"Two-Night Drama Special" "February 11, 1941 (Shouwa 16)" "Nihon Gekijou Theatre, Tokyo" "Ri Kouran (Li Xianglan)" "ô Suzhou Nocturne (Soshuu Yakyoku)" "In 1941, ten months before the start of war between Japan and America... the audience for the "Ri Kouran Show" at the Nihon Gekijou was in a frenzy." "ô Night Jasmine (Ye Lai Xiang)" "UETO Aya" "KIKUKAWA Rei" "NAKAMURA Shidou" "SAWAMURA Ikki OZAWA Yukiyoshi" "ONO Takehiko NAKAMURA Fukusuke" "NOGIWA Youko" "NATORI Yuuko" "HASHIDZUME Isao" "Original Work YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko" "Screenwriter TAKEYAMA You" "Music HATTORI Takayuki" "Directed by HORIKAWA Tonkou" "Ri Kouran Part 1:" "Manchuria" "November 1937 (Shouwa 12)" "Shanghai Department of Military Affairs" "We'd like to ask you first..." "Yes?" "Are you Chinese... or Japanese?" "I am Japanese." "Liar!" "Traitor!" "You're Chinese, but you betrayed your country and cooperated with the Japanese army..." "Appearing in movies that defile the name of our country, you've tricked the Chinese people!" "Death sentence!" "You just claimed you're Japanese, but how can you prove that?" "When you were 13, you sang on a program called "New Songs of Manchuria"... aired by a Japanese broadcast station in Fengtian." "What was your name then?" "Li Xianglan..." "But..." "At 18, at the request of the Manchurian Film Association in Changchun... also known as "Man'ei", you appeared in "Honeymoon Express."" "At the age of 20, in the movie "China Nights"... you played the humiliating role of a Chinese woman abused by a Japanese man." "I'm deeply sorry about that, but that's how the script was written." "Your stage name then was...?" "Your stage name!" "Li Xianglan." "But I'm Japanese!" "My father is Yamaguchi Fumio, my mother is Ai." "I was born on February 12, 1920... in Beiyantai near Fengtian." "And how will you prove that?" "I'm Japanese!" "Ri Kouran is Yamaguchi Yoshiko, a Japanese woman!" "Early Summer, 1932 (Shouwa 6)" "Fushun, Manchuria (now northeast China) 1932..." "I was absorbed in the Chinese language." "YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko (Ri Kouran), 11yo" "I had just attained third class proficiency in Chinese in the national exam." "Inspired, I began to speak and write any and everything in Chinese." "Those are 'pastries'!" "I was Yamaguchi Yoshiko, an 11yo Japanese girl born in Fengtian and raised in Fushun..." "These are 'fish'!" "Those are 'steamed buns'!" "but I did not know Japan." "That is a 'duck'." "I heard Japanese eat chicken a lot." "But in Manchuria duck is popular because it tastes better." "Hey!" "You're pronunciation's wrong!" ""It's popular"!" ""It's popular."" "You got it right this time!" "Here!" "I got this in the forest!" "Ah!" "It wasn't easy to catch, you know!" "It's on the roof!" "Aiya!" "It's flying away!" "It's going back to the forest!" "Wait!" "I'm going, too!" "Dalian" "Former Military Police Captain AMAKASU Masahiko" "KAWASHIMA Yoshiko (14th Daughter of Qing Prince Su)" "Around this time, Amakasu Masahiko, in Dalian, and the female spy Kawashima Yoshiko... would meet to discuss an important matter." "You are the only one who can bring former Emperor Puyi from Tianjin to Manchuria." "Soaring 'cross the skies in thine mind's eye... e'en the bird himself, full of envy." "They said that was the poem you read while in prison." "Let's fly across all Manchuria." "I became friends with Xiao Zhao and Xiao Die." "Now!" "Run!" "Found you!" "Run!" "Run!" "My!" "Candied hawthorns?" "My mother allowed me to play as long as it was close to the house." "My mother was stylish, a woman of talent who graduated from Japan Women's University." "Yoshiko's Mother YAMAGUCHI Ai" "My father taught a Chinese language class at Mantetsu." "In control of Manchuria was the South Manchuria Railway Co. (Mantetsu)..." "Yoshiko's Father YAMAGUCHI Fumio and they made learning Chinese an obligation for their employees." "I was proud to someone handsome and gentle like him as my father." "Mr. Hashimoto, try it!" "No, no..." "That's the number seven!" "'Chicken' is unaspirated..." "You try it, Yoshiko." "Alright!" "Good!" "My daughter is "yi tou hua" (a flower)." "Try it." "I'm "yi tou gua."" "That means "I'm a melon"!" "My house was on Higashi Rokujou-doori in Fushun." "Good, good!" "Good evening!" "Oh, Mr. Yamaga!" "Ojisan!" "Such a cute kid!" "You've gotten even bigger!" "A riot!" "?" "Yes..." "We have intelligence that they'll strike Fushun's coal mines..." "Kwantung Army Lt. Cmdr. YAMAGA Tooru so I've come here to investigate the matter." "Goodness!" "Mr. Yamaguchi, you're sworn brothers with Gen. Li Jichun and Gen. Pan Yugui." "They're both school friends from a Chinese school in Beijing." "But..." "I'm only a Chinese teacher." "I don't have the kind of information the secret service would be interested in." "...But many Chinese die every day in the coal mines." "We've even sealed off shafts after gas explosions... even though there were still plenty of Coolies trapped inside." "If you do all that, it's only natural the Chinese will be bitter." "Have you not heard the rumors...?" ""Five Peoples in Harmony" is the universal principle of all people in Manchuria." ""Five Peoples in Harmony":" "Japanese, Han Chinese, Manchus, Mongols, and Koreans working together peacefully to build a nation" "For the sake of Japan, I believe we must take good care of China." "Now here's a wife who graduated from Japan Women's University!" "The next day, I went to the same blacksmith's place... but no matter how long I waited, Xiao Zhao and Xiao Die didn't come." "Surprised?" "Yoshiko!" "Yoshiko..." "You can't play with our kids anymore." "Sorry..." "He's sad, too..." "September 18, 1932 (Shouwa 6), Late at Night" "Whether one likes it or not, the history of the Shouwa Era is the history of Manchuria." "Manchuria was known as the "lifeline of Japan."" "Outskirts of Fengtian (now Shenyang) Near Liutiaohu" "In order to become a powerful country on par with the West... the Japanese believed Manchuria's natural resources and territory were crucial." "Manchuria at the time was in chaos from many military groups... and was much like Japan during the Warring States period." "While exploiting and destroying these military factions... the Japanese army attempted to extend its control to all of Manchuria." "Lt. Kawamoto, with two orderlies and Sgt. Kosugi... of the Shimamoto Battalion of the Fengtian Independent Garrison... exploded a section of Mantetsu track... and disguising it as if the Chinese army had done it, they attacked the Chinese forces." "Known as the Liutiaohu Incident, it marked the start of armed conflict between Japan and China." "Manchurian Incident" "The same year, as part of a Japanese plot..." "Yingkou" "Amakasu came to meet Emperor Puyi on the wharf at Yingkou, bordering Bohai Bay." "Puyi (Last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty)" "Puyi was the last emperor of the now-collapsed Qing Dynasty." "Amakasu took Puyi to the Tanggangzi Hot Springs." "When will Manchukuo