''Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys... and Baseball'' is a 2021
memoir
A memoir (; , ) is any nonfiction narrative writing based on the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the work are thus understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of biography or autob ...
by
Robert Whiting
Robert Whiting (born October 24, 1942) is a best-selling author and journalist who has written several books on contemporary Japanese culture—which include topics such as baseball and American gangsters operating in Japan. He was born in New J ...
, discussing his experiences in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
.
The book includes discussions about world events related to Japan as well as the author's own experiences in Japan.
[ ]
Alternate URL from the official website of the book
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Peter Tasker, in ''Nikkei Asia
''Nikkei Asia'', known as ''Nikkei Asian Review'' between 2013 and 2020, is a major Japan-based English-language weekly news magazine focused on the Asian continent, although it also covers broader international developments. It is headquartere ...
'', wrote that the book is not only an autobiography of the author but also a biography of Tokyo itself, making it a "double biography".The Japan Society of the UK
The Japan Society of the United Kingdom, founded in 1891, is an organisation that fosters relations between Britain and Japan. It is the oldest organisation dedicated to intercultural understanding and positive relations between a European countr ...
, stated that the work "plays out like a love letter
A love letter is an expression of love in written form. However delivered, the letter may be anything from a short and simple message of love to a lengthy explanation and description of feelings.
History
One of the oldest references to a l ...
to" Tokyo.The Times Literary Supplement
''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp.
History
The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication ...
'' (TLS), described the book as "the story of Tokyo over the sixty years that Whiting has been there".
Background
Whiting, enlisted in the United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
, first visited Japan in 1962 when the Air Force sent him there.
Contents
The author uses section titles related to the employment or life stage he had at the time. Short essays about a particular aspect each are included.baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
, a passion of the author, and the book also discusses the yakuza
, also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media (by request of the police) call them , while the yakuza call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yak ...
.[
Tasker stated that Whiting "presents his young self as a naive, small-town guy".][ The author discusses the development of Tokyo that occurred in the 1960s.][ The ]1964 Tokyo Olympics
The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequ ...
is discussed.[ The author had returned to the United States but in the 1970s came back to Tokyo. Roger Pulvers of the '']South China Morning Post
The ''South China Morning Post'' (''SCMP''), with its Sunday edition, the ''Sunday Morning Post'', is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group. Founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, it has remaine ...
'' stated "It is there his personal narrative becomes a compelling study of the society in with which he has thrown his lot."[
The end of the book discusses how ]COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
delayed the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
.[
]
Reception
Pulvers gave a positive review of the book.[
'']Kirkus Reviews
''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...
'' stated that it is "A delightful memoir".[
'']Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' stated that the book shows "Whiting’s love for his adopted city".[
Downer stated that the book is "hugely engaging and occasionally very funny".][
Green stated that the book "is unapologetically sentimental and sensational at moments."][
]
References
{{reflist
External links
*
Tokyo Junkie
' official website
2021 non-fiction books
Books about Tokyo