China/Japan: Li Xianglan (12 February 1920 - 7 September 2014), China-born Japanese actress, singer and politician, c. 1940s. Li Hsiang-Lan, born Yoshiko Yamaguchi and also known by Shirley Yamaguchi and Yoshiko Otaka, made her debut as an actress and singer in the 1938 film Honeymoon Express. She was billed as Li Xianglan, pronounced Ri Kōran in Japanese. The adoption of a Chinese stage name was prompted by the company's economic and political motives - a Manchurian girl who had command over both the Japanese and Chinese languages was sought after.

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