Mike Masaoka

Mike Masaru Masaoka ( , October 15, 1915 – June 26, 1991) was a Japanese-American lobbyist, author, and spokesman. He worked with the Japanese American Citizens League for over 30 years. He was a key player in encouraging cooperation of the JACL with Japanese American internment during World War II, but also fought for rights of Japanese-Americans during and after the war.

Early life Mike Masaoka was born as "Masaru Masaoka" in Fresno, California on October 15, 1915 as the fourth of eight children. His parents were first-generation Japanese Americans (Issei).

Masaoka was one of the primary drivers of the JACL's policy of cooperation with the Japanese American internment plan during the war, believing that resistance would be counterproductive and increase the tension between the Nisei and the FDR Administration. He worked with the U.S. government's War Relocation Authority to develop camp policies and pushed back against legal attempts to oppose the government's internment policy. Masaoka volunteered for the 442nd, along with four of his brothers. He also worked as the unit's publicist so that the contributions (and heavy price paid) of the Japanese Americans would be known nationwide.

In the aftermath of World War II, Masaoka dedicated himself full time to lobbying on behalf of the JACL in Washington, D.C. Masaoka was known for being an aggressive lobbyist. Once when he tried to get an audience with Congressman John M. Robsion Jr., Masaoka followed him into the men's room and kept talking to Robison as the representative urinated until he agreed to meet with Masaoka.

Between 1946 and 1952, Masaoka held the position of national legislative director of the JACL Anti-Discrimination Committee.

In 1952, he worked with the ACLU to bring a case in his mother's name, Masaoka vs. the State of California, to the California State Supreme Court that was one of the two cases that overturned the Alien Land Law (Masaoka v. People, 39 Cal.2d 883 ).

Masaoka was awarded the Third Class Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government on October 31, 1958 as part of the Meiji Centennial celebrations. This was allegedly the highest honor bestowed on any American-born Japanese, and Masaoka was the youngest person to ever receive the medal.

On June 26, 1991, Masaoka died as a result of heart problems in Washington, D.C.