An Actress with a Thousand Names: A Lecture by Inuhiko Yomota

Shirley Yamaguchi, who went by many names in her long, accomplished lifetime, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in Japanese film history. From her beginning as a Manchurian-born actress and entertainer to her tenure in Japanese politics, she led an extraordinary life marked by mystery and self-rediscovery amidst the most turbulent events of the 20th century. Yamaguchi’s multi-faceted legacy will be explored through a lecture and Q&A session by Inuhiko Yomota, a Japanese film historian, comparative literature scholar and the author of numerous books including Ri Koran to Hara Setsuko (Tokyo, Iwanami Shoten. 2011).

This lecture event is free with the purchase of a ticket to any film in the series. Seating is limited. Ticketholders will be accommodated on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Click here to read Inuhiko Yomota’s series note on Shirley Yamaguchi.

Part of the 2015 Globus Film Series The Most Beautiful: The War Films of Shirley Yamaguchi & Setsuko Hara.

Stories from the War
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, Japan Society presents the Society-wide series Stories from the War. Encompassing theater performances, film screenings, lectures, panels and educational opportunities for young people, programming from January to August explores history and considers challenging issues that the U.S. and Japan faced surrounding WWII through a contemporary lens.