Bob’s Bullets - Talking Shohei Ohtani in Sapporo
TOKYO — I recently gave speeches in Sapporo at the invitation of the Japan-America Society as well as the Hokkaido International School. If you guessed the subject of the speeches had something to do with Shohei Ohtani and baseball you would be correct.
A highlight of the visit was a tour of the fabulous Es Con Field, home of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. (It’s available to rent for around ¥800,000 - ¥1,600,000 a night, depending on the size of the gate involved, in case you’re interested).
Photos attached are from a guided tour arranged by Sapporo’s Jerry Halvorsen and led by former NPB player and Fighters official Shogo Arai.
Group photo (left to right): Eric Johnston, Japan Times Senior National Correspondent, Jerry Halvorsen, Shoji Mitarai of Sapporo University, former Fighters player Shogo Arai, Robert Whiting, Machiko Kondo, former UNCHR Officer (aka Mrs. Robert Whiting).
Autographed copies of Robert Whiting’s books are available for purchase. These include You Gotta Have Wa, Tokyo Underworld, The Meaning of Ichiro, Tokyo Junkie, The Chrysanthemum and the Bat. If you are interested in purchasing a book, please send an email to: robertwhitingsjapan@gmail.com