Shirley Yamaguchi

Date of Birth: 12 February 1920

Nickname: The Judy Garland of Japan

Mini Biography:

Shirley Yamaguchi was born to Japanese parents in Manchuria in 1920. She used the Chinese name Li Xianglan (Ri Koran in Japanese) and made pro-Japanese films in Japanese-occupied areas in China. She also was a popular singer and some of her hits, including “fragrance of the night” (Ye Lai Xiang), remain popular even today. After the Japanese surrendered she escaped treason and possible execution by revealing her Japanese heritage.

Spouse:

Hiroshi Otaka (1958 – 2001) (his death)
Isamu Noguchi (1952 – 1957) (divorced)

Trivia:

After her marriage to famed Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, they moved into a house in Kita-Kamakura provided by Japanese potter and epicure Kitaoji Rosanjin.
She was elected to the first of several terms in the House of Councillors, the upper body of Japan’s parliament in 1974. Her life story has been made into a musical that has appeared on Tokyo stages.
Ian Buruma’s novel, “The China Lover,” is a fictional recreation of Shirley Yamaguchi’s life and career.

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