Episode Details
Back to EpisodesS3E8: Unwanted Truth – John Okada and the Book That Wouldn't Stay Silent
Description
When John Okada published No-No Boy in 1957, it was met by the Japanese American community with silence, discomfort, and outright rejection. Okada passed away in 1971 believing his novel was a failure, unaware that it would later be rediscovered and hailed as a foundational classic of Asian American literature.
In this episode, Koji and Michelle are joined by author, filmmaker, and historian Frank Abe—author of the biography John Okada: The Life and Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy and director of the PBS documentary Conscience and the Constitution. Frank shares what it was like to accidentally become the cover model for the iconic 1976 CARP edition, how Okada drew inspiration from real-life draft resister Jim Akutsu, the critical historical differences between "No-No Boys" and draft resisters, and the tragic story behind Okada’s lost second novel. Plus, Frank discusses his current work adapting No-No Boy for the stage at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, followed by reflections on community trauma, healing, and post-war identity.
About Frank Abe
Frank Abe is a Sansei author, filmmaker, and journalist who has spent decades unearthing and preserving essential stories of Japanese American resistance and literary history. He wrote and directed the landmark PBS documentary Conscience and the Constitution, which chronicles the organized draft resistance at the Heart Mountain concentration camp.
Abe is the co-editor of the anthology John Okada: The Life and Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy (University of Washington Press) and The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration (Penguin Classics), as well as co-author of the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration. An early member of the Asian American Theater Workshop and collaborator with CARP (Combined Asian American Resources Project) in San Francisco, Abe famously served as the cover model for the groundbreaking 1976 republication of No-No Boy. He is currently developing a 21st-century stage adaptation of No-No Boy in collaboration with the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
To learn more about Frank’s background, browse his published books, and screen his documentary work, visit resisters.com/frank-abe-bio.
Follow & Support Us
Enjoyed the episode! Don't forget to rate, review, and tell a friend!
CREDITS
The music was created by Jalen Blank
Written by Koji Steven Sakai
Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai
Edited by Koji Steven Sakai
Produced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum