Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan



Evergreen Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan New book explores impact of people from what became North Korea and how they navigated between Japan and the peninsula Stephen Mercado November 21, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Japanese tourists in Pyongyang \| Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2011) Koreans have contributed to the history of Japan since prehistoric times, and that extends to the modern era and the peninsula’s division into North and South. In a new book, the prolific chronicler of Japan Robert Whiting turns his attention to these outsiders and their unheralded role in a country often perceived as an ethnic and cultural monolith. “Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan” offers compelling portraits of Koreans who left the peninsula to find work or pursue higher education in Japan during its imperial rule of the peninsula, with many staying there after the © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan

New book explores impact of people from what became North Korea and how they navigated between Japan and the peninsula

Stephen Mercado November 21, 2024

Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan

Japanese tourists in Pyongyang | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2011)

Koreans have contributed to the history of Japan since prehistoric times, and that extends to the modern era and the peninsula’s division into North and South.

In a new book, the prolific chronicler of Japan Robert Whiting turns his attention to these outsiders and their unheralded role in a country often perceived as an ethnic and cultural monolith.

“Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan” offers compelling portraits of Koreans who left the peninsula to find work or pursue higher education in Japan during its imperial rule of the peninsula, with many staying there after the

About the Author

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado is a retired officer of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise (originally the Foreign Broadcast Information Service). A researcher primarily interested in Japanese intelligence history and Asian open-source intelligence, he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of "Japanese Spy Gear and Special Weapons: How Noborito's Scientists and Technicians Served in the Second World War and the Cold War" (Pen & Sword Military, 2025), "The Shadow Warriors of Nakano: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Elite Intelligence School" (Brassey’s, 2002), a dozen articles and several dozen book reviews.

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