be established?" "Next spring, in March." "Tianjin" "At the time, Kawashima Yoshiko was in Tianjin." "She brought Puyi's principal wife, Wan Rong, out onto the main street." "...To make people think Puyi was still in Tianjin." "March 1933 (Shouwa 7) Establishment of Manchukuo" "On March 1, 1933, in Xinjing (now Changchun)..." ""Manchukuo"" "Paradise of the Orient" "A New "Manchuria"" "the establishment of Manchukuo, a puppet state of Japan, was declared." "Northern City:" "Xinjing Southern City:" "Beijing" "September 15, 1933 (Shouwa 7)" "Fushun Coal Mines" "Yoshiko!" "Yoshiko!" "On that day in Fushun, where we lived... an incident occurred that I would never forget the rest of my life." "Take the lanterns with you!" "The coal mines are on fire!" "Keep your voice down!" "Yoshiko!" "Mother, it's Xiao Zhao's father!" "You led the rioters, didn't you!" "We know where you were last night!" "They were all people I knew by face." "Old men from the neighborhood, and people who went to my father's class..." "With horrific faces I had never seen before, they watched a Chinese man get killed." "Is this war?" "Is this what they call war?" "I don't want this!" "I don't want this!" "That's what I thought as I cried..." "Winter." "We were to move to Fengtian." "Suspicious that my father was close to so many Chinese... a Japanese person apparently tipped off the military police." "The Fushun garrison of the Japanese army... claimed that the residents in Pingdingshan were harboring anti-Japanese guerillas... so they shot each and every one of them to death with machine guns!" "I can't even shoot a pig!" "3000 people!" "They're brutal!" "What's wrong?" "I'm scared." "Yoshiko's Lifetime Friend Lyuba GRINETS" "Is everything alright?" "Are you seeck?" "'Sick.'" "Oh, sorry!" "Are you 'sick'?" "No, I'm fine!" "Such a beautiful child!" "...Like an angel." "I'm Lyuba Grinets." "I'm Yamaguchi Yoshiko." "'Yoshiko-chan'?" "Yes!" "You can call me Lyuba-chika." "'Lyuba-chika'!" "Right!" "These... are chocolates from Petrov Confectionary." "My father runs a sweets shop in Fengtian." "Sweets shop?" "Yes!" "How yummy-looking!" "Can I get one?" "Mother!" "They're for me!" "Please be friends with her!" "I'm hoping she'll be my friend, too." "This is great, Yoshiko!" "Are you Russian?" "Yes, we're White emigres." "We fled Moscow in the Revolution." "We have no homeland." "I see..." "You're like Yoshiko." "Like Yoshiko-chan?" "Yes!" "Yoshiko was born in Manchuria... and has never once been to Japan." "You don't know about your homeland?" "Yoshiko, who doesn't know her homeland... and you, who has lost her homeland..." "The gods must have brought you two together!" "That's right!" "We have to be thackful to God!" ""Thankful"!" "Fengtian (now Shenyang)" "We stayed at the residence of the second wife of my father's close friend, Gen. Li Jichun." "Should we have Yoshiko take lessons in something?" "After seeing that incident last time, she's still shaken up." "That's a good idea!" "How about ballet!" "You're such a fool!" "Naniwa Street" "Petrov Confectionary" "This is my older brother Ivan." "Ivan, Yoshiko-chan's cute, isn't she?" "Yes, she is!" "The tea is ready." "These are piroshkis!" "Help yourself." "Thank you!" "Give me two piroshkis." "Anything strange lately?" "Nothing in particular." "Yoshiko..." "Let's be angels forever." "Always believing in God's love... never losing to the devil, no matter what happens..." "Let's keep an everlasting friendship!" "Yeah!" "Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) 1934 (Shouwa 8)" "In February of 1934 on the day of the Spring Festival..." "YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko, 13yo" "I became the adopted daughter of General Li Jichun." "This was an old Chinese custom to express deep friendship between the parents of two families." "President, Shenyang Bank LI Jichun" "Father!" "Mother!" "What a wonderful daughter!" "Yoshiko is now General Li's gan nu-er, his adopted daughter!" "We've thought of a name!" "A Chinese name!" "Li Xianglan" "Through Lyuba, I began learning singing from Madam Podrezov." "Madame PODREZOV" "A Russian exile, the Madame was a famous singer on the opera stage." "Try singing." "She doesn't have any talent at all." "Yoshiko just wants to learn music to strengthen her lungs." "She doesn't want to be an opera singer!" "Please, Madame!" "It seems the Madame was reluctant to give lessons." "But Lyuba persisted and persuaded the Madame." "Inhale..." "Exhale..." "Inhale..." "Exhale..." "Inhale..." "See!" "The books fell!" "How many times do I need to say this?" "For Lyuba's sake, I continued the lessons." "This is to strengthen your voice!" "ô Red Sarafan (Akai Sarafan)" "So is this "Li Xianglan's Recital"?" "Who knew my daughter had this much talent!" "Magnificent!" "She'll be an opera singer in the future!" "Quiet!" "Will you perform at my recital?" "The recital at the Yamato Hotel." "I want you to open for me." "Wow!" "Madame asked you open for her at the recital!" "Yamato Hotel" "ô Moonlight on the Castle Ruins (Koujou no Tsuki)" "Madame Podrezov held a recital every fall at the Yamato Hotel... and it was one of Fengtian's main events in autumn." "In a long-sleeved kimono my mother borrowed from a pawnbroker in Japantown... as a representative of the Japanese people, I sang with much ceremony." "Fengtian Broadcasting AZUMA Keizou" "I am Azuma Keizou, from Fengtian Broadcasting." "Will you try singing on a radio broadcast?" "I'm going to sing on the radio?" "Yes, on a program called "New Songs of Manchuria."" "We play old Chinese folk songs, and new songs, too." "It's a cultural activity for "Japanese-Manchurian Goodwill" and "Five Peoples in Harmony"... but I would certainly love to have you perform on our program." "Yoshiko as a singer!" "?" "Ah, I am Yoshiko's mother." "I'm her father." "I'm Mr. Azuma." "Your daughter's perfect for our upcoming program." "But... on radio?" "And these are Chinese songs, right?" "They need people who can read music and speak both Mandarin and Japanese." "Indeed..." "I guess you'd be hard-pressed to find other girls." "But radio...?" "Please, do not worry." "ô The Fishermen's Song (Yu Guang Qu)" "A sad song, isn't it?" "Yes, it is." "The misery of waiting for the fish in the morning mist..." "No fish caught, and the taxes are heavy..." "No matter what the times, the fisherman are poor..." "And about her stage name..." "Stage name!" "?" "In accordance with Manchukuo's policy of "Five Peoples in Harmony"... the government has directed that any girls who sing on the program must be Chinese." "But Yoshiko has a wonderful Japanese name already." "I understand your concerns fully." "A Chinese girl to work towards "Five Peoples in Harmony"..." "Yes." "Wait a minute!" "She has a Chinese name!" ""Ri Kouran."" ""Ri Kouran"?" "In Chinese pronunciation, it would be "Li Xianglan."" "That's perfect!" "The orchid (lan/ran) is Manchuria's flower!" "Let's go with Ri Kouran!" "Thus, I became the Chinese girl Li Xianglan... and my song reached across all Manchuria." "On my father's wishes, I was to study abroad in Beijing." "It was in order to get better at Mandarin." "At the time, after receiving criticism for establishing Manchukuo..." "Japan withdrew from the League of Nations and was now isolated from the international community." "When I went to tell Lyuba-chika about going to Beijing..." "Lyuba-chika, where are you!" "?" "I'm Lyuba's friend!" "Stay outta the way!" "Lyuba had suddenly disappeared..." "On my own, I crossed the Shanhai Pass and headed toward Beijing." "Beijing was outside Manchukuo, in the Republic of China." "I firmly grasped the money that my mother had wrapped around my waist." "This train will be crossing the border soon." "You must exchange your Manchukuo currency here into Republic currency." "Please surrender all currency from Manchukuo." "The Pan Residence, Beijing" "My father's friend, Pan Yugui, was a big-name politician in North China." "I was adopted by the Pan family... and under the Chinese name of Pan Shuhua, I attended girls' school." "YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko (PAN Shuhua), 14yo" "Yijiao Girl's School" "Yijiao Girls' School was a mission school with many daughters from rich families... but the anti-Japanese sentiment would reach even here." "Best Friend WEN Guihua" "The boyfriend of my best friend, Wen Guihua, had joined the anti-Japanese guerillas." "Sit out for the next class!" "Join us in the protest against the Japanese army!" "At this very moment, the Communist Party and the Kuomintang are in conflict!" "United as one nation, we must push back the devils from the east (the Japanese)!" "That's right!" "Let's all go to the protest!" "Let's go!" "Let's go to the protest!" "Let's go to the protest!" "On 2/29, our school was surrounded by 3,000 military police... and twenty of our schoolmates were arrested!" "The Japanese army in North China has driven out the Nationalist Government and invaded Harbin!" "Overthrow Japanese imperialism!" "Overthrow Japanese imperialism!" "We will not be slaves in a ruined country!" "We will not be slaves in a ruined country!" "Down with the Imperial Army of Japan!" "Down with the Imperial Army of Japan!" "We will not be slaves in a ruined country!" "We will not be slaves in a ruined country!" "Down with the Imperial Army of Japan!" "Down with the Imperial Army of Japan!" "Japan has fabricated a false Manchukuo... and has marched from the northeast all the way here to Beijing!" "If the Japanese army entered the city walls of Beijing, what would you do!" "I wouldn't let one Japanese soldier through the walls!" "I would go to Nanjing and volunteer for the Nationalist Army!" "I would join the Communist Army in Shanbei!" "My boyfriend is off in the underground movement." "I will join him!" "And you next to her?" "Shuhua?" "Shuhua!" "It's your turn!" "I..." "I would stand on top of Beijing's city walls!" "For the first time, I realized that first and foremost, I was Japanese." "I couldn't denounce Japan with the rest of my classmates." "Stop!" "Stop shooting!" "On top of this wall, either the gunfire from the approaching Japanese army... or gunfire from the counterattacking Chinese would hit me first, and I would die instantly." "I believed that was the most appropriate way to end this life of mine." "1937 (Shouwa 12) Donglaishun Restaurant" "In August 1937, on Lugou Bridge on the outskirts of Peking... the Chinese and Japanese armies clashed and full-scale war broke out between China and Japan." "Around that time, Mr. Yamaga came to visit me." "This is my real work." "Beijing Expeditionary Force, News Department, Pacification Work Head:" "Army Lt. Cmdr. Yamaga Tooru." "Yoshiko, 17yo" ""Pacification work"...?" "I'm a covert operative in the fields of culture, entertainment, and journalism." "Covert operative?" "I knew Mr. Wang would be here!" "Hello!" "These are all my sweethearts!" "Movie actresses and singers!" "Really...?" "Hello!" "I have to talk to my daughter." "We'll be waiting over there for you then!" "Suprised?" "Yeah..." "Why don't you call me 'Ojisama' ('Uncle')?" "I'm not old enough to be 'Grandpa' yet!" "'Uncle Yamaga'!" "You know..." "Your father is traveling back and forth between Fengtian and Beijing... working for Datong Coal." "I see..." "Right now, the anti-Japanese demonstrations in Beijing are becoming more violent." "It's not safe." "Posing as Chinese and living in a Chinese family is extremely dangerous." "I can't drop out of the girls' school right now." "If I just quit here, what did I struggle through all that for?" "And all the more, if my parents are just going to move to Beijing." "I will stay with the Pan family." "You wanna be a singer?" "What?" "Of course, it'd be after you graduate." "A singer!" "What do you think?" "You're much prettier than those girls... and you're good at singing, too!" "You've never even heard me sing before!" "I listened to you everyday in Manchuria." "Ri Kouran." "Top City:" "Xinjing Bottom Two Cities:" "Beijing and Tianjin" "Tianjin was the closest large city to Beijing... and was the focal point for diplomatic relations and military activity." "Tianjin" "Summer 1937 (Shouwa 12) Dongxinglou" "ô Embroidered Purse (Xiu He Bao)" "Inaugurated as the mayor of Tianjin was my adopted father Mr. Pan." "One day during summer vacation, I was called to a gala at Tianjin's Dongxinglou... and there, I first encountered Kawashima Yoshiko." "Kawashima Yoshiko!" "Cmdr. Jin Bihui!" "Princess Xianzi." "It's Kawashima Yoshiko." "...Aisin Gioro Xianzi, the 14th daughter of Shanqi... the 10th heir to the House of Qing Prince Su." "Commander-in-Chief of the Anguo Army in Rehe Province." ""Aisin Gioro Xianzi"..." "Is she a relative of Emperor Puyi?" "Yes." "She's coming." "My goodness, Cmdr. Jin Bihui!" "Congratulations." "I've heard of your songs before..." "I listened to Ri Kouran's songs together with Yamaga." "You look good in that Chinese dress..." "My real name is Yamaguchi Yoshiko." "How coincidental..." "Same name as me." "Nice to meet you." "It's a pleasure to meet you, too." "When I was small they used to call me Yoko-chan... so I'll call you Yoko-chan, too." "You can call me 'Oniichan' ('Big Brother')." "I injured my right ear fighting with the guerillas." "So if I don't get close like this, I can't hear well." "This is my secretary, Miss Liu." "I'll have her give you a phone call." "Let's have a little fun next time." "Excuse me." "Lt. Gen. Tada, top advisor to the Manchukuo Department of Military Affairs... admired her as the "Joan of Arc of the Orient."" "I'm scared!" "I was immediately invited the next day by Ms. Kawashima." "It's the Princess's invitation, so there's not much we can do." "Don't stay out too late." "Okay." "A sense of decadence and desperation floating about Ms. Kawashima." "You all stink!" "How can we dance with no rhythm!" "That Tada..." "I became an obstruction." "He used to call me every day, you know." "Top advisor to the Manchukuo Department of Military Affairs, Tada Hayao." "I was