An important element in Japanese baseball is wa--group harmony--embodied in the proverb "The nail that sticks up shall be hammered down". But what if the nail is a visiting American player? Here's a look at Japanese baseball, as seen by baffled Americans
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The "wa" one must have is the group harmony that is the essence of Japanese baseball. According to PW , "this interesting comparative study of the sport as it is played on both sides of the Pacific concentrates on the American stars who have gone to play in Japan." Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
"Wa," Japanese for "team spirit," is the creed of Japanese baseball, played since the 1850s and professionally since 1935. Whiting, a long-time Japan resident, concentrates on the two pro leagues. The Japanese leagues, he reports, believe their severely coached game to be superior to the U.S. game. They discourage Japanese from entering U.S. leagues. A few Americans, usually older ones, have been accepted on Japanese teams, but they meet with resentment, criticism, and discrimination. The book updates Whiting's earlier The Chrysanthemum and the Bat (LJ 10/1/76) and contrasts with Sadaharu Oh and David Falkner's Sadaharu Oh (LJ 6/1/84; o.p.). A revealing and disturbing account that is heartily recommended for adult and YA collections.
- Morey Berger, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Morey Berger, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
On the surface, this is a treatise about baseball in Japan. Only slightly underneath, it's a fascinating work on the difference between Japanese and American culture. The title word Wa comes from the Japanese word for team unity, as opposed to the American interest in individuality.
The book goes through both a history of baseball in Japan, as well as challenges American's deal with over there. It covers the trials and tribulations of Americans like Bob Horner, who thrive on the diamond, but struggle off the field. It covers the adverserial relationship between Japanese coaches and their foreign (Gai-jin) charges. Any American going to work in Japan is well advised to pay attention!
How is Japan changing over time? Compare how the approval of "different" antics of foreigners changes over time. Learn how some Japanese players follow the model, but as the exception and not the rule. Is the Japanese culture changing, or a surface appearance of change part of the Japanese character? Read the book to find out. Again, it's only about baseball on the surface.
How does training differ? The American model suggests individuals can improve, but only to the limit of their ability. The Japanese model in both the field and the office is that there is no limit - strength and success is limited only by effort. This drive leads to a 10-11 month season counting training camp, as well as several hours of strenuous exercizes every day before practice. This is essential to developing the fighting spirit. Again, someone travelling to Japan for business is well advised to understand this.
The book is a must for baseball lovers as well as people interested in learning more about Japan.
... Read more ›8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Baseball is baseball, right? Not when it's played in Japan, it seems. Pitchers pitch "until their arms fall off." Fielding practice is done until players drop from exhaustion. Fans chant highly organized and rhythmic chants at the same piercing volume, all game long, regardless of the score. It's not "play ball" in Japan, it's "work ball." And into this arena come the foreigners. Often bench-warmers and minor leaguers in North America, they are expected to become instant stars in Japan. The pressure and the intense work ethic drive many away after only a few weeks or months. Others, like Randy Bass, become national heroes, appearing on TV commercials nightly. However even Bass must have felt his outsider status when he was intentionally walked for the rest of the season when he challenged Sadaharu Oh's single-season home run record. If you are interested in baseball, or in what happens when Japan meets the outside world, this is the book for you.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Shogun Len
Format:Paperback
I have had the fortunate experience of visiting Japan twice and seeing some Japanese baseball. It was an experience I shall never forget. Curious about the subject I picked up and read this awesome book. However, as much as this book is about baseball. And it is filled with some great stories and information. I wonder how much this book is really about the cultural differences between the United States and Japan. Using the history of Japanese baseball and the rough experiences of many of the American players who have tried to play in Japan, the author does an awesome job teaching about Japanese culture. This is much more than a baseball book. Its about baseball and culture, and cultural diffusion, and the differences between Americans and Japanese. This is a funny book, a fun to read book, but you will learn alot about Japan by the time you are done. I have even assigned this book to my students. This book is worth it. An unforgettable read.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
The most thorough (yet sadly outdated) account of Japanese Baseball you can find
January 26, 2007
By L. TAYLOR
Format:Paperback
As a long-time Japanese baseball fan, I was very excited to finally receive this book and start reading it. Robert Whiting has done an excellent job of finding material that is usually not accessible for the average foreign fan of Japanese baseball, simply due to the fact that everything is written in Japanese.
Whiting has succeeded in creating a very enjoyable and very interesting "summary" of Japanese baseball as a whole, and really portrays just how differently the game is played and thought of in the East. In particular, the mentality of Japanese baseball that he describes, along with the accounts of many of the players were eye-opening.
