Yoshiko Otaka
Encyclopedia
, (born February 12, 1920) is a China
-born Japanese
actress and singer who made a career in China
, Japan
, Hong Kong
, and the United States
. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars
. She was elected as a member of the Japanese Parliament in the 1970s and served for 18 years.
in Manchuria
.
Yamaguchi Fumio was an employee of the South Manchuria Railway
. From an early age, Yoshiko was exposed to Mandarin Chinese
. Yamaguchi Fumio had some influential Chinese
acquaintances, among whom were Li Jichun and Pan Yugui . By Chinese custom for those who became sworn brothers, they also became Yoshiko's "godfathers" and bestowed upon her two Chinese names, Li Xianglan and Pan Shuhua . ("Shu" in Shuhua and "Yoshi" in Yoshiko are written with the same Chinese character
). Yoshiko later used the former name as a stage name and assumed the latter name while she was staying with the Pan family in Beijing
.
As a youth Yoshiko suffered a bout of tuberculosis. In order to strengthen her breathing, Yoshiko received her initial classical vocal education from an Italian
dramatic soprano (Madame Podresov, married into White Russian
nobility). She later received schooling in Beijing, polishing her Mandarin, accommodated by the Pan family. She is a coloratura soprano.
The 1940 film China Nights (支那
の夜) also known as Shanghai Nights , by Manchuria Film Productions, is especially controversial. In this film, billed as Li Xianglan, Yoshiko portrayed a young woman of extreme anti-Japanese sentiment who came to fall in love with a Japanese man. A key turning point in the film has the young Chinese woman being slapped by the Japanese man, but instead of hatred, she reacts with gratitude. The film was met with great aversion among the Chinese audience as they believed that the Chinese female character was a sketch of debasement
and inferiority. It is for this reason that to this day, one of her classic songs, "Suzhou Serenade" (蘇州夜曲) is still banned in mainland China. A few years later, when confronted by angry Chinese reporters in Shanghai
, Yoshiko apologized and cited as pretext her inexperienced youth at the time of filmmaking, choosing not to reveal her Japanese identity. Though her Japanese nationality was never divulged in the Chinese media until after the Sino-Japanese war, it was brought to light by Japanese press when she performed in Japan under her assumed Chinese name and as the Japan-Manchuria Goodwill Ambassadress. Oddly enough, when she visited Japan during this period, she was criticized for being too Chinese in dress and in language.
In 1942, Yoshiko appeared in the film Leaving a good name for posterity . The film was shot in Shanghai commemorating the centennial of the Opium War. A few top Chinese stars in Shanghai also appeared in the film and consequently endured the repercussion of controversy. The film was of anti-British nature and was a collaboration between Chinese and Japanese film companies. Nonetheless, its anti-colonization undertone might also be interpreted as a satire of the Japanese expansion in east Asia. Regardless, the film was a hit and Yoshiko became a national sensation. Her film theme songs with jazz
/pop
-like arrangements such as "Candy-Peddling Song" and "Quitting (opium) Song" elevated her status to be among the top singers in all Chinese-speaking regions in Asia overnight. Many songs recorded by Yoshiko during her Shanghai period became evergreen classics in Chinese popular music history. Other noteworthy hits include "Tuberoses"/"Fragrance of the Night" (夜來香), "Ocean Swallow" (海燕), "If Only" (恨不相逢未嫁時), and "Second Dream" (第二夢).
, she was arrested by Chinese government for treason and collaboration with the Japanese. However, she was cleared of all charges, and possibly the death penalty, since she was not a Chinese national, and thus the Chinese government could not try her for treason. And before long in 1946, she settled in Japan and launched a new acting career there under the name Yoshiko Yamaguchi. In the 1950s she established her acting career as Shirley Yamaguchi in Hollywood and on Broadway (in the short-lived musical "Shangri-La
") in the U.S. She married the renowned Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi
in 1951, but they divorced in 1956. She revived the Li Xianglan name and appeared in several Chinese-language films made in Hong Kong
. Unfortunately some of her 1950s Chinese films were destroyed in a studio fire, so they have not been seen since the initial releases. Her Mandarin hit songs from this period include "Three Years" (三年), "Plum Blossom" (梅花), "Childhood Times" (小時候), "Only You" (只有你), and "Heart Song" (心曲 - a cover of "Eternally"). She then returned to Japan, and after retiring from the world of film in 1958, she appeared as a hostess and anchorwoman on TV talk shows. As a result of her marriage to the Japanese diplomat, Ōtaka Hiroshi, she lived for a while in Myanmar. They remained married until his death in 2001.
In 1969 she became the host of The Three O'Clock You (Sanji no anata) TV show, reporting on Palestine as well as the Vietnam War
.
In 1974, she was elected to the House of Councillors
(the upper House of the Japanese parliament), where she served for 18 years (three terms). She co-authored the book, Ri Koran, Watashi no Hansei (Half My Life as Ri Koran). She now serves as a Vice-President of the Asian Women’s Fund.
Ōtaka was considered, by many Chinese in the post-World War II period, to be a Japanese spy and, thus, a traitor to the Chinese people. This misconception was caused, in part, by Ōtaka passing herself off as Chinese throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Her Japanese identity was not officially revealed until her post-war persecution nearly led to her execution as a treacherous Chinese traitor. She had always expressed her guilt for taking part in the Japanese propaganda films in the early days of her acting career. For this, she did not visit China for about 20 years after the war as she felt the Chinese had not forgiven her. She still does not believe she has made enough amends for her involvements.
(1955) and Japanese War Bride
(1952). Once nicknamed The Judy Garland
of Japan.
Other names used as movie actress:
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
-born Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actress and singer who made a career in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars
Seven great singing stars
The Seven Great Singing Stars refers to the seven most renowned singers of China in the early 20th century.-Background:Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese in the 1930s. World War II also had an effect on the economy at the time. Several of the stars acted in films, and their music played a...
. She was elected as a member of the Japanese Parliament in the 1970s and served for 18 years.
Early life
Yoshiko Ōtaka was born to Japanese parents, (father, Yamaguchi Fumio 山口 文雄) who were then settlers in FushunFushun
Fushun is a city in Liaoning, China, about 45 km east from Shenyang, with a population about 2,138 090 inhabitants at the 2010 census and an area of 11,271 km2, including 713 km2 of the city proper. Fushun is situated on the Hun He . It was formerly called Fouchouen in French...
in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
.
Yamaguchi Fumio was an employee of the South Manchuria Railway
South Manchuria Railway
The , and operated within China in the Japanese-controlled South Manchuria Railway Zone. The railway itself ran from Lüshun Port at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula to Harbin, where it connected to the Chinese Eastern Railway.-History:...
. From an early age, Yoshiko was exposed to Mandarin Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
. Yamaguchi Fumio had some influential Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
acquaintances, among whom were Li Jichun and Pan Yugui . By Chinese custom for those who became sworn brothers, they also became Yoshiko's "godfathers" and bestowed upon her two Chinese names, Li Xianglan and Pan Shuhua . ("Shu" in Shuhua and "Yoshi" in Yoshiko are written with the same Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
). Yoshiko later used the former name as a stage name and assumed the latter name while she was staying with the Pan family in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
As a youth Yoshiko suffered a bout of tuberculosis. In order to strengthen her breathing, Yoshiko received her initial classical vocal education from an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
dramatic soprano (Madame Podresov, married into White Russian
White Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
nobility). She later received schooling in Beijing, polishing her Mandarin, accommodated by the Pan family. She is a coloratura soprano.
Career in China
Yoshiko made her debut as an actress and singer in the 1938 film Honeymoon Express 蜜月快車, by Manchuria Film Production. She was billed as Li Xianglan , pronounced Ri Kōran in Japanese. The adoption of a Chinese stage name was prompted by the Film company's economic and political motives—a Manchurian girl who had command over both the Japanese and Chinese languages was sought after. From this she rose to be a star and Japan-Manchuria Goodwill Ambassadress (日満親善大使). Though in her subsequent films she was almost exclusively billed as Li Xianglan, she indeed appeared in a few as "Yamaguchi Yoshiko." Many of her films bore some degree of promotion of the Japanese national policy (in particular pertaining to the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere ideology) and can be termed "National Policy Films" .The 1940 film China Nights (支那
Shina (word)
are Romanized Japanese transliterations for the Chinese character compound "支那" which is viewed by most Chinese people as an offensive term for China...