Cmdr. Jin Bihui, commanding 6,000 troops!" "And I was also the one captured Rehe." "And the one who brought Puyi's Empress to Manchuria." "Even the Shanghai Incident, we won because I was there." "But now that Manchukuo's established, he says he doesn't need me anymore." "He's a cold man." "But I'm the Mata Hari of the East!" "Without me, the Kwantung Army is nothing." "Without someone Chinese like me, they'll never understand China." "Tada knows that, so he makes me manage Dongxinglou... and is using it as the secret headquarters for the Anguo Army." "Dongxinglou is the headquarters of the Anguo Army?" "Yeah." "Yoko-chan..." "If anything happens, you can tell me." "Ms. Kawashima?" "'Oniichan'!" "Oniichan?" "What?" "My friend in Fengtian has disappeared." "Friend?" "Yes..." "She's Russian." "She's a girl named Lyuba Grinets... and her father runs a shop called Petrov Confectionary." "She's dead." "Kawashima Yoshiko!" "?" "You mean Kawashima Yoshiko, "Mata Hari of the East"?" "What do you mean she's associating with her?" "She's being invited every day by Kawashima Yoshiko... and they have some fun together." "B- ..." "But...!" "Yes?" "Yoshiko promised to come home for summer vacation!" "Aiya!" "Mister Wang!" "Lady Dongzhen!" "You're beautiful as always...!" "Mr. Pan is angry." "What!" "?" "How can I show my face to your father!" "Gather your belongings and go back to Beijing!" "What are you doing to my Yoko-chan!" "I'll go home..." "I'm sorry, Oniichan." "Xinjing (now Changchun)" "The Manchurian Film Association, popularly known as "Man'ei"... was established with investment from Manchukuo and Mantetsu... as an essential policy in the government of Manchukuo." "ô The Fishermen's Song (Yu Guang Qu)" "I see...!" "Member of the Man'ei Board of Directors NEGISHI Kan'ichi" "Her singing's great too!" "'Ri Kouran'!" "Man'ei Head of Productions MAKINO Mitsuo" "She's got a compelling gaze, too!" "Is she really Japanese?" "Yeah." "She's fluent in Chinese!" "Bingo!" "Dongxinglou" "This is Mr. Yamanashi from the Manchurian Film Association." "I heard you went to a movie today?" "Yes, the office at the girls' school was blown up, so class was cancelled." "I see..." "Is lamb okay today?" "Lamb." "Yes, sir." "She loves the lamb stew here." "Man'ei General Manager YAMANASHI Minoru" "It's the only thing she orders here!" "She's so single-minded!" "With handsome eyes like that, she certainly looks single-minded!" "Last year in Xinjing, the Manchurian Film Association was founded." "...To make movies for the people of Manchuria." "In other words... to advance the national policy of "Five Peoples in Harmony" and "Japanese-Manchurian Goodwill."" "They'd like you to help." "Me!" "?" "What would I be helping the Manchurian Film Association with...?" "Are you old enough to drink?" "Nope, not yet!" "Have you found a job once you graduate from the girls' school?" "No..." "I'm thinking of asking my father for advice." "I see." "Actually, since a lot of leading actresses can't sing, Man'ei's Head of Productions ... wants you to sing for them." "You won't be starring in the movie." "We'd just be recording your singing." "Please consider it." "You don't have to take it too seriously, just have fun!" "I'll think about it." "Yoko-chan!" "Kawashima Yoshiko's Residence" "Yamaga told you to stop associating with me, didn't he..." "Well, it's alright..." "You have a broken heart today or something?" "You had a serious look on your face walking." "I did?" "Yeah..." "What's wrong?" "They asked me to sing for a movie in place of the actress." "You mean Yamaga?" "Yes..." "Mr. Yamaga, and a man from Man'ei." "Are you and Yamaga together, Yoko-chan!" "?" "Why...?" "Miss Liu!" "I'm not supposed to drink water when I do this." "It's to stop the pain from the traumatic spondylitis." ""Traumatic spondylitis"...?" "I got injured on the battlefield." "I'm risking my life fighting for the sake of Manchuria!" "The medicine's starting to work..." "Don't listen to whatever the hell that Yamaga says!" "He's got that damn grin on his face... but he's nothing but a demon at heart!" "Why am I telling you this...?" "He left me!" "I can't stand it!" "I can't stand it..." "Oniichan...?" "Oniichan?" "How about I sing a song?" "A song...?" "Sing." ""The Fisherman's Song"..." "Sure." "Yoko-chan?" "You're beautiful." "You should be a movie actress." "Movie actress?" "She went to Man'ei to record songs in place of the Chinese actresses!" "The leading actress is Ri Kouran." "Yoshiko!" "?" "Don't be ridiculous, Mr. Yamaga!" "ô Ballad of Fengyang (Feng Yang Ge)" "Xinjing Station" "See you next time!" "It's this train for sure, right?" "She has to be here somewhere!" "It's cause Yamanashi's an idiot!" "I told you we needed some kind of mark or sign or something!" "Hey..." "Is that the girl?" "That's her!" "That's her!" "Hello." "So you didn't ride on the special train for Japanese... but rode with the Chinese, huh?" "What a great girl!" "Man'ei's Ri Kouran, adored by the people of China..." ""Japanese-Manchurian Goodwill," "Five Peoples in Harmony"... and now "Birth of a Star"!" "What a beauty!" "She'll be a big-name actress!" "You'll love the picture shoots out in the field!" "You ain't need to worry!" "...Leave it to me!" "But I came to sing." "It don't matter!" "C'mon, c'mon, the car's waiting!" "When I arrived at Man'ei, they did my makeup and placed me in front of a camera." "One-in-a-million baby!" "Jackpot, baby!" "Indeed..." "Director UENO Shinji" "Lemme see!" "Wow...!" "Ri Kouran!" "Turn to your left!" "Cinematographer IKEDA Sentarou" "Turn right a little bit more!" "Turn your head a little bit!" "Raise your chin!" "Give him that flirtatious look!" "She'll do great!" "I told you!" "Okay, next smile like you're embarassed!" "That's not it!" "Don't show your teeth!" "And don't close your eyes!" "I can't do it." "It don't matter!" "Leave it to me!" "Smile!" "Enchant him!" "Okay, action!" "I didn't come to Xinjing to appear in a movie!" "I came to Xinjing because Uncle Yamaga asked me to sing in place of the Chinese actresses!" "You're training me in front of a camera to be a movie actress!" "You look cute even when you cry!" "Man'ei Film Studio" "My protests futile, I was overrun by the excitement of the people at Man'ei... and we began filming for the comedy "Honeymoon Express."" ""Honeymoon Express"" "ô We're Still Young (Futari wa Wakai)" "Okaaaay..." "Action!" "Honey!" "CUT!" "How many times do I have to tell you!" ""Honnnn-ey."" "Okay?" "Ri Kouran!" "Use your nose... "Hon-ey!"" "Okay?" "One more time!" "I can't!" "Keep your mouth shut, lousy actress!" "Contract" "Manchurian Film Association" "Wait just a minute, Mr. Yamaga..." "Yoshiko's going to be secretary to Mayor Pan of Tianjin... or an important government figure back in Tokyo..." "In any event, we've told her to work for Chinese-Japanese goodwill ever since she was small." "She's studied Chinese with that in mind." "Even if we say yes, I don't think Yoshiko will become an actress." "Your daughter will definitely