Yoshiko Yamaguchi
Acting
Born February 12, 1920, Fushun, Manchuria
Yoshiko Yamaguchi (山口 淑子, Yamaguchi Yoshiko, February 12, 1920 – September 7, 2014), also known by her stage names Shirley Yamaguchi and Li Xianglan, is a China-born Japanese actress and singer who made a career in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. She was elected as a member of the Japanese Parliament in the 1970s and served for 18 years. Early in her career, the Manchukuo Film Association concealed her Japanese origin and she went by the Chinese name Li Hsiang-lan (李香蘭), rendered in Japanese as Ri Kōran. This allowed her to represent China in Japanese propaganda movies. After the war, she appeared in Japanese movies under her real name, as well as in several English language movies under the stage name, Shirley Yamaguchi. After becoming a journalist in the 1950s under the name Yoshiko Ōtaka (大鷹 淑子, Ōtaka Yoshiko), she was elected as a member of the Japanese parliament in 1974, and served for 18 years. After retiring from politics, she served as vice president of the Asian Women's Fund. She died at the age of 94 in Tokyo on September 7, 2014.
Filmography
- 2019Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood — (archive footage)
- さよなら李香蘭
- 1958Angkor Wat Story - Beautiful Sadness — Angela, her teacher
- 1958Holiday in Tokyo
- 1958The Unforgettable Night — Ge Qiuxia, Theme Song Performance
- 1957The Lady of Mystery
- 1956Navy Wife — Akashi
- 1956The Legend of the White Serpent — The White Lady
- 1955House of Bamboo — Mariko
- 1954Husband Comes Home Every Suturday
- 1953The Last Embrace — Yukiko Nogami
- 1952Foghorn — Chiyo (Hana)
- 1952Japanese War Bride — Tae Shimizu
- 1952One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds
- 1952Shanghai Rose — Li Lili
- 1952Sword for Hire — Oryo
- 1950Escape at Dawn — Harumi
- 1950First Love Questions and Answers
- 1950Onna no ryūkō
- 1950Scandal — Miyako Saijo
- 1949Endless Passion — Beautiful singer
- 1949Ningen moyo
- 1949Return
- 1949Shooting Star — 原口愛子
- 1948Jōnetsu no ningyo
- 1948The Lucky Chair
- 1948The Most Beautiful Day of My Life
- 1944Dear Soldier — Singer
- 1944Field Army Orchestra — Ai Ran
- 1944My Nightingale — Mariko
- 1943Chorus of Prayer
- 1943Eternity — 凤姑
- 1943Sayon's Bell — Sayon
- 1943The Fighting Street
- 1942The Yellow River
- 1942Winter Jasmine
- 1941Suzhou Nights
- 1941You and I — Manchurian girl
- 1940China Night
- 1940Oath on the Burning Sands
- 1940The Monkey King — Oriental Woman
- 1940Travels to the East — Liqin, the Typist
- 1939Blood of Arms and Heart of Wisdom
- 1939Retribution of the Vengeful Spirit
- 1939Song of the White Orchid
- 1939The Spring Dream of Great Fortune
- 1938Honeymoon Express — Bride
- Chin Ping Mei
Appearances as themselves (2)
- 1959John Gunther's High Road — Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show — Self