の夜) also known as Shanghai Nights , by Manchuria Film Productions, is especially controversial. In this film, billed as Li Xianglan, Yoshiko portrayed a young woman of extreme anti-Japanese sentiment who came to fall in love with a Japanese man. A key turning point in the film has the young Chinese woman being slapped by the Japanese man, but instead of hatred, she reacts with gratitude. The film was met with great aversion among the Chinese audience as they believed that the Chinese female character was a sketch of debasement
Debasement
Debasement is the practice of lowering the value of currency. It is particularly used in connection with commodity money such as gold or silver coins...
and inferiority. It is for this reason that to this day, one of her classic songs, "Suzhou Serenade" (蘇州夜曲) is still banned in mainland China. A few years later, when confronted by angry Chinese reporters in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Yoshiko apologized and cited as pretext her inexperienced youth at the time of filmmaking, choosing not to reveal her Japanese identity. Though her Japanese nationality was never divulged in the Chinese media until after the Sino-Japanese war, it was brought to light by Japanese press when she performed in Japan under her assumed Chinese name and as the Japan-Manchuria Goodwill Ambassadress. Oddly enough, when she visited Japan during this period, she was criticized for being too Chinese in dress and in language.
In 1942, Yoshiko appeared in the film Leaving a good name for posterity . The film was shot in Shanghai commemorating the centennial of the Opium War. A few top Chinese stars in Shanghai also appeared in the film and consequently endured the repercussion of controversy. The film was of anti-British nature and was a collaboration between Chinese and Japanese film companies. Nonetheless, its anti-colonization undertone might also be interpreted as a satire of the Japanese expansion in east Asia. Regardless, the film was a hit and Yoshiko became a national sensation. Her film theme songs with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
/pop
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
-like arrangements such as "Candy-Peddling Song" and "Quitting (opium) Song" elevated her status to be among the top singers in all Chinese-speaking regions in Asia overnight. Many songs recorded by Yoshiko during her Shanghai period became evergreen classics in Chinese popular music history. Other noteworthy hits include "Tuberoses"/"Fragrance of the Night" (夜來香), "Ocean Swallow" (海燕), "If Only" (恨不相逢未嫁時), and "Second Dream" (第二夢).
Japan, United States, and Hong Kong
At the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she was arrested by Chinese government for treason and collaboration with the Japanese. However, she was cleared of all charges, and possibly the death penalty, since she was not a Chinese national, and thus the Chinese government could not try her for treason. And before long in 1946, she settled in Japan and launched a new acting career there under the name Yoshiko Yamaguchi. In the 1950s she established her acting career as Shirley Yamaguchi in Hollywood and on Broadway (in the short-lived musical "Shangri-La
Shangri-La (musical)
Shangri-La is a musical with a book and lyrics by James Hilton, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee and music by Harry Warren.Based on Hilton's classic 1933 novel Lost Horizon, it focuses on Hugh Conway, a veteran member of the British diplomatic service, who stumbles across a utopian lamasery high...
") in the U.S. She married the renowned Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi
Isamu Noguchi
was a prominent Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces,...
in 1951, but they divorced in 1956. She revived the Li Xianglan name and appeared in several Chinese-language films made in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Unfortunately some of her 1950s Chinese films were destroyed in a studio fire, so they have not been seen since the initial releases. Her Mandarin hit songs from this period include "Three Years" (三年), "Plum Blossom" (梅花), "Childhood Times" (小時候), "Only You" (只有你), and "Heart Song" (心曲 - a cover of "Eternally"). She then returned to Japan, and after retiring from the world of film in 1958, she appeared as a hostess and anchorwoman on TV talk shows. As a result of her marriage to the Japanese diplomat, Ōtaka Hiroshi, she lived for a while in Myanmar. They remained married until his death in 2001.
In 1969 she became the host of The Three O'Clock You (Sanji no anata) TV show, reporting on Palestine as well as the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
In 1974, she was elected to the House of Councillors
House of Councillors
The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...
(the upper House of the Japanese parliament), where she served for 18 years (three terms). She co-authored the book, Ri Koran, Watashi no Hansei (Half My Life as Ri Koran). She now serves as a Vice-President of the Asian Women’s Fund.