become a famous actress." "Yoshiko's Japanese, but she's got the Chinese name Li Xianglan..." "She'll be a grand actress loved by Chinese and Japanese alike!" "That's just clever talk." "Do not use Yoshiko as a tool of the Japanese army's pacification policy in China." "Her monthly salary will be 250 yen." "My goodness!" "250 yen, honey!" "Don't be crazy!" "I agreed on the basis that it was only singing." "It's too embarassing to act!" "Don't matter, don't mutter!" "Leave it to me!" "Mr. Makino, all you ever say is, "It don't matter!" "Leave it to me!"" "Everyone's workin' for you, the leading role!" "Take a good, hard look." "Just stay quiet and listen to what the Director says!" "Movies are mysterious things!" "Before you know it, you'll be having fun!" "It's up and up from here!" "Director!" "One more time!" "Ready..." "Action!" "Let's have some wine." "Stay with her!" "Magnificent!" "Incredible!" "You'll be famous!" "Wow..!" "Look at her!" "You were fantastic!" "I was impressed." "Even the director said you'd become famous!" "All day, I got yelled at..." ""Stupid!" "Lousy!" "Go home!"" "I've never felt this bitter before!" "But I'm enduring it because I didn't want to get Uncle Yamaga in trouble." "When it's finished, I'm heading straight back to Beijing and looking for a job!" "That song's popular right now." "On my way here to Xingjing... the old men in the train were singing it, so I had them teach me." "ô Ballad of Fengyang (Feng Yang Ge)" "It's a folk song called "Ballad of Fengyang"..." "Should I translate it for you?" "Who do you take me for!" "There's a place called Fengyang." "The people who lived there all boasted about what a wonderful place it was." "But after Emperor Zhu appeared, the land was completely ruined." "We've lost the land here... and have no more children to sell." "Very good!" "But what do they mean by "Emperor Zhu"?" ""Emperor Zhu" is Japan." "You're right..." "It's Japan." "...It's Japan." "It's sad..." "Even though we love Manchuria..." "Even though we're doing our best to live simply... we're called "demons"..." "You have the talent to become an actress!" "That's what I thought watching you earlier." "You have what it takes to be a bridge between Japan, Manchuria, and China." "I believe your talent was bestowed on you from the heavens." "Do you ever recollect on what happened that day in Fushun?" "When that happened, you weren't yourself for a while." "Seeing normal people turn into savages... you were scared to death and cried a lot." "Yoshiko?" "Movies..." "Movies with heart..." "Even singing, theatre, sculpture, and paintings... those arts protect us humans from the demons, don't you think?" "...Embracing people's hearts with purity, warmth, and compassion." "Your father believes movies are one of those." "And who knows?" "Maybe seeing what happened that day... is the gods' way of telling you to bring light to people's hearts..." "That may have been a revelation from them." "I wonder..." "What China and Manchuria need now is a goddess!" "...A goddess who can move them and give them the hope to live!" "I will become a movie actress." "I became absorbed in movies." "When we weren't filming, with my newcomer Chinese friends..." "I devoted myself to practicing at the acting school." "Come in, come in!" "Forum for the Expansion of Arts on the Chinese Continent Pen Unit" "These are our new faces!" "Okay, continue your practice!" "They were writers from the Pen Unit of the Forum for the Expansion of Arts on the Chinese Continent." "Among them was Tamura Taijirou..." "Writer TAMURA Taijirou fearlessness, wickedness, simplicity, and shyness... all mixed together in one young man in love with literature." "The name...!" "Tell me the name!" "Do you mind writing it?" "What is it?" "Is something wrong?" "They've been getting friendly for a while now." "No..." "This dessert was really good, so I asked her what it's called." "It's the West Empress Dowager's favorite dessert... "Yun dou juan."" "Thanks." "Ri Kouran." "We asked Mr. Kume to write the original story for the movie you'll star in!" "You can't be friendly with just Mr. Tamura!" "Yes." "Mr. Kume!" "The lead actor for "Song of the Orchids" will be Hasegawa Kazuo." "Really?" "Hasegawa Kazuo...?" "Wow!" "Hasegawa Kazuo is a construction engineer..." "Writer KUME Masao who falls in love with Li Xuexiang, daughter of a powerful Manchu family from the countryside... who is studying singing in Fengtian." "That's the story..." "Magnificent!" "The theatres will be packed!" "With this, Ri Kouran will become a big star!" "Thank you very much!" "Ri Kouran!" "Why don't you thank Mr. Kume, too!" "Thank you!" "I will do my best!" "And, I'll make it big!" "You ain't need to be that polite!" "Xinjing Station" "What a surprise!" "She really came to see us off!" "Take care!" "It's still 5 in the morning!" "It was below freezing at the entrance!" "Tamura!" "What are you gonna do!" "?" "Mr. Tamura?" "I've never once been to Japan." "I'd like to go one time." "Come, come!" "I can give you a call about it!" "We'll give you a big welcome!" "I'll show you around!" "Really?" "Yeah." "I promise." "Ri Kouran..." "How about a song to commemorate the moment?" "Mr. Kume!" "We're at the train station platform!" "It's better without a microphone anyways!" "She's got a beautiful voice..." "I'll sing." ""He Ri Jun Zai Lai"!" "ô When Will I See You Again?" "(He Ri Jun Zai Lai)" "Ri Kouran and Meng Hong!" "They'll be holding the Manchurian Natural Resources Exposition in Tokyo soon." "As actresses representing of Man'ei... and ambassadors of "Japanese-Manchurian Goodwill"... you two will be going to Tokyo." "Tokyo!" "?" "I'm going to Japan...?" "Mother, Father..." "I'll finally be going to Japan, the place of my dreams for so long." "For the first time, I'll look upon Mt." "Fuji." "To clear-running rivers... and lush-green mountains and the elegant scenery of the ancient capital." "I cannot sleep, just imagining it all." "Yoshiko" "She's so excited...!" "She'll see her homeland for the first time." "March 1939 (Shouwa 14) Shimonoseki Harbor, Japan" "My first time in Japan." "As we neared Shimonoseki, lush with greenery, I felt like crying." "Yoshiko, 19yo" "Meng Hong didn't know I was Japanese, so I desperately suppressed my emotion." "Actress MENG Hong" "Hey!" "Hold it right there!" "Come back here!" "Go on ahead." "Lemme see your passport again!" "Nationality:" "Japan" "You call yourself Japanese!" "?" "I..." "Why the hell are you dressed like that!" "What's wrong?" "Look..." "Japanese are first-world citizens!" "Dressing like those third-world Chinks and speaking that damn Chinese..." "You..." "Don't you feel ashamed at all!" "How was the trip?" "Tired?" "Shinjuku, Tokyo" "Yeah..." "I took the train." "The trains in Manchuria just pass through the steppes... but here in Japan, they run right between houses!" "Smokestacks, factories, and steel bridges flying by one after another..." "It was scary!" "Well, everything in Manchuria has a sense of grandeur... so coming from