Best-selling author Robert Whiting's first book on Japanese baseball, "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat," has been released in digital form for the first time.
Originally published in 1977, the tome chronicles baseball's post-war development in Japan and how American and Japanese value systems sometimes clashed. It was selected as Time magazine's "Best Sports Book of the Year," and paved the way for the classic "You Gotta Have Wa" a decade later.
The book is now available on both Apple's iBookstore and Amazon in the Kindle Edition after being digitized by Japanime Co. Ltd.
"The Chrysanthemum and the Bat was first released more than 30 years ago but remains a timeless piece," says Japanime president Glenn Kardy. "Mr. Whiting is one of the foremost experts on Japan and his deep knowledge is reflected in this early work. We think those who have not read it will be fascinated."
The iBooks version contains many photos of the Japanese stars of yesteryear, including legends Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima of the Yomiuri Giants, and 400-game winner Masaichi Kaneda.
Whiting also wrote "Slugging It Out In Japan" with former Giants star Warren Cromartie, which will be released soon by Japanime.