It's just such a shame that the book is published in 1988, with no revisions forthcoming since then, because, as is inevitable with time, baseball in Japan has moved on.
In the modern game, the popularity of the "Yomiuri Giants" which Whiting talks at length in his book are declining - so much so that they have trouble filling the stadium or even getting good ratings on TV. In fact, baseball as a sport in Japan as a whole has been on a gradual decline in the face of Soccer, which, when Whiting wrote "You Gotta Have Wa", was unthinkable.
There have also been great shifts in terms of the power of Japanese baseball: away from the Giants to other teams, and the players union even went on strike in objection to the loss of player jobs following the merger of the Orix Bluewaves and Osaka Buffaloes. Whiting wrote however that the player's union would never consider striking, as that was the Japanese player's mentality. This signifies just how much the game has changed in Japan.... Read more ›
Whiting has succeeded in creating a very enjoyable and very interesting "summary" of Japanese baseball as a whole, and really portrays just how differently the game is played and thought of in the East. In particular, the mentality of Japanese baseball that he describes, along with the accounts of many of the players were eye-opening.
It's just such a shame that the book is published in 1988, with no revisions forthcoming since then, because, as is inevitable with time, baseball in Japan has moved on.
In the modern game, the popularity of the "Yomiuri Giants" which Whiting talks at length in his book are declining - so much so that they have trouble filling the stadium or even getting good ratings on TV. In fact, baseball as a sport in Japan as a whole has been on a gradual decline in the face of Soccer, which, when Whiting wrote "You Gotta Have Wa", was unthinkable.
There have also been great shifts in terms of the power of Japanese baseball: away from the Giants to other teams, and the players union even went on strike in objection to the loss of player jobs following the merger of the Orix Bluewaves and Osaka Buffaloes. Whiting wrote however that the player's union would never consider striking, as that was the Japanese player's mentality. This signifies just how much the game has changed in Japan.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you are into baseball this is a great read.
This provides an interesting contrast between the US and Japan regarding baseball and cultural approaches to the game and life style.
Published 3 months ago by PJJ
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you're curious about baseball in Japan, you gotta read You Gotta...
Even casual American baseball fans are aware that they play what we call "our national pastime" in Japan. Read more
Published on February 7, 2011 by cs211
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating.....And Shocking
Wow, this book is a real eye-opener. I had no idea Japanese baseball mentality was this extreme. Since this book is 20 years old, I'm curious if anything has changed. Read more
Published on September 23, 2009 by Craig Connell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Japanese baseball
If you are looking for a book about Japanese baseball - this is it! I have read them all and this one is my foavorite. Read more
Published on January 6, 2009 by Robert S. Robinson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
It is said that the UK and the US are divided by a common language. As veteran journalist Robert Whiting shows, the United States and Japan are divided by a common sport. Read more
Published on December 31, 2008 by Etienne ROLLAND-PIEGUE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Baseball and culture
Sure, the book is dated, but the truths and cultural differences highlighted remain in tact. The Japanese way, the concept of the group, the irrational approach to practice, still... Read more
Published on June 16, 2008 by M. Lutton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Japanese Baseball Demystified
With the influx of Japanese stars into the US Major Leagues, many sports fans are becoming intrigued by the league across the Pacific and the ballplayers who play in it. Read more
Published on August 12, 2007 by NLJ45
5.0 out of 5 stars
Homu Ran!
What a fun book this was! It's very quick and easy reading - a fast reader can get through it on a plane trip or on a Sunday afternoon. Read more
Published on May 7, 2007 by wahzoh
3.0 out of 5 stars
what other country would name a baseball team the Ham Fighters
There is no doubt that the author has a firm grasp of Japanese culture. For that I would give him five stars. Read more
Published on December 7, 2006 by Art
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read
This book is a fun read about American players in Japan. From my experience seeing a game in Japan, it is a bit dated, but I'm glad I read it beforehand. Read more
Published on July 21, 2006 by J. M. Rosenmeier
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
See all 6 books this book cites
1
book
cites this book:
- Pete Rose by James Philip Smith in Front Matter, and page 46
- The Babe Ruth Story by Babe Ruth in Back Matter
- A Japanese Mirror: Heroes and Villains of Japanese Culture by Ian Buruma in Back Matter
- The Pacific Coast (Ecosystems of North America) by Maria Mudd-Ruth on page 133
- Essential Van Gogh by James Smith on page 1
See all 6 books this book cites
- Keeping Good Company: A Study of Corporate Governance in Five Countries by Jonathan Charkham in Back Matter
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