Shirley Yamaguchi

Birth Name:

Yoshiko Yamaguchi

Birth Place:

Fushun, Manchuria, China

Profession

Actress, Soundtrack

After World War II, she was tried and nearly executed by the Chinese government for treason, causing her to be sent to Japan, where she had a successful singing and acting career in the postwar years
Began her acting career in China in the films "Honeymoon Express" in 1938 and "China Nights" in 1940
Best known for her role as Mariko in "House of Bamboo" and as Miyako Saijo in "Scandal․"
Was elected to the House of Councillors, the upper House of the Japanese parliament, in 1974 and remained in the position until 1992
Was also known by the Chinese name Li Xianglan and the Japanese name Yoshiko Otaka
In addition to her memoir "My Life as Li Xianglan," her life was also fictionalized in Ian Buruma's novel "The China Lover․"
Appeared in the short-lived Broadway musical "Shangri-la" in the 1950s

Fast Facts