Robert Whiting speaks to packed audience at American Chamber of Commerce in Japan event in Tokyo
TOKYO — Robert Whiting spoke recently about his long career writing about Japan at an American Chamber of Commerce in Japan event held at the Tokyo American Club. The following is a LinkedIn post by Timothy Connor, Global CEO of Japan ConsumerTech, about the evening.
Best-selling author Robert Whiting is a legend in Japan. It was an honor to welcome him to speak to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.
“I have lived all over the world, and I can honestly say that Tokyo is the greatest city in the world,” says Robert Whiting, icon, and the original Tokyo Junkie.
Skillfully guided by special moderator Patrick Newell, Bob took us on a journey of his amazing life in Tokyo.
And a mesmerizing and entertaining journey it was.
Bob arrived in 1962 with the Air Force and stayed on after discharge, mesmerized by the energy of the city and the Tokyo Giants playing every day everywhere.
A lifelong baseball fan, hanging out in bars and restaurants, and an unlikely bet in New York led to his first book “The Chrysanthemum and the Bat.”
He became the go-to source on the sport that only looked like baseball, and had been refined by the Japanese into their own version of “besuboru.” That led to his bestseller “You Gotta Have Wa.”
Hanging out in bars and restaurants led to meeting many members of the underworld as well and ultimately Nicola Zapetti, American gangster and founder of Nicola’s Pizzeria. And “Tokyo Underworld” was born.
Bob has always been fascinated by outsiders, so naturally a book about Nomo, then another about Fraudsters and Dreamers came out.
His memoir “Tokyo Junkie” is a masterpiece of Bob’s life and the perfect entry into Bob’s work.
On behalf of the @American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the sponsor Retail Committee, I would like to express our deep gratitude to @Robert Whiting for taking the time to speak to us and for all the books, stories, and memories over the years. You are truly a Tokyo treasure.
So you might think he would sit back and rest on his laurels and enjoy life, nope. Wait for it.
** A book about another “outsider,” Carlos Ghosn, is in the works. Stay tuned!
