Part 2 of my interview with author Robert Whiting about his recent best selling memoir "Tokyo Junkie" 60 years of bright lights, back alleys, and baseball. In this episode, Bob tells great stories about colorful foreign players and well-known Japanese baseball stars. Part 2, we talk mostly about the baseball stories from his memoir, but also get into the important story of how writing his first book "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat" completely changed his life. Together with episode #1 this is another important and rare opportunity to hear the history and evolution of Tokyo, from one Olympics in 1964 to the the current Tokyo 2020 games as lived and experienced by a true story teller, Robert Whiting. Other topics we discuss:

• The real reason Nomo went to the US to play for the Dodgers
• NY Yankees slugger Hideki Matsui's adult video collection story
• Being interviewed by Larry King
• Reminiscing the time spent with Sadaharu Oh
• The Yomiuri Giants 10 Commandments for foreign ball players
• How the export of Japanese players to the Major League has changed Japanese baseball
• Why there are fewer gaijin cultural transgressions these days
• The backstory behind a keepsake he received from a fan . . . and former US President
• Why gaijin "used" to get an expanded strike zone
• Bob's favorite untranslatable Japanese word

Robert's Books (Tokyo Junkie): https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Whiting/
Robert Whiting: https://tokyojunkie.com/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow your website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

I've been a devoted fan of Robert Whiting since I first read "Chrysanthemum and the Bat" in high school during the 1980s. After many critically acclaimed books, I had the opportunity to sit down with Bob to discuss his latest memoir, "Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys... and Baseball." In our conversation, Bob shares his firsthand insights into six decades of captivating, dangerous, bizarre, and heartfelt experiences, spanning from the first Olympics in 1964 to the current 2021 games. This is part one of a two-part podcast interview. In this episode, we delve into the "Bright Lights and Back Alleys" of Tokyo Junkie, while the second episode will cover "Baseball" and more. This rare, oral history offers a raw and underground look at Tokyo, narrated by the man who lived it—from soldier to degenerate, to professional, to the rojin—Robert Whiting. Other topics we cover include:

• What it's like to have your life threatened by the Yakuza (twice)
• Why writing a Memoir was a "painful" process
• The big break which changed his life
• Befriending gangsters and its repercussions
• Back stories of mafia and politics
• What led to the writing of his 1st book
• After 60 years in Japan what he misses most about the "good old days"
• News of his next book, a sequel to "Tokyo Underworld"
• Most "Gratifying" professional achievement
• Interview tips for a certain podcaster ;-)

Robert's Books (Tokyo Junkie): https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Whiting/
Robert Whiting: https://tokyojunkie.com/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

Meshida, a former Japanese salaryman turned English language standup comedian, has spent the last ten years crafting his unique brand of comedy, delighting audiences in both Japan and the UK. Alongside his successful career as a standup, he's made a name for himself on YouTube, particularly for his humorous take on Japan's "pink" culture, while also exploring many other "wholesome" cultural topics. In our conversation, we delve into his journey to becoming a full-time comedian, the nuances between Japanese and Western humor, memorable moments from his time on stage, his earnings from viral YouTube videos, the sources of his joke-writing inspiration, and the reactions of his parents and Japanese audiences to his career and content. We also discuss other topics, including:

• First open mic experience at 21
• Why physical humor is popular in Japan
• Turning his insecurities into self deprecating humor
• His 1st successful joke which got a huge laugh
• Is "Manzai" the Japanese equivalent of Western standup?
• Once losing his confidence for 6 months after bombing on stage
• The one question he would ask his favorite comic
• Why its difficult to monetize YouTube even with millions of views and 60k subscribers
• His YouTube strategy to gain more fans and followers
• Meeting other international Japanese standup comedians

Funny Japan Project: https://funnyjapanproject.com/
Standup Comedian Meshida: https://www.youtube.com/channel/

More Now and Zen Japan episodes: https://www.nowandzen.jp/

Grow website traffic = Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life