Nagao Kita

Nagao Kita Historical Figure Nationality: Japan Year of Birth: Late 19th century Year of Death: 20th century Cause of Death: Unknown Occupation: Diplomat Fictional Appearances: Days of Infamy POD: March, 1941; Relevant POD: December 7, 1941 Appearance(s): Both volumes Type of Appearance: Direct

Nagao Kita was Japanese Consul-General in Hawaii. He received instructions on 22 March 1941 to gather information about the schedule of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, by bribery, if necessary. These instructions were intercepted by U.S. intelligence but did not raise alarms.

Kita's vice-counsel was known publicly as "Tadashi Morimura". In reality, Morimura was Takeo Yoshikawa, who did a very thorough job of gathering information for the eventual attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

Kita was captured shortly after the attack. Many of his signals were subsequently reconstructed by the FBI. He was interned in Arizona for a time during the war. However, little else, including the date and circumstances of his death, has been recorded about Kita since the war.

Nagao Kita in Days of Infamy

In the period before and during the Japanese occupation of Hawaii (1941-1943), Nagao Kita became a critical figure in implementing the Empire of Japan's plans. Prior to the invasion, a local fisherman named Jiro Takahashi made it a habit to occasionally bring choice fish from his catch to Kita as an act of respect.

When the occupation began, Takahashi continued this practice. During one such trip, Takahashi met Kita's vice-counsel, Tadashi Morimura (in reality a Japanese spy named Takeo Yoshikawa). In short order, Kita and Morimura began using Takahashi as a propagandist.

Kita remained in his position right up until the American reconquest of Hawaii. Kita arranged for a submarine to pick him up and carry him back to Japan. In recognition of what Takahashi had done for the occupation, Kita arranged for Takahashi to come with him. Along with a few other key figures in the occupation government, Kita fled Hawaii just as it fell back to the U.S.