Intriguing review of a great book. Despite the review's over-the-top paean to all outsiders of whatever stripe, the book doesn't actually celebrate criminality, black ops, and CIA derring-do. It simply describes these neglected aspects of Japanese postwar history -- colorfully, though not admiringly. This is no documentary-style narrative, though it is thoroughly well-researched, and as McAvoy notes, Whiting's history of his times and ours is riveting. Ever since the Bostonians first visited Japan in the Meiji era, Western perceptions of Japan have been guided by the shangri-la mysterious East notion which is mostly -- but not totally! -- fantasy. There is still plenty of Oriental Mystery here to be savored. Japanese authorities themselves have happily contributed to this perception, and 'Chrysanthemum Club' diplomats have bathed in it. So Whiting's portraits of gamblers, spies, yakuza, gangsters, cult leaders, and others who have *also* made Japan what it is today, is a welcome corrective. This underworld exists in every country, of course. But Japan places such a high premium on fitting in that it almost invites -- or at least requires -- outsiders, including foreigners, to fix what goes wrong. To Robert Whiting we owe a great deal of thanks for acquainting us with this hidden yet vital world.
Intriguing review of a great book. Despite the review's over-the-top paean to all outsiders of whatever stripe, the book doesn't actually celebrate criminality, black ops, and CIA derring-do. It simply describes these neglected aspects of Japanese postwar history -- colorfully, though not admiringly. This is no documentary-style narrative, though it is thoroughly well-researched, and as McAvoy notes, Whiting's history of his times and ours is riveting. Ever since the Bostonians first visited Japan in the Meiji era, Western perceptions of Japan have been guided by the shangri-la mysterious East notion which is mostly -- but not totally! -- fantasy. There is still plenty of Oriental Mystery here to be savored. Japanese authorities themselves have happily contributed to this perception, and 'Chrysanthemum Club' diplomats have bathed in it. So Whiting's portraits of gamblers, spies, yakuza, gangsters, cult leaders, and others who have *also* made Japan what it is today, is a welcome corrective. This underworld exists in every country, of course. But Japan places such a high premium on fitting in that it almost invites -- or at least requires -- outsiders, including foreigners, to fix what goes wrong. To Robert Whiting we owe a great deal of thanks for acquainting us with this hidden yet vital world.