Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Mode Japan

by: Robert Whiting (Author)

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Publication Date: 2024/5/28

Language: English

Print Length: 384 pages

ISBN-10: 4805317981

ISBN-13: 9784805317983

Book Description

“Bob Whiting came to the city as a stranger in a strange land in 1962 and stayed for five decades—he knows the dark alleys, the good whisky bars, the crooked politicians and the crooks, the baseball players, the bookies…better than anyone alive.” —Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo ViceCritically acclaimed author and longtime Japan resident Robert Whiting tus his attention to the fascinating stories of foreigners who made waves and achieved notoriety in post-World War II Japan.In this rare insider’s look at Japan through the eyes of foreigners, this book covers a fascinating swathe of Japanese history, from the immediate postwar period up to the 2022 assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The fascinating stories of the gamblers, dreamers, and other chancers who made their mark in mode Japan include US servicemen running Vegas-style gambling dens; baseball managers Like Bobby Valentine; hostesses, bar managers and wannabe yakuza gangsters; religious fanatics such as Members of the Moonies, and businessmen like disgraced Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.This fascinating book provides an unvaished look at the post-war history of Japan and offers cautionary tales about how welcoming Japan really is towards outsiders. It is based on original research and reporting by the author, a 60-year resident of Tokyo.

About the Author

“Bob Whiting came to the city as a stranger in a strange land in 1962 and stayed for five decades—he knows the dark alleys, the good whisky bars, the crooked politicians and the crooks, the baseball players, the bookies…better than anyone alive.” —Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo ViceCritically acclaimed author and longtime Japan resident Robert Whiting tus his attention to the fascinating stories of foreigners who made waves and achieved notoriety in post-World War II Japan.In this rare insider’s look at Japan through the eyes of foreigners, this book covers a fascinating swathe of Japanese history, from the immediate postwar period up to the 2022 assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The fascinating stories of the gamblers, dreamers, and other chancers who made their mark in mode Japan include US servicemen running Vegas-style gambling dens; baseball managers Like Bobby Valentine; hostesses, bar managers and wannabe yakuza gangsters; religious fanatics such as Members of the Moonies, and businessmen like disgraced Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.This fascinating book provides an unvaished look at the post-war history of Japan and offers cautionary tales about how welcoming Japan really is towards outsiders. It is based on original research and reporting by the author, a 60-year resident of Tokyo.