure on Sept. 7, her family announced on Sunday. She was 94.
Born in 1920 in Manchuria to Japanese parents, Yamaguchi took the name Li Xianglan (in Japanese “Ri Koran”) to use in her Chinese singing and acting career, presenting herself as a local. Her films, including the 1938 “Honeymoon Express” and the 1940 “China Nights,” made her popular with Chinese audiences, while serving the propaganda purposes of her Japanese backers.
After the war she was tried and nearly executed for treason by a Chinese court, but was repatriated to Japan after her true identity became known. In the early postwar years, this time as Yoshiko Yamaguchi, she built a thriving singing and acting career in Japan.
Born in 1920 in Manchuria to Japanese parents, Yamaguchi took the name Li Xianglan (in Japanese “Ri Koran”) to use in her Chinese singing and acting career, presenting herself as a local. Her films, including the 1938 “Honeymoon Express” and the 1940 “China Nights,” made her popular with Chinese audiences, while serving the propaganda purposes of her Japanese backers.
After the war she was tried and nearly executed for treason by a Chinese court, but was repatriated to Japan after her true identity became known. In the early postwar years, this time as Yoshiko Yamaguchi, she built a thriving singing and acting career in Japan.
- 9/14/2014
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety - Film News
Similar News
Denzel Washington Revealed His Upcoming Project “High and Low”!
- 4/24/2024
- by Vishal
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
Denzel Washington Turns 70 This Year, Still 1 of Hollywood’s Most Handsome Men
- 4/23/2024
- by Ali Hicks
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Best Samurai Documentaries to Watch After Shogun
- 4/23/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The Best Films That Didn’t Receive a Single Sight & Sound Vote
- 4/8/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
NYC Weekend Watch: Luis Buñuel, Nicholas Ray, Sapph-o-rama & More
- 2/2/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
A Dog’s Pov Is Just One of Many Ways ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ Avoids Easy Crime Cliches
- 10/26/2023
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Mubi’s December 2023 Lineup Features The Delinquents, Olivier Assayas, Jean-Luc Godard, Takeshi Kitano & More
- 11/29/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
88 Reasons We’re Still Crazy About Kill Bill
- 10/10/2023
- by Ben Travis, Nick de Semlyen, John Nugent, Beth Webb, Alex Godfrey, James Dyer
- Empire - Movies
Signature Entertainment Acquires UK & Ireland Rights To Donnie Yen Action Pic ‘Sakra’
- 5/10/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
The G-Wagen Goes All-Electric With an L.A. Bash, Travis Scott Performance and Bradley Cooper Ad
- 4/25/2024
- by Jon Alain Guzik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Julio Torres's "Problemista" Shows the US Immigration System Is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Camila Mendes on Why We Need More Latine Representation in Rom-Coms
- 4/22/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Saraciea Fennell: "The Black Girl Survives in This One" Is the Representation I Didn't See in Horror Books
- 4/22/2024
- by Saraciea Fennell
- Popsugar.com
Every Zendaya Role Ranked: ‘Challengers,’ ‘Dune,’ ‘Euphoria,’ and More
- 4/25/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Rushes | Participant Shutters, Hollywood Rebounds, Scorsese’s Sinatra
- 4/24/2024
- MUBI
Mark Ruffalo Says He Is Recognized ‘Way More’ for ’13 Going on 30′ Than for MCU’s Hulk
- 4/24/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Accident Video on ‘The Pickup’ Set Shows Vehicles Flipping Over
- 4/24/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The 12 Best Tennis Movies, from ‘Strangers on a Train’ to ‘Challengers’
- 4/24/2024
- by Wilson Chapman and Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
Rebel Wilson’s Memoir to Be Published in U.K. With Sacha Baron Cohen Allegations Redacted
- 4/25/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Korea Box Office: Don Lee’s ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ Takes Punchy $5 Million on Opening Day
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
Every Zendaya Role Ranked: ‘Challengers,’ ‘Dune,’ ‘Euphoria,’ and More
- 4/25/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
‘Not Dead Yet’: Gina Rodriguez Shares Hopes for Season 3
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider
‘The Masked Singer’: Miss Cleocatra Reveals How Her Friends Convinced Her to Say Yes to the Show
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider
‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals Identity of Miss Cleocatra: Here Is the Celebrity Under the Costume
- 4/25/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety - TV News