Robert Whiting

Robert Whiting is the author of several highly acclaimed books on contemporary Japan, including the best-selling You Gotta Have Wa (MacMillan, 1989; Vintage, 2009) and Tokyo Underworld (Pantheon, 1999; Vintage Departures 2000), which describes organized crime in Japan and examines the corrupt side of the Japan-US relationship. The Meaning of Ichiro(Warner Books, 2005), describes the impact of the outfielder Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and other Japanese stars on U.S. baseball. Mr. Whiting first came to Japan in 1962 and has lived in Japan for nearly 40 of the past 56 years. He divides his time between Tokyo and the Central Coast of California.

Special Reports5 years ago

The Greatest Japan-U.S. Post-War Diplomacy? BASEBALL

After the autumn visit to Japan by Major League (MLB) All-Stars — the first since 2014 — the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners...
Special Reports6 years ago

Koshien Players as ‘Japanese Gods’: Why We’re Crazy About High School Baseball

Why is high school baseball so popular in Japan? Why does the nation stop to watch, transfixed, from morning till evening, on...
Special Reports6 years ago

Tokyo 1964 and 2020: How the Olympics Have Transformed the City

It is something my wife and I look forward to: every morning we walk along the glimmering waterfront at the north end of Tokyo Bay and inspect...
Special Reports6 years ago

The Greater Lessons of Naomi Osaka’s U.S. Open Win

By Robert Whiting The recent Women’s U.S. Open tennis tournament won by Naomi Osaka, which topped the men’s finals in TV ratings,...
Special Reports6 years ago

Shohei Ohtani Recovering from Injury, Won’t Pitch in 2019

By Robert Whiting Japan’s Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in the 2019 season. The two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels — the...
Special Reports6 years ago

After His Injury, What Are the Options for L.A. Angels’ Shohei Ohtani?

Robert Whiting Shoehi Ohtani from Japan—the first major player to hit and pitch regularly in the U.S. major leagues since Babe Ruth...

JAPAN Forward

Robert Whiting

Stories By Robert Whiting

The Greatest Japan-U.S. Post-War Diplomacy? BASEBALL

Koshien Players as ‘Japanese Gods’: Why We’re Crazy About High School Baseball

Tokyo 1964 and 2020: How the Olympics Have Transformed the City

The Greater Lessons of Naomi Osaka’s U.S. Open Win

Shohei Ohtani Recovering from Injury, Won’t Pitch in 2019

After His Injury, What Are the Options for L.A. Angels’ Shohei Ohtani?

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