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Author Debriefing: Manchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army

SpyCast

SpyCast

Education, News, History

4.41.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2015

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

SPY Historian Vince Houghton sat down (remotely) with biographer Phyllis Birnbaum to discuss her newest book, based on the life of Kawashima Yoshiko, who supported the puppet Manchu state established by the Japanese in 1932--one reason she was executed for treason after Japan's 1945 defeat. The truth of Yoshiko's life is still a source of contention between China and Japan: some believe she was exploited by powerful men, others claim she relished her role as political provocateur. China holds her responsible for unspeakable crimes, while Japan has forgiven her transgressions. This biography presents the richest and most accurate portrait to date of the controversial princess spy, recognizing her truly novel role in conflicts that transformed East Asia.

Transcript

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0:46.5

hunters. security today. Hi and welcome to an author debriefing from the International Spy Museum. I'm Dr. Vince Houghton, the Museum's

1:04.1

historian and curator. Here at the Spy Museum we get the world's most interesting authors,

1:08.6

including journalists, scholars, and former spies and intelligence officers coming in to answer questions about their

1:14.4

latest works dealing with espionage, intelligence, and other national security issues.

1:19.3

Please join me in listening to another of our selected author debriefings.

1:23.0

So we were joined today by Phyllis Byrne-bomb, who is a novelist, biographer, journalist, and translator.

1:30.0

Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Times Literary Supplement, and other publications.

1:35.0

Her books include Modern Girls Shining Stars, The Skies of Tokyo, Five Japanese Women,

1:40.7

In a biography, Glory in a Line, A Life life of Fujita the artist caught between East and West.

1:46.3

She recently edited an English translation of Clouds Above the Hill, a historical novel of

1:51.0

the Russo JapaneseJapanese War.

1:52.9

Her newest book, and the reason we're talking to her today,

1:55.4

is called Manchu princess Japanese spy.

1:58.3

The story of Kawashima Yushiko,

2:00.5

the cross-dressing spy who commanded her own army.

...

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