Reading “Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies” by Robert Whiting Entertaining stories of the foreigners who helped shape modern Japan By DC Palter Published in Japonica Publication Robert Whiting is always fun to read. The author of You Gotta Have Wa
Great review of a book well worth reading. Robert Whiting brings his encyclopedic knowledge and personal experience of postwar and contemporary Japan to this… nonfiction thriller. Told in his classic laconic style, and thoroughly documented, these stories reveal aspects of Japan not usually acknowledged in polite or diplomatic company. Yet there is no moralizing; like the real reporter he is, Whiting just tells it like it is. One could not ask for a better umpire or coach in sorting through the complexities of the past 75 years of Japanese life. If, as the reviewer notes, there are so many cross-cutting themes it’s hard to settle on any simple summary — well, that’s also how it is. Highly recommend.
I believe the book review By DC Palter published in Japonica Publication is a good and accurate one.
'Despite the grab-bag nature of the collection, the book is fun to read while shining a flashlight deep into the basement below modern Japanese history infested with criminals and fraudsters.'
My take …
A grab bag of extremely interesting and even outlandish stories that covers almost 80 years of unique foreigners making and even creating history in Japan. Some characters and their stories might surprise you while others you may have even heard of. GFDS is an easy flowing fun read that takes you on an almost 80-year historical journey through Japan by a bunch of outsiders, that will leave you with a feeling of wonder and amazement, and at times even asking, " Did some of these stories actually happen?"
I ordered the book through Amazon and got it right away, I could not put it down and finished reading it in a matter of days and will reread often. Thanks for another excellent book and read. The collection of stories and anecdotes are interesting, amusing, perceptive, and shed light on the colorful personalities in Japan. Another topic to explore more in depth might be the Foreign Correspondents Club. I am currently reading H.D.S. Greenway's biography "Foreign Correspondent."
I originally had a chapter on FCCJ in this book but Tuttle editor cut it out. Not interesting to a general readership, she said.. So I posted that chapter on this Substack site in 3 parts. You can find it easily. I think.
どうもありがとうございます！I am excited to read your chapter, in three parts, on the FCCJ. I often went to the FCCJ with my mother and family friends and it was never dull! The stories I overheard at the club were more exciting than spy and action movies!
Comment from Peter Daniel Miller:
Great review of a book well worth reading. Robert Whiting brings his encyclopedic knowledge and personal experience of postwar and contemporary Japan to this… nonfiction thriller. Told in his classic laconic style, and thoroughly documented, these stories reveal aspects of Japan not usually acknowledged in polite or diplomatic company. Yet there is no moralizing; like the real reporter he is, Whiting just tells it like it is. One could not ask for a better umpire or coach in sorting through the complexities of the past 75 years of Japanese life. If, as the reviewer notes, there are so many cross-cutting themes it’s hard to settle on any simple summary — well, that’s also how it is. Highly recommend.
Message from Ira Stevens:
Bob,
I believe the book review By DC Palter published in Japonica Publication is a good and accurate one.
'Despite the grab-bag nature of the collection, the book is fun to read while shining a flashlight deep into the basement below modern Japanese history infested with criminals and fraudsters.'
My take …
A grab bag of extremely interesting and even outlandish stories that covers almost 80 years of unique foreigners making and even creating history in Japan. Some characters and their stories might surprise you while others you may have even heard of. GFDS is an easy flowing fun read that takes you on an almost 80-year historical journey through Japan by a bunch of outsiders, that will leave you with a feeling of wonder and amazement, and at times even asking, " Did some of these stories actually happen?"
Ira
I ordered the book through Amazon and got it right away, I could not put it down and finished reading it in a matter of days and will reread often. Thanks for another excellent book and read. The collection of stories and anecdotes are interesting, amusing, perceptive, and shed light on the colorful personalities in Japan. Another topic to explore more in depth might be the Foreign Correspondents Club. I am currently reading H.D.S. Greenway's biography "Foreign Correspondent."
I originally had a chapter on FCCJ in this book but Tuttle editor cut it out. Not interesting to a general readership, she said.. So I posted that chapter on this Substack site in 3 parts. You can find it easily. I think.
どうもありがとうございます！I am excited to read your chapter, in three parts, on the FCCJ. I often went to the FCCJ with my mother and family friends and it was never dull! The stories I overheard at the club were more exciting than spy and action movies!