Mr. Moto is a fictional Japanese secret agent and international detective created by American author John P. Marquand. The character first appeared in six novels between 1935 and 1957, and then in various other media formats. Mr. Moto, known for his shrewdness, toughness, and ruthlessness against his enemies, is often perceived by most people as a harmless eccentric who sometimes claims to be stupid. The main characters in the novels are Westerners who encounter Mr. Moto during their adventures in exotic lands and gradually become aware of his formidable character. In the first five novels, set in the era of expansionist Imperial Japan, Mr. Moto serves as an agent of the empire, but in the final novel, set in the 1950s inside Japan, he is a senior intelligence official in the pro-Western Japanese government.

The Mr. Moto radio show aired 23 episodes starring James Monks in 1951. It was inspired by the popularity of the Charlie Chan detective series, which featured detectives of Asian descent who spoke with foreign accents. The radio show adaptations followed the nine Mr. Moto film series, where Peter Lorre played the lead role. The films were popular in the 1930s but ceased production once the United States entered WWII due to anti-Japanese sentiment. The Mr. Moto radio show was made during the early 1950s, after the war's end.

Sources: wikipedia.org, otrcat.com