Opportunism in Manchukuo: The 19-Year-Old Interpreter’s Diary

Zuo Xifeng, a savvy 19-year-old interpreter in the puppet state of Manchukuo, used his Japanese language skills and social intuition to navigate the occupation's power dynamics while currying favor with high-ranking officials. Beyond his official duties, he acted as a pragmatic survivalist and likely double agent, trading intelligence for financial gain and establishing clandestine connections with various political factions. In the chaos following the Japanese surrender in 1945, he systematically erased incriminating evidence of his past and exploited his diverse network to ensure his survival into extreme old age.