This October, the police launched an investigation when it was discovered that a young Japanese man had attempted to become a combatant for the “Islamic State.” It became a big news story as people were shocked that, while living in peaceful Japan, this young man decided to set off for a war zone. Actress and singer LI Xianglan (YAMAGUCHI Yoshiko), who lived a life in contrast to this young man died this September. She was born in Manchuria – formerly a puppet nation built in northeastern China by Japan. She debuted as a singer under the name of Li Xianglan at the age of 13. After that, performing the part of the heroine, she appeared as a “pro-Japanese Chinese actress” in many Manchurian movies. Beautiful Xianglan was used for Japanese propaganda in these movies. She was so popular that before her 1941 recital in Tokyo, a long queue formed and pandemonium broke out. Since she had never revealed that she was Japanese, after the war she was put on trial for being a Chinese person who had collaborated with the Japanese military. However, as she could prove she was Japanese, she avoided execution, and was allowed to return to Japan. Since then, she had flourished, appearing in Japanese movies, hosting TV shows, and becoming a member of the House of Councilors Before she died, Xianglan lamented: “That was a foolish war. So many lives were lost.” In addition, she mourned the death of KAWASHIMA Yoshiko, her friend who had been known as “the beauty in drag,” who also suffered from the whims of fate. Yoshiko was born as a Qing Dynasty princess, but became the adopted daughter of a Japanese person and was raised in Japan. Later she crossed back over to mainland China, and after the war was shot to death for being a spy for the Japanese military. The Japanese puppet regime collapsed after causing much suffering, and now there is concern about the future of those who are aiming to build an “Islamic State.”