Naoki Oka

Naoki Oka (岡 直樹) was an issei Japanese-language school teacher, and younger brother of socialist newspaper publisher Shigeki Oka. Oka was considered a "liberal" renegade among Japanese-language school teachers due to his unorthodox views, coming to the United States as a student. Oka supported the Japanese government's decision to cease issuing passports to picture brides, and over the years he had exhorted the issei to adapt themselves into American society. Even telling them to support prohibition, despite the fact that the vast majority of Japanese immigrant males continued to drink various homemade concoctions. When World War II broke out, Oka joined the British against the Empire of Japan. Oka went to India in 1943, and did propaganda work for the British Indian Army aimed at eroding Japanese morale and inducing surrender. His motives for joining the Allies were that "Once the war has started, one can only hope that Japan is defeated quickly. If the military lose, a revolution will break out. Even if the situation does not become revolutionary, once the Japanese realize their relative weakness, and understand that they cannot win the war, there will be a broad-based popular movement for peace. The sooner that happens, the less death and destruction Japan will suffer."