---
product_id: 51214411
title: "Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture)"
brand: "phyllis birnbaum"
price: "€ 48.57"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 7
category: "Books"
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/51214411-phyllis-birnbaummanchu-princess-japanese-spy-the-story-of-kawashima-yoshiko
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture)

**Brand:** phyllis birnbaum
**Price:** € 48.57
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture) by phyllis birnbaum
- **How much does it cost?** € 48.57 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/51214411-phyllis-birnbaummanchu-princess-japanese-spy-the-story-of-kawashima-yoshiko)

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## Description

Review
        	
        	
        		
        			Manchu Princess, Japanese Spy is an even-handed biographical study of a fascinating woman who may have been a secret agent during the Pacific War. Phyllis Birnbaum covers Kawashima Yoshiko&apos;s background as a Manchu princess and her further adventures after being adopted in Japan in detail, using virtually every primary source available, as well as novels based on her life. -- Janine Beichman, Daito Bunka University, Tokyo Richly illustrated with rare photos, and enlivened by numerous interviews, Phyllis Birnbaum&apos;s book is a balanced, well-written biography of one of the most notorious figures to emerge in the early twentieth-century contest for empire in northeast Asia. Anyone interested in the personal dimension of Sino-Japanese relations during the period of their most problematic intensity will find much profit in reading these stories of the life of Kawashima Yoshiko, many told through the memories of the men and women who loved her and hated her, often at the same time. --Mark C. Elliott, Harvard University
				    	
					
        		
        		
        	
        
        	
        		About the Author
        	
        	
        		
        			Phyllis Birnbaum is a novelist, biographer, journalist, and translator. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Times Literary Supplement, and other publications. Her books include Modern Girls, Shining Stars, the Skies of Tokyo: Five Japanese Women and a biography, Glory in a Line: A Life of Foujita--the Artist Caught Between East and West. She recently edited an English translation of Clouds Above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War. She lives outside of Boston.

## Images

![Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture) - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hq%2B1MULRL.jpg)
![Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture) - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FMKBJOjnL.jpg)
![Phyllis BirnbaumManchu Princess, Japanese Spy: The Story of Kawashima Yoshiko, the Cross-Dressing Spy Who Commanded Her Own Army (Asia Perspectives: History, Society and Culture) - Image 3](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31ty3e-3i0L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐ Unusual subject in interesting times
            
*by S***D on 24 November 2017*

A bit disappointing. Largely because I first "met" this character in David Bergamini's WW2 history of the Japanese war machine and she seemed more glamorous and exotic. In reality she is very much less so. A good piece of writing, well sources and fair.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Portrait of a very unusual figure
            
*by A***N on 1 September 2015*

I’d never heard of Yoshiko Kawashima before, a larger-than-life character whose almost unbelievable story was surely crying out for a good biography. On the whole author Phyllis Birnbaum does a pretty good job of assembling all the facts and sorting out the myths from the reality. Her research has been both detailed and meticulous and the inclusion of primary documents and many photographs into the narrative adds to its authority. A thoroughly enjoyable account of a thoroughly fascinating person.
  

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Manchu Princess
            
*by E***. on 11 April 2015*

This biographical account of Kawashima Yoshiko relates the unsettled life of a woman who was mentally unstable and today would be classified as gender confused. Yoshiko was a daughter of Prince Su, heir to the throne of the Qing, the deposed dynasty of China as of 1912. Her father gave this unwanted daughter to a Japanese friend and political patron to raise when she was eight. Raised as Japanese, to think and act as Japanese, to identify as Japanese.Yoshiko identified herself as male-gendered early in her teens. After she came of age she wore men's clothing and short hair in male style. Despite this, she had many male lovers and suitors. She also proclaimed a young woman as her wife. Her status as a princess of the Manchu royal family and her antics gave the Japanese press many chances of writing articles about her just like the media stars of today.The Japanese army wanted to use her for propaganda purposes when the decision was made to create the independent state of Manchukuo. At one point she created for herself the identity of Commander Jin, leader of a militia made up of former bandits and criminals that was used to further the goal of the Imperial Army to pacify Chinese rebels. After a few years however it appears that her mental state became increasingly erratic. The decision was made to keep such a person away from any important matters.Her drug abuse and subsequent public rantings became an embarrassment for the Japanese. After the failure of her restaurant business and the beginning of the Pacific War she only made occasional appearances, usually denouncing the war and pleading for Japanese- Chinese reconciliation. Arrested as a war criminal by the Nationalist Chinese after the war, she met her fate in 1948.Four stars for being a good read at 224 pages and the author keeps the reader interested even when the narrative gets sidelined by other information. Recommended as an interesting biography and for Asian studies students. Now interested in reading the author's other works.
  

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*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-03-18*