Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan

After the war the city and the whole country was in economic and political turmoil that was a perfect breeding ground for a thriving black market and the devious and often violent tactics of the yakuza.   Illegal gambling, prostitution and professional wrestling were just a few of the enterprises that Zapetti dabbled in during the turbulent era that was 1950′s Japan.  Zapetti found himself dealing with nefarious characters, multiple marriages, a number of lawsuits, some jail time and finally failing health and the loss of the pizza restaurant that was once the place to go for expatriates, ballplayers and pretty much anyone who was anyone in Tokyo at the time.

Whiting’s detailed research is woven into a story that is hard to put down and sheds light on the thinking of the Japanese people and what the governments of both the United States and Japan were willing to turn a blind eye to in the name of economic and social recovery of Japan.

A movie of Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan has been in the works for some time and Whiting recently told the Japan Times that “a resolution is in sight and Martin Scorsese says he is going to direct it.”

Whiting is also working on a sequel to Tokyo Underworld based on the life of Ted Lewin.

“He was a former heavyweight boxer from New York who also had a really good mind for numbers,” Whiting reveals. “He was a natural gambler and knew Meyer Lansky, who sent him to Asia to open clubs for the mafia.”

“He went to Shanghai and Manila before the war and when Japan invaded the Philippines, he enlisted in the army,” Whiting continued. “He was captured and took part in the Bataan Death March. He was held in a camp outside Manila and taught Japanese officers how to gamble, and, as a result, got special privileges.”

Source: Baseball expert lines up new book on mobsters in Japan

Robert Whiting make his home in Tokyo and also wrote You Gotta Have Wa and equally interesting look a the world of Japanese professional baseball.

Tokyo Underworld offers insight in the formation of Japan as we now know it based on the experiences of her people during the turbulent 1950′s and is just one of the selections highlighted in our new Books on Japan Amazon store.

Read a good book about Japan before you travel and your trip will be enriched.  I have found that to be the case over and over again during my time here – I gain a little nugget of insight from each book I read about Japan, or by a Japanese author, whether it is fiction or non-fiction and so will you!

Thanks to all that participated in the first ever give-away at The Nihon Sun.  It is my pleasure to announce that Andrew from Colorado has won his very own copy of Arcade Mania! The Turbo Charged World of Japan’s Game Centers.

Andrew is in the arcade game repair and sales business has an interest in the book as a fan and a businessman.  He response on being notified of his win:

“I am very surprised to win and looking forward to learning more about arcade game centers in Japan!”

If you didn’t win take some time to read my review of Arcade Mania! and you purchase a copy of Arcade Mania: The Turbo-charged World of Japan’s Game Centers for your library by clicking the preceding text or the front cover image on the right.

Once again, I would like to thank Jean Snow who contributed to the book, provided quotes for this article, and worked with the publisher, Kodansha International Limited, to provide The Nihon Sun with a copy for one lucky reader to win.

More give-aways are in the works so subscribe to The Nihon Sun RSS feed or subscribe by email to find out the details as they are announced.

Cover Image Courtesy of Jean Snow and Kodansha International Limited

Many literary and poetic references to Japan include references to the Chrysanthemum and the bloom has been featured in the title of many book on the country and it’s culture,  the most famous being “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword” by Ruth Benedict, a World War II–era study of the contracts between the culture of Japan and that of the United States.    Others include “The Chrysanthemum and the Bat: Baseball Samurai Style” by Robert Whiting and “Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne: The Tragic True Story of Japan’s Crown Princess” by Ben Hills.

The flower has been prominently featured in works by famous artists including Itō Jakachū who painted “Chrysanthemums by a stream with rocks” around 1760 and in waka style poetry, as in this example:

In Japanese (Source: Everything2) :

Oto ni nomi
kiku no shiratsuyu
yoru wa okite
hiru wa omohi ni aezu kenubeshi

Literal Translation:

Chrysanthemum’s white dew, settling in at night
and in the day, from the sun
will disappear

Alternate translation:

Of you, from other people only, I hear
I stay up all night, and in the day, my longing becomes
unbearable, and I must surely die

The Chrysanthemum has a prominent place in Japanese culture and it’s residents celebrate the bloom each fall with Kiku festivals and exhibitions throughout Japan from late October through November.  To find and event near you check the listing of Chrysanthemum Festivals and Exhibits – Fall 2008.

Image Credit:  Wikimedia, Japanese Order01, Chrysanthemums by a stream with rocks