Background
Whiting, Robert Sheldon was born on October 24, 1942 in Long Branch, New Jersey, United States. Son of Sheldon George and Mary Josephine (Campbell) Whiting.
(A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanes...)
A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanese baseball and the cultural clashes that ensued when Americans began playing there professionally. In Japan, baseball is a way of life. It is a philosophy. It is "besuboru." Its most important element is "wa"--group harmony--embodied in the proverb "The nail that sticks up shall be hammered down." In this witty and incisive book, Robert Whiting gives us a close-up look at "besuboru"'s teams, obsessive ritualism, and history, as seen through the eyes of American players who found the Japanese approach--rigorous "pre"game practices, the tolerance for "tie" games, "injured "pitchers encouraged to "pitch through the pain"--completely baffling. With vivid accounts of East meeting West, involving Babe Ruth, Ichiro Suzuki, Bobby Valentine, Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh, and many others, this lively and completely unique book is an utter gem and baseball classic.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079EX476/?tag=2022091-20
(A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanes...)
A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanese baseball and the cultural clashes that ensued when Americans began playing there professionally. In Japan, baseball is a way of life. It is a philosophy. It is besuboru. Its most important element is wa—group harmony—embodied in the proverb "The nail that sticks up shall be hammered down." In this witty and incisive book, Robert Whiting gives us a close-up look at besuboru's teams, obsessive ritualism, and history, as seen through the eyes of American players who found the Japanese approach—rigorous pregame practices, the tolerance for tie games, injured pitchers encouraged to “pitch through the pain”—completely baffling. With vivid accounts of East meeting West, involving Babe Ruth, Ichiro Suzuki, Bobby Valentine, Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh, and many others, this lively and completely unique book is an utter gem and baseball classic.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307455971/?tag=2022091-20
(Matsui... Nomo... Sasaki... Ichiro... the so-called Ameri...)
Matsui... Nomo... Sasaki... Ichiro... the so-called American "National Pastime" has developed a decidedly Japanese flair. Indeed, in this year's All-Star game, two of the starting American League outfielders were from Japan. And for the third straight year, Ichiro - the fleet-footed Seattle Mariner - received more votes for the All-Star game than any other player in the game today. Some 15 years ago, in the bestseller "You Gotta Have Wa," Robert Whiting examined how former American major league ballplayers tried to cope with a different culture while playing pro ball in Japan. Now, Whiting reverses his field and reveals how select Japanese stars have come across the Pacific to play in the big leagues. Not only have they had to deal with the American way of life, but they have individually changed the game in dramatic fashion.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446531928/?tag=2022091-20
(Black, headstrong, and opinionated, Warren Cromartie hard...)
Black, headstrong, and opinionated, Warren Cromartie hardly seemed the likelychoice to play baseball in Japan. He was a loner. He was also a slugger. During his fifth year with the Tokyo Giants he was named most valuable player, and his teammates voted unanimously that he not retire. This is the triumphantstory of Cro's sometimes angry, sometimes humorous, introduction to the Japanese way of doing things; the values and idiosyncrasies which are a part of the Japan of today.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/4770014236/?tag=2022091-20
(In 1945, as part of the Occupation forces sent to postwar...)
In 1945, as part of the Occupation forces sent to postwar Japan Nick Zappetti, a native of Italian East Harlem, entered a world as strange as any he had ever know, In postwar Tokyo, however, he realised there were certain opportunities. He had a failed stint as a professional wrestler, and participated in a fumbled (but famous) diamond heist. He was deported but managed to return with the assistance of the Mafia. Then Nick opened a pizza joint in what would be the centre of Tokyo's nightlife and became "the king of Roppongi and Mafia boss of Tokyo," and the intimate of some of Japan's most notorious underworld figures as well as many of its political and business leaders. Following Zappetti's rising and falling fortunes, and his love-hate relationship with his adopted country, Robert Whiting show us the sinister (and sometimes ridiculous) goings-on among Tokyo's traditional criminal gangs as they developed from local racketeers and gamblers into lynchpins of international finance, politics and corruption. Here is a fresh perspective on postwar Japan and how it went from being a defeated nation to an economic player, with a little help from some less than diplomatic friends.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1780330677/?tag=2022091-20
Whiting, Robert Sheldon was born on October 24, 1942 in Long Branch, New Jersey, United States. Son of Sheldon George and Mary Josephine (Campbell) Whiting.
Student, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, 1961. Bachelor of Science, Sophia University, Tokyo, 1969.
Editor, Encyclopedia Britannica, Tokyo, 1969-1971; columnist, Shukan (weekly) Asahi, Tokyo, 1989-1992; reporter, commentator, television Asahi, news station, Tokyo, 1990-1992. Guest lecturer Wharton, Stanford and other institutions.
(In 1945, as part of the Occupation forces sent to postwar...)
(A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanes...)
(A hilarious, informative, and riveting account of Japanes...)
(Black, headstrong, and opinionated, Warren Cromartie hard...)
(This is an example product description.)
(the Game Japanese play)
(Matsui... Nomo... Sasaki... Ichiro... the so-called Ameri...)
With United States Air Force, 1961-1965, Japan. Member International House of Japan, Foreign Corresponding Club of Japan, American-Japan Society.
Married Machiko Kondo, May 20, 1983.