Ōtaka was considered, by many Chinese in the post-World War II period, to be a Japanese spy and, thus, a traitor to the Chinese people. This misconception was caused, in part, by Ōtaka passing herself off as Chinese throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Her Japanese identity was not officially revealed until her post-war persecution nearly led to her execution as a treacherous Chinese traitor. She had always expressed her guilt for taking part in the Japanese propaganda films in the early days of her acting career. For this, she did not visit China for about 20 years after the war as she felt the Chinese had not forgiven her. She still does not believe she has made enough amends for her involvements.
Names
Credited as Shirley Yamaguchi in Hollywood movies House of BambooHouse of Bamboo
House of Bamboo is an American color film noir shot in CinemaScope format. The film was directed by Samuel Fuller.The film is a loose remake of The Street with No Name , by the same screenwriter and cinematographer as in the original.-Plot:In 1954, a military train guarded by American soldiers...
(1955) and Japanese War Bride
Japanese War Bride
Japanese War Bride is a 1952 motion picture drama directed by King Vidor. The film marked the American debut of Shirley Yamaguchi in the title role.-Synopsis:...
(1952). Once nicknamed The Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
of Japan.
Other names used as movie actress:
- Li Hsiang-lan
- Li Hsiang Lan
- Ri Koran
- Li Xiang Lan
- Hsiang-lan Li
- Xianglan Li
- Li Xianglan
- Yoshiko Yamaguchi
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Unforgettable Night (一夜風流) | Ge Qiuxia |
| A Holiday in Tokyo (東京假日) | May Kawaguchi | |
| Ankoru watto monogatari utsukushiki aishu (美しき哀愁 アンコール・ワット物語) | ||
| 1957 | The Lady of Mystery (神秘美人) | |
| Robert Montgomery Presents (The Enemy) | Hana | |
| 1956 | The Legend of the White Serpent The Legend of the White Serpent (1956 film) aka Madame White Snake is a 1956 color Japanese film directed by Shirō Toyoda. At the 6th Berlin International Film Festival it won the Honourable Mention award.... (白蛇傳) |
Madam White |
| Navy Wife | Akashi | |
| 1955 | House of Bamboo House of Bamboo House of Bamboo is an American color film noir shot in CinemaScope format. The film was directed by Samuel Fuller.The film is a loose remake of The Street with No Name , by the same screenwriter and cinematographer as in the original.-Plot:In 1954, a military train guarded by American soldiers... |
Mariko |
| Jin ping mei Jin Ping Mei Jin Ping Mei, or The Plum in the Golden Vase is a Chinese naturalistic novel composed in the vernacular during the late Ming Dynasty. The author was Lanling Xiaoxiao Sheng , "The Scoffing Scholar of Lanling", a clear pseudonym, and his identity is otherwise unknown... (金瓶梅) |
Pan Jinlian | |
| The Red Skelton Hour | Guest vocalist | |
| 1954 | The United States Steel Hour | Presento |
| 土曜日の天使 | ||
| 1953 | The Last Embrace (擁抱) | Yukiko Nogami |
| 1952 | Fuun senryobune (風雲千兩船) | |
| Woman of Shanghai (上海の女) | Li Lili (Singer) | |
| Sword for Hire (戰國無賴) | Oryo | |
| Foghorn (霧笛) | ||
| Japanese War Bride Japanese War Bride Japanese War Bride is a 1952 motion picture drama directed by King Vidor. The film marked the American debut of Shirley Yamaguchi in the title role.-Synopsis:... |
Tae Shimizu | |
| 1950 | Scandal Scandal (1950 film) is a 1950 film written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Toshirō Mifune, Takashi Shimura and Shirley Yamaguchi.-Plot:Ichiro Aoye , an artist, meets a famous young classical singer, Miyako Saijo whilst working on his paintings in the mountains... /Shubun (丑聞) |
Miyako Saijo 西条美也子 |
| Escape at Dawn Escape at Dawn is a 1950 Japanese film which revolves around a tragic affair between a soldier involved in the Manchurian campaign and a prostitute.-Synopsis:Mikami, a Japanese soldier serving in China, is captured by Chinese forces. Although he is able to escape, he is treated with contempt by his peers... (曉之逃亡) |
Harumi | |
| 初恋問答 | ||
| Women's Fashion (女の流行) | ||
| 1949 | Repatriation (帰国) | |
| Human Patterns (人間模样) | ||
| Shooting Star (流星) | ||
| 果てしなき情熱 | ||
| 1948 | The Bright Day of My Life (我生命中的光榮之日) | |
| Koun no isu | ||
| 情熱の人魚 | ||
| 1944 | Yasen gungakutai (野戰軍樂隊) | Ai Ran |
| Watashi no uguisu (私の鶯) | ||
| Noroshi wa Shanghai ni agaru | Yu Ying | |
| 1943 | Chikai no gassho (誓ひの合唱) | |
| Sayon's Bell Sayon's Bell was a 1943 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Hiroshi Shimizu and based on the true story of a 17-year old Atayal girl called Sayun Hayun from Nan'oku village, Giran district, Taihoku Prefecture who went missing and thought to have drowned whilst helping carry the luggage of her teacher... (莎韻之鐘) |
Sayon | |
| Fighting Street (戦ひの街) | ||
| 1942 | Ying chun hua (迎春花) | |
| Wan shi liu fang (萬世流芳) | ||
| 黄河 | ||
| 1941 | Suzhou Night (蘇州の夜) | |
| Kimi to boku (你和我) | ||
| Tie xue hui xin (鐵血慧心) | ||
| 君と僕 | ||
| 1940 | Vow in the Desert (热砂的誓言) | Li Fangmei |
| Monkey King (孙悟空) | Oriental Woman | |
| China Nights (支那の夜) | Japanese orphan | |
| Toyuki | Liqin, typist | |
| 1939 | Byakuran no uta/Song of the White Orchid (白蘭の歌) | Li Xue Xiang |
| 富貴春夢 | ||
| 冤魂復仇 | ||
| 東遊記 | ||
| 1938 | Mi yue kuai che/Honeymoon Express (蜜月快車) | Bride |
Movies about her
- Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
made a TV movie "Sayonara Ri Kouran" starring Yasuko SawaguchiYasuko Sawaguchi, is a Japanese actress.-Biography:She was born in Osaka, Japan to a Japanese mother, and a British father.In early 1984, the Japanese movie studio Toho Company Ltd...
in 1989, as a special project to commemorate their 30th anniversary. - A two-part TV movie "Ri Kouran" starring Aya UetoAya Uetois a Japanese actress, singer, model, tarento, and occasional radio personality. Born in Nerima, Tokyo, Ueto was discovered when she participated in the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest, where she won the special jury prize...
was made about her early life in China in 2006. The movie was broadcast in Japan by TV TokyoTV Tokyois a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
on February 11 and 12 in 2007. - Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu KoreedaHirokazu Koreedais a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. His films explore themes of memory, death, and coming to terms with loss.Koreeda originally planned to be a novelist, but after graduating from Waseda University instead worked as an assistant director on documentaries for TV Man Union...
is also planning a feature film based on her story.
Other media
- The novel, The China Lover, by Ian BurumaIan BurumaBuruma is a nephew of the English film director John Schlesinger, a series of interviews with whom he published in book form.-Works:*The Japanese Tattoo with Donald Richie ISBN 978-0-8348-0228-5...
is a fictionalized account of her life. - She is likely the inspiration for a character in the video game/anime franchise Sakura WarsSakura Warsis a Japanese media franchise created by Ouji Hiroi, and is developed and owned by Sega and licensed by Red Entertainment and Sega. The franchise centers on a series of dramatic fantasy and science-fantasy tactical role-playing adventure video games, which consist of tactical wargame and dating sim...
, whose name is pronounced the same way but written with different kanji. - A JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese musicalMusical theatreMusical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
based on her life was produced by the Shiki Theatre CompanyShiki Theatre Companyis one of Japan's best-known and largest theatre companies. Shiki Theatre Company employs over 800 actors and staff, and stages about 2800 performances a year. Shiki Theatre Company operates nine theaters for their exclusive use. Originally, they staged classic plays by Jean Anouilh or Jean...
.