Maki, John M., November 3, 1979

John M. Maki (April 19, 1909 – December 7, 2006) was born in Tacoma, Washington to Japanese migrant parents. He received his B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from the University of Washington in 1932 and 1936. From 1939-42, he taught at the University of Washington before serving with the Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service of the Federal Communications Commission until June 1943. He went on to work with psychological warfare planning in the Office of War Information until 1945. For the occupation, Maki was recruited to work in the Government Section at the General Headquarters of Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, helping to write the postwar Japanese Constitution. He stayed in Japan from February to August 1946. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard before teaching at the University of Washington from 1948-1966 and then becoming a Political Science professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst from 1966-1980. He has authored and translated many books about Japanese government and politics, and in 1983, Maki was awarded the Third Class Order of the Sacred Treasure by the emperor of Japan for his contributions. In 2006, John M. Maki passed away at the age of 97.