The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave From Japan & the Transformation of Our National Pastime

April 7, 2004
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Corporate Program past event

Evening Lecture
Wednesday, April 7
6:30 – 8 pm


Read the Event Summary.

Major League Baseball has gone global. Twenty-one participants in the 2003 all-star game were foreign-born, while the contest itself was beamed to 200 countries. Players from Japan are a significant part of this trend, led by Ichiro Suzuki, Hideo Nomo and Hideki Matsui. Because of linguistic difficulties and other factors, not much is known about them–who they are, what kind of value system informs them and in what historical context their accomplishments lie. Robert Whiting‘s new book, The Meaning of Ichiro, is meant to remedy this situation. In his talk, he explores these and other aspects of this growing new phenomenon, including what the Japanese have to teach us about baseball and what their presence in MLB means for the future of the game on both sides of the Pacific.


Followed by a booksigning and reception.


Speaker
Robert Whiting


Presider
Tracy Dahlby, independent journalist & filmmaker


Robert Whiting is the author of The Chrysanthemum and the Bat, chosen as the best sports book of 1977 by Time magazine, You Gotta Have Wa, a Pulitzer Prize entry and Tokyo Underworld, presently developed for the screen by Dreamworks. He divides time between Kamakura, Japan and whatever country it is that his wife Machiko, an officer in the UNCHR, is stationed.


Admission: Corporate members are entitled to a designated number of free admissions to this event, based on their company’s current membership level, and can order tickets by contacting Ellie Montazeri at (212) 715-1247 or [email protected]. These reservations must be made at least 48 hours prior to the event. Additional corporate members and individual members pay the discounted rate of $8. Nonmembers: $10; students & seniors $5.

  • Wednesday, April 7, 2004
  • 6:30 pm