Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies - by Robert Whiting (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Bob Whiting came to the city as a stranger in a strange land in 1962 and stayed for five decades--he knows the dark alleys, the good whisky bars, the crooked politicians and the crooks, the baseball players, the bookies...better than anyone alive." --Jake Adelstein, author of Tokyo Vice

Critically acclaimed author and longtime Japan resident Robert Whiting turns his attention to the fascinating stories of foreigners who made waves and achieved notoriety in post-World War II Japan.

In this rare insider's look at Japan through the eyes of foreigners, this book covers a fascinating swathe of Japanese history, from the immediate postwar period up to the 2022 assassination of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The fascinating stories of the gamblers, dreamers, and other chancers who made their mark in modern Japan include US servicemen running Vegas-style gambling dens; baseball managers Like Bobby Valentine; hostesses, bar managers and wannabe yakuza gangsters; religious fanatics such as Members of the Moonies, and businessmen like disgraced Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.

This fascinating book provides an unvarnished look at the post-war history of Japan and offers cautionary tales about how welcoming Japan really is towards outsiders. It is based on original research and reporting by the author, a 60-year resident of Tokyo.

Review Quotes

"Amy Chavez talks with Robert Whiting about his recently released book Gangsters, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies. In this episode, Amy and Bob talk about several colorful characters who populated Tokyo back in the day, including strong women such like Australian bar hostess Maggie, who became famous for using scissors to cut off the neckties of customers', and a female yakuza gangster who carried a revolver in her purse..." --Books on Asia podcast hosted by Amy Chavez

"In combining the research skills of a seasoned investigative journalist and contemporary historian, Whiting has created a masterpiece of collation and in doing so, has performed a valuable service by giving exuberant life to a neglected, underreported era in postwar Japan history. As a writer of inordinate energy and perspicacity, he convinces us that books and human narratives still matter." --Stephen Mansfield, Nikkei Asia

"A brilliant, insightful look into the panoply of outsiders who contributed to the making of Japanese history in the modern age." --Library Journal, starred review

"Robert Whiting's Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers and Spies is a well-researched and well-paced eye opener. [...] highly recommended." -- Henry Hilton, Japan Today

"Robert Whiting's latest, Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies...tells the stories of 14 non-Japanese who made an impact on the development of their adopted home, including CIA agents, mafia gangsters, baseball managers and cult leaders." --The Japan Times

Tokyo Junkie:
"Bob Whiting came to the city as a stranger in a strange land in 1962 and stayed for five decades--he knows the dark alleys, the good whisky bars, the crooked politicians and the crooks, the baseball players, the bookies, the Olympics that were and the Olympics that will be better than anyone alive. You will not find a more entertaining memoir and guidebook to the darker side of the rising sun, and to a life well-lived, than Tokyo Junkie." --Jake Adelstein, investigative journalist and author of Tokyo Vice

Praise for Robert Whiting's Books

Tokyo Underworld:
"Excellent--An irreverent, subversive and entertaining yarn that enlightens readers about important aspects of Japanese history and the shadowy world of power." --The Japan Times

"A fascinating look at some fascinating people who show how democracy advances hand in hand with crime in Japan." --Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather

About the Author

Robert Whiting is the author of You Gotta Have Wa (1989), named as one of Esquire's Best Baseball Books Ever Written in 2021; and Tokyo Underworld (2000). He has lived in Japan since 1962 and is regarded as one of the foremost experts on the country. The California native has written for many publications in his long career, including the New York Times, The Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, Time, and U.S. News and World Report. His first book, The Chrysanthemum and the Bat, was named Time's Sports Book of the Year in 1977. He is also a recipient of the 2023 Henry Chadwick Award, which honors those who research and write about baseball.