there, Japan must seem hectic and frenzied." "But you know..." "If you go somewhere like Kamakura or Kyouto, it's a whole different world." "If you'd like, I'll take you there." "This is the spot." "Mr. Tamura?" "Please, sign my book!" "A signature?" "This is a bit awkward..." "I'm very sorry..." "We have reservations today." "She can stay..." "You've been following us, haven't you?" "Have a drink with us." "It's cold outside, no?" "What's your name?" "ATSUMI Masako" "My name is Atsumi Masako." "And how we can help you, Ms. Atsumi...?" "I was ordered by Man'ei's Tokyo office to be your attendant." "Attendant?" "I..." "I'm a big fan of yours." "I see..." "Okay." "You look like a good person." "T-Thank you!" "I'm so happy!" "I'm so happy you called me a good person...!" "I can rest at peace now!" "I'm so happy!" "Really?" "Then..." "After some sake, you can go home for the night if you'd like!" "No!" "I have a duty to protect Ri Kouran's virginity!" "Virginity!" "?" "This lady's a riot!" "May 1939 (Shouwa 14) Nomonhan, Banks of the Khalkha River" "In May 1939 (Shouwa 14), in Nomonhan in northern Manchuria... the Japanese and Soviet armies clashed in a large scale battle... and the Japanese army was crushed." "That year, I appeared in..." ""Dreams of Wealth and Honor" (Fu Gui Chun Meng)" ""Revenge of the Spirits" (Yuan Hun Fu Chou)" ""Journey to the East" (Xiyouji)" ""Iron Blood, Wise Heart" (Tiexue Huixin) ...four Man'ei productions in a row." "Hide!" "They're smuggling opium!" "I'll teach 'em a lesson!" "Opium corrupts good people!" "I'm on your side!" "Thanks!" "Let's go!" ""Ri Kouran" became a household name in Manchuria." "Tokyo June 1939 (Shouwa 14)" "Actor HASEGAWA Kazuo" "Please lend Ri Kouran your assistance!" "Ri Kouran's Chinese, right?" "Yes!" "Can she act?" "Beijing" "At that time, my family had moved to a new house in Beijing." "Yamaguchi House" "Hashigawa Kazuo as in "Hayashi Choujirou" (stage name)?" "Yes." "He was cut in the face by the yakuza, right?" "Yes, he said he was going to quit the movie company!" "Hasegawa Kazuo of "The Ghost of Yuki-no-jou", huh?" "That's right!" "Wow!" "You're famous, costarring with Hasegawa Kazuo!" "Can I go to the shoot the next time?" "The studio's in Tokyo!" "But they're doing location shots in Manchuria." "Tokyo!" "?" "It's not a Man'ei film?" "No..." "This time, it's a Toho production!" "Toho!" "?" "Ri Kouran's finally appearing in a Japanese film?" "Wow!" "You're above the clouds now, you're so famous!" "I'm a little scared..." "I'm scared of Hasegawa Kazuo!" "It's only 5:30!" "Testing starts at 7:00, right!" "?" "The director, Mr. Watanabe, told me to come early and wait!" "He's here!" "Mr. Hasegawa?" "I'm Ri Kouran." "It's a pleasure to meet you." "I'm Matsumura Yasukichi." "I'm Li Xuexiang." "It's a pleasure to meet you." "Same here." "The director of "Song of the Orchids" was Watanabe Kunio..." ""Song of the Orchids" (Byakuran no Uta) famous for doing quick shoots." "He has a lover by the name of Li Xuexiang... the daughter of an elite family from Rehe Province, studying singing in Fengtian." "And thus was born a love that crossed borders." "Director WATANABE Kunio" "But Yasukuchi has a marriage proposal with the daughter of his boss... so the two have a misunderstanding!" "Xuexiang joins the anti-Japanese movement." "Run towards the hills over there!" "Ready..." "Action!" "The camera's rolling!" "Go!" "Run!" "Run!" "Run!" "Director...?" "What face should I have as I run?" "Should I be crying?" "Or smiling?" "Who cares!" "Just run!" "Run!" "I guess she doesn't know what a "panoramic shot" is..." "Right..." "We won't see her face." "While on location, we occasionally visited the Japanese troops... ô Purple Ballad (Murasaki Kouta) but the Japanese soldiers preferred Mr. Hasegawa's woman over me." "It's your turn!" "Yes." "Toho Studios Kinuta, Tokyo" "Okay!" "Let's roll!" "I will be moving around." "Is this position here alright with you?" "Lighting!" "Fix this!" "Fix it for him!" "Fix it, we're gonna shoot!" "Excuse me..." "It's Mr. Yamanashi..." "Ri!" "I've been fired." "The second board chairman, Mr. Amakasu, ordered me to go home... so I came to say goodbye." "Mr. Amakasu...?" "Yes." "Former Military Police Captain Amakasu Masahiko." "Military Police Captain...?" "Yes." "During the Great Kanto Earthquake he murdered the anarchist Osugi Sakae..." "Osugi's mistress Itou Noe... and his young nephew, in cold blood." "He's now the second board chairman." "H-He's the chairman of Man'ei!" "?" "Are you alright?" "I have a headache..." "I wonder if it's a cold..." "I'll call the doctor!" "It's alright...!" "Mr. Hasegawa told me to study the script." "But you did just fine acting!" "No, I didn't." "Mr. Hasegawa looks at me sometimes like he's angry..." "Just who is that Hasegawa Kazuo anyways!" "What nerve to criticize Ri Kouran's acting!" "When we're acting up close, I can see his eyes sparkle." "My heart skips a beat." "I feel more dead than alive." "Yes?" "It's Hasegawa." "Mr. Hasegawa!" "Welcome!" "Why couldn't I believe you to the end?" "I wrote many a letter asking you to bear with it until the time was right." "I only found that out now!" "I was completely unaware... only hating you, and allowing that sickness to creep in." "Let's stop here for tonight." "Okay." "Thank you." "Mr. Hasegawa!" "Would you like some tea?" "Really?" "Please have a seat." "Please." "Thanks." "Hot!" "I'm so sorry!" "I can't take hot food." "You need to learn how the Japanese make tea." "Toho's using 20,000 yen to publicize this "Song of the Orchids"... and are eager to make it a big hit..." "But they're just fishing twice in the same spot." "This will be the first and last film I make with you." "I'm very, very sorry...!" "It's not your fault..." "It's goes against my professional policy to work with an actress... from a company whose board chairman is a murderer." "Hurry up and leave Man'ei!" "Welcome." "Mr. Tamura is...?" "I called him at his office, but he wasn't there..." "Whiskey, please." "I might be overstepping my bounds here... but do you know that Mr. Tamura was threatened by Man'ei?" "Man'ei!" "?" "They said "Ri Kouran's a valuable actress to us, so see her 'in moderation'"!" "That pissed me off right there... so I told them that's up to me and her!" "What do you think they said then?" "What?" "Some crazy fans of Ri Kouran were angry at me... so they called me because they were worried I might get hurt!" "Give me another shot." "I'm sorry..." "You're out?" "Yes..." "For the time being." "Who threatened Mr. Tamura?" "I heard that Chairman Amakasu is controlling an organization called the "Amakasu Agency."" ""Amakasu Agency"...?" "Even Emperor Puyi and the general of the Kwantung Army can't hold face with Mr. Amakasu." "Sannou Hotel" "Welcome back." ""If Mr. Tamaru had knocked on my door..."" "When I pondered that, I became sad for some reason... but in the end, Mr. Tamura did not come." "Soon after, he was called into military service and sent to the continent." "Manchurian