Hello All! I could not find a way to put a timestamp for the content warning so jump to 13:02!!

I'm a Malaysian of Chinese descent whose grandparents had suffered greatly under the brutality of the Japanese Imperialism, to see Yoshiko branded as "Joan of Arc of the East" is particularly disgusting.

My opinion is that a person's self-identity matters way less than their actual actions. You can be trans and a terrible person just like anyone else, kind of like how being gay doesn’t mean you are incapable of racism.

Sounds like Yoshiko had one hell of a struggle picking sides in order to do what felt right, from nationality to gender. After years of manipulation, public pressure, and self realization, it all ended with an execution. That was quite a story.

This is the first I've heard of this figure. Absolutely fascinating.

It really does feel like there is thus whole hidden history of gender and sexuality

It's honestly hard to believe that this is only your 4th video. Your production quality, structure and clarity of speech make it feel like you've been doing this for years

As a fellow historian I have to point out that the insistence on the "naivety" of yoshiko as if they have always been manipulated is something that needs to be addressed.
I find it a bit concerning when we, as historians, fall for the trap of putting queer characters in a "always redeemable" light, yoshiko was working with literal nazis and believed their ideology, regardless of their struggle with gender and personal life, they were still a nazi.

There are queer historical figures such mei lang fang and other queer revolutionaries that are less talked about simply bc western historians don't find their lives as "appealing" as they find the lives of nazi collaborationists, which seem to be always discussed as "full of events and nuances".
It's not your mistake, it's a history mistake, but as historians we should always strive to question and compare the matters we choose to talk on and how we talk on them, just like always, things don't really exist in a vacuum, as neither do us or the ones who write the biographies we take as facts do.

As a queer person from the global south I understand that people are "fed", even in college, a certain view on how to discuss non western history, so it's something we really need to take a more cautious approach when studying.

Other than that, your editing and narrating skills are really nice, I hope to see videos in the future where you do a more deep dive with more sources and viewpoints in topics you choose to study on! Keep up the good work!

I think the intersection between gender/sexuality and japanese nationalism is interesting. When I was reading on Yuri manga and by extension Girls manga. I read about how authors in Girls magazines would promote patriotism and Japan's war effort and I found out that Yoshiya Nobuko, a class-S writer, was part of the Pen butai.

It kinda hurt me a bit even though I am not Chinese (tho arguably the Sino-Japanese war would lead to the further imperialism in WW2). I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised

Yeah the thing about these stories about the history of LGBT people, women, and overall diversity in the military is that most should not be celebrated at all as they have almost always been connected to supporting imperialistic empires since well, forever, at least the Roman times. They sound cool for 20 seconds, and then their stories end with "Also in the end they ended up joining the Austrian funny mustache mans crusade in Germany." Giving hard whiplash. It's always important to note that just because someone is a part of a marginalized group it doesn't mean they won't immediately join the oppressors for any power they can get.

While as a Chinese person, I cannot and will never ever see Yoshiko as any form of a liberating figure, especially given not only the brutal autocracy of the Qing dynasty, the ethnic dominance of the Manchu aristocracy which makes any claim of wanting "Manchu liberation" spurious, if not downright ridiculous (yes, Han revolutionaries often resorted to ethnic stereotyping of Manchus as foreign oppressors, but given various oppressive policies like how that the famous Qing cue haircut, a Manchu style, was originally forced upon the Han majority populace on threat of death, these attacks were not entirely unfounded, and by all accounts, the early republicans were fairly tolerant of the Aisin Goros, and revolutionaries like Sun Yat-Sen explicitly favoured ethnic harmony which included Manchus), and the whole COLLABORATION WITH THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE, I still am able to see them as a deeply tragic figure, who, had they existed in a different time, might have had been seen as an interesting if problematic figure in LGBT history. They were no hero, and I'm inclined to call them a villain, but at least, a pitiable one.

TL;DR: Cool motive, still working as a spy for a brutal atrocity-committing imperialist empire.

Yoshiko was the original Raytheon Pride

Maggie Han played Yoshiko in one of my favorite (though problematic) films The Last Emperor. Here, Yoshiko is portrayed as a cis woman who uses lesbianism to manipulate the empress Wanjung. Yoshiko admires Japan for its modernity, but that’s not her driving force in spying in the film, or the driving force for her proclamation that she wants to “bomb Shanghai”; she feels betrayed by the Chinese, who hate her family for ruling over them as foreigners, since they are Manchurian. But despite seeking vengeance for her ancestors, Yoshiko is still anything but traditional though she’s portrayed as cis. She still crossdresses and she’s still seductive without even feeling strong genuineness for anyone, making her seem even more of a “whore”. The film has an interesting lens

I love how comprehensive you try to be in these videos, and remaining skeptical of the intentions of sources! Your topics are all very interesting and I look forward to your videos so much! Very well made :]

You are my favorite new video essayist on this platform. Every video you do is so interesting, unique, and leaves me more informed. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your content!

You made such an amazing analysis of Kawashima, one that brought the nuances to the situation of the time. Such a rare video, especially on the topic of Yoshiko Kawashima!

(i'm trying to formulate an appreciative comment but i keep revising it because i find appreciation strange and complex. for my sanity, i'm going to stop revising, write it out, & leave it be 😅) ur video essays are gently informative & unexpectedly lift my spirits, like morning dew falling on an appreciative shrub.

I love how thorough you are in your videos, fantastic work!

you’re genuinely my favourite youtuber right now and i’ve been so excited for more videos <3 i can’t get enough ! do you think you could put some readings in the description for those who’d like to do further research ? it would mean a lot 🫶

I'd never heard of this historical figure before today but I'm happy to have learned about them through your excellent video! ^_^ This is kind of unrelated but that point about leaning into and utilizing military service as a means of affirming masculinity immediately made me think of the manga "Requiem of the Rose King" by Aya Kanno. Performing and affirming masculinity through the highly respected and noble soldier/warrior position (and the harm that brings to oneself and others) is a major theme explored through our protagonist, Richard, who was born in an intersex body (identifies as a boy/man). Threading and untangling the complexity of his existence in a stigmatized body, his self-destructive methods of attempting to navigate and mitigate that stigmatization, his devotion towards and desire to BE his father, his ambition and drive to attain power and the safety that presumably comes with it, etc. etc. and how all of these things lead him down a blood soaked path. It's a great read! Even when the plot in some parts was not working for me, I was still always invested in Richard.

Makes no sense how good you are at this just four videos in.