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Don Maloney (author)
Encyclopedia
Donald J. Maloney was an American author
, best-known for his writings about his life as an American businessman in Japan
during the 1970s.
Maloney graduated from the Syracuse University
School of Journalism
in 1948. In 1970, Maloney was assigned to Tokyo
by the Harris Corporation
(then of Cleveland, Ohio
) to engineer Harris' entry into the Japanese market. He negotiated a 50/50 joint venture between Harris and Marubeni Corporation of Japan, and served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Marubeni-Harris Printing Equipment Company.
He was a member of the Tokyo American Club, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
, America-Japan Society, International House
, and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
.
Maloney is probably best known in Japan for his humorous newspaper columns published every Sunday in Tokyo's English-language daily, the Japan Times, entitled Never the Twain...? which dealt exclusively with the experience of