Film Association Xinjing" "After filming for "Song of the Orchids" was complete..." "I returned to Man'ei's main office in Xinjing and asked to see Chairman Amakasu." "I bore intense hostility to Mr. Amakasu." "It's the Chairman." "Go greet him." "Let me take your coat for you." "No thank you." "Come now..." "Your debut film, "Honeymoon Express," was a horrible production... but I think you did an admirable job." "I happen to enjoy that film a lot." "There is nothing quite as worthless as a "national policy" film." "Really?" "Making movies that will ease wartime tensions and give people the joy to live... is a film company's duty." "A gift for you." "I received it from Emperor Xuantong." "The generations of Qing Dynasty emperors have amassed a vast collection of wealth and jewels." "Please, don't hesitate to accept it." "I cannot accept it." "Excuse me." "Will you say 'non' if I ask your age, too?" "Yes." "I went to France after I quit the military police." "I saw many, many movies in France." "A monster like me cried, got angry, and laughed in another country." "I returned to being human when watching movies." "My, your face looks much softer now." "Some people claimed my arrival means that Man'ei, created to advance a colonial policy... will at last be under the control of the right-wing militarists." "...In other words, they say it's a reshuffling of personnel by a military dictatorship." "Mr. Yamanashi and the others schemed... to deny the transfer of an ex-murderer like myself to Man'ei." "I have no intention of making films for the benefit of the Kwantung Army." "I am not the Kwantung Army's dog." "Do you understand?" "I am Amakasu Masahiko." "Yes." "With regards to Mr. Tamura... are you dissatisfied with him taking up a gun for his country and fighting?" "No." "You may think someone pulled strings to call him into service, but..." "What?" "As far as Mr. Tamura goes..." "For teaching me that unfulfilled love could be this painful and sad...." "I truly owe you my gratitude." "So please don't say another word." "The wounds of my heart won't be covered up by hearing lies." "Lies?" "The actress Ri Kouran is vital to Manchuria." "You could at least pretend she bravely sent her lover off to the battlefront." "Please excuse me." "Ri Kouran?" "Please." "No thanks." "Allow me to introduce..." "Man'ei's..." "No, no... now, Japan's pride, Ri Kouran!" "I am Ri Kouran." ""The Society for Protecting Ri Kouran"" "Let's meet everyone." "This is the president of "The Society for Protecting Ri Kouran"..." "Official to the Imperial Court of Emperor Puyi's Imperial Household Office..." "Lt. Gen. Yoshioka." "YOSHIOKA Yasunao Lieutenant-General" "I'm pleased to meet you." "I'm Yoshioka." "Such a beautiful lady!" "Even more than what I've heard!" "Thank you." "Preemptive strike, huh?" "Okay, this way..." "With Lt. Gen. Yoshioka as president, "The Association for Protecting Ri Kouran" included among its members..." "From the General Affairs Agency, Director-General Hoshino..." "Vice-Director Kishi Nobusuke..." "President Okada of the Bank of Manchuria... and businessmen Takasaki Tatsunosuke and Ayukawa Yoshisuke, among others." "One cup." "Have you met Emperor Xuantong before?" "No." "Come to the Palace to visit." "The Emperor will certainly be pleased with you." "Ri Kouran is an actress." "What?" "She is not a geisha." "She is not to serve sake or anything else." "My apologies." "I was a bit abrupt as well." "...Why don't you have a cup with us?" "Thank you." "Following "Song of the Orchids"..." "Toho would like to borrow you for another production with Hasegawa Kazuo." "Wouldn't Mr. Hasegawa decline?" "He is." "Since Mr. Amakasu's become chairman, he refuses to co-star with Ri Kouran." "I won't allow that." "Ri Kouran is Man'ei's treasure..." "The star of Greater East Asia!" "People like Hasegawa Kazuo are in no position to decline." "That's right!" "He won't get away with just a cut to the face!" "Starting today, I will also be joining your fan club." "By all means!" "We'll be shooting soon!" ""China Nights" (Shina no Yoru)" "You're all working hand-in-hand to trick me!" "I won't be fooled anymore!" "Guilan!" "He actually hit me!" "Yamaguchi House, Beijing" "I started bleeding from the eyes!" "But Mr. Hasegawa did apologize later, saying he got carried away..." "I see..." "Both General Li and General Pan were furious after seeing "China Nights"!" "...Seing a Japanese man slap a Chinese woman." "Yoshiko was just acting according to the script!" "It comes with the work!" "Falling in love with a man who hits you won't get through to the Chinese!" "And this is supposed to improve Japanese-Chinese relations?" "It's only going to stir up the anti-Japanese movement!" "Wait!" "I mean... 1940 (Shouwa 15) Yoshiko, 20yo" "ô Suzhou Nocturne (Soshuu Yakyoku)" "That was the only part they didn't like." "They all loved everything else." "You're acting has gotten markedly better, too." "You were beautiful." "Oh, the newspaper said this time you'll be co-starring with Mr. Hasegawa again!" "That theme song is beautiful, too..." "A folk song from Soshuu?" "No..." "Hattori Ryouichi composed the song!" "He worked hard to make it just for me." "They're gonna make it into a record, too!" "Really?" "It's a nice melody!" "In your embrace, listening to a sailor's song from a dream, a bird's song." "So beautiful..." "Spring in my Suzhou of water, when the flowers fall..." "It'll be a big hit!" "Donglaishun, Tianjin" "Are you the assassin from the Kwantung Army?" "His Excellency Lt. Gen. Tada ordered me assassinated, didn't he?" "I hear news of things like that in no time." "Really?" "Escape to Japan." "Rely on the right-wing higher-ups." "A letter of reference for you." "How's Ri Kouran?" "She's well." "This song's a big hit, too." "I was the one who suggested she be an actress... but once she gets popular, she couldn't care less." "How ingrateful..." "She knew about my relationship with Yamaga, then stole him!" "Stop lying!" "That's why I told the military police..." "Military police?" "I told them Ri Kouran's a spy who getting close to Yamaga... and is squeezing highly-classified secrets from him." "Have some pride." "A woman without pride is just another whore." "Winter 1940 (Shouwa 15) Hakata Station" "Seiryuusou Inn" "This is your room." "Oniichan!" "Hey, Yoko-chan!" "Must have been a long trip!" "Actually..." "There's a project to make a movie of Kawashima Yoshiko's life." "I want you to play my part." "I see..." "When you're all settled, I'll drop by again." "As usual, Oniichan was lying." "Yoko-chan..." "I'm happy to see you." "I have no idea what will happen to me from this point on." "This may even be the last time I see you." "When I look back on it all, what was this life of mine?" "I feel incredibly empty." "The golden time for people is when they are popular with the world." "Now it is your time." "Do what you yourself truly want to do." "Before you stands a prime example of someone who's been used and discarded." "My frame of mind as I watch the sun sinking into the vast wastelands..." "I'm alone." "Where should I walk, all alone?" "The following year, in February 1941 (Shouwa 16)..." "I immersed myself in rehearsal for the "Ri Kouran Show"..." ""a singing ambassador for 'Japanese-Manchurian Goodwill'."" "Yes." "Tokyo February 1941 (Shouwa 16)" "Yes." "I've been waiting for a while now... but nobody's come to pick me up." "Yoshiko, 21yo" "A tall man named Mr. Kodama?" "I'll try waiting a bit longer." "He's your bodyguard, so he needs to be on time!" "Are you Ri Kouran?" "I have been assigned to escort you." "Toho Arts Department KODAMA Hidemi" "My name is Mr. Kodama." "Ri Kouran" "Nihon Gekijou Theatre, Tokyo" "We were waiting for the flowers!" "You were in the Arts Department?" "That's what he said." "His first script was for a musical that was scheduled to run, but..." "Um, could we not discuss that...?" "The musical was set to run, but what happened?" "Nothing at all." "He's right, nothing at all." "At-chan!" "You'll listen to Mr. Kodama but not me!" "?" "Of course not!" "Then tell me!" "Ri Kouran's show was finalized... so Mr. Kodama's musical was put on hold." "And after that, he was ordered to be my escort?" "Mr. Kodama!" "I'm sorry!" "For what?" "Your musical was suspended because of me, right?" "You must be bitter..." "Yes." "But don't let that bother you." "Make your upcoming show a success!" "Yes." "Thank you." "Excuse me." "It's Yoshiko!" "We received a phone call from a Tokyo newspaper..." "They want to know if it's true that Ri Kouran's actually not Chinese... but Japanese with the name Yamaguchi Yoshiko." "I see..." "The night before the performance, I succumbed to anxiety... wondering just how many would come to see a show by a Chinese actress like Ri Kouran." "Good morning!" "Good morning!" "Let's get going then." "9:00..." "Kodama came to meet me and we left the hotel." "February 11, 1941 (Shouwa 16)" "Wow!" "Box office ticket windows No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 were a throng of people." "Following the round contours of the Nihon Gekijou building... we attempted to reach the backstage entrance." "If this person can't get in, the show can't begin!" "Mr. Kodama!" "Yeah, I know..." "If they find out, we're in trouble!" "Don't move, okay?" "I'll be right back!" "Excuse me!" "Listen." "Grab good hold of my shoulders, okay?" "We made it!" "Thanks!" "Look at all the people!" "The line's under police supervision!" "At the time, I didn't know what was happening outside." "The number of people gathered outside... was twenty... thirty times the number of seats in the Nihon Gekijou Theatre." "Marunouchi Police Station Captain Kanazawa" "Everyone listen up!" "Listen up!" "Right now, with every ounce of strength, our country is striving towards a New Order in East Asia!" "Our brave, loyal men are placing their lives on the line fighting in the wilderness of China!" "With that in mind, you should all be ashamed of your behavior today!" "Disperse immediately!" "Disperse!" "Okay!" "Let's go!" "Yes!" "I'll give it my best!" "I'm counting on you!" "Mr. Kodama?" "When it's time, tap me on the back!" "ô That Beloved Star of Mine (Itoshi Ano Hoshi)" "The carriage runs, runs in the evening breeze" "Whisper to the blue willow" "My dear, I'll follow you wherever" "A heart that's decided doesn't change" "In the shadows of the lights from a dim lamp" "Just writing letters makes me think of the past" "Longing for your reply, what will it be?" "Will it be me my mother saying she's leaving, too?" "The crowds wrapped around the theatre 7 1/2 times!" "?" "Chairman's Office, Man'ei" "That's great news!" "The newspapers printed what?" "Ri Kouran's really Japanese, Yamaguchi Yoshiko..." "I see..." "They want an interview?" "ô Suzhou Nocturne (Soshuu Yakyoku) In your embrace, listening to a sailor's song from a dream, a bird's song." "Spring in my Suzhou of water, when the flowers fall..." "The willow weeps in lament" "The throng of people who couldn't get in refused to go home... and the disorder only turned more violent." ""Raucous crowds disgrace celebration"..." "Let's go with that!" "Yes, sir!" "Wait!" "Make a big headline: "Nichigeki 7 1/2 times around incident!"" ""Nichigeki 7 1/2 times around incident!"" ""...disgrace auspicious occasion"" ""Raucous crowds..."" "Adapted from YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko "Living the Life of 'Ri Kouran':" "My Personal History"" "ô The Cheers Song (Kanpai no Uta)" "Screenwriter TAKEYAMA You" "Music HATTORI Takayuki" "CAST" "They were dark times." "RI Kouran (YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko) UETO Aya" "The Sino-Japanese War continued without end." "KAWASHIMA Yoshiko KIKUKAWA Rei" "AMAKASU Masahiko NAKAMURA Shidou" "The previous year, the Imperial Rule Assistance Association was established..." "KODAMA Hidemi OZAWA Yukiyoshi and billboards throughout town proclaimed "Luxury is the Enemy."" "AZUMA Keizou KANEDA Akio" "Lt. Gen. YOSHIOKA Yasunao NISHIDA Ken" "TAMURA Taijirou SAITOU Youichirou" "Using English was prohibited..." "ATSUMI Masako KAWAMATA Shinobu" "YAMANASHI Minoru SAITOU Satoru" "MAKINO Mitsuo TOKUI Yuu" "UENO Shinji MATSUZAWA Kazuyuki" ""crawl" became "hayaoyogi"..." "IKEDA Sentarou SAITOU Bunta" "WATANABE Kunio SUZUKI Masayuki" "Capt. KANAZAWA AYATA Toshiki baseball's "Play Ball!" became "Youi!"..." "NEGISHI Kan'ichi ISHII Hideaki" "KUME Masao TAGUCHI Kazumasa" "HASEGAWA Kazuo NAKAMURA Fukusuke even "Cherry" cigarettes became "Sakura."" "Japan charged headlong into war with America and England." "YAMAGA Tooru ONO Takehiko" "Why, in times like this, would a Japanese audience become so excited over a Chinese actress?" "YAMAGUCHI Ai NATORI Yuuko" "YAMAGUCHI Fumio HASHIDZUME Isao" "STAFF" "Production SHIMADA Masayuki KUROI Kazuo" "Producers HASHIMOTO Kaori TSUBAKI Norikazu TANO Masanori" "In such a harsh atmosphere..." "Co-Producer GU Xiaodong people may have been looking for something extravagant, indulgent, and gentle... something free and unrestricted." "However, neither the Chinese nor Japanese knew the secret... that the person they called Ri Kouran, Li Xianglan... was really Japanese." "Narration NOGIWA Youko" "Special Thanks NOSE Yasunobu" "Project Assistance KOGA Seiichi" "Chief Producer OGAWA Osamu" "Director HORIKAWA Tonkou" "Produced by TV Tokyo Kadokawa Pictures" "I was born in China, raised in China..." "Preview:" "Tomorrow, Night Two "Shanghai"" "The agony of playing the Chinese actress "Ri Kouran"" "I love China." "Don't blame yourself!" "The Demise of Cultural Traitor Li Xianglan" ""Execution by Gunshot"" "There must be a way to prove she is Japanese!" "Will a mother and father's thoughts reach their daughter Yoshiko?" "Honey!" "Honey!" "You don't want to deceive the Chinese, am I right?" "Japan lost the war..." "Military tribunal and life in the detention camps ...And yet she never let her dream go but you will continue living as the Chinese Li Xianglan." "Tomorrow, Night Two Please look forward to it." "Farewell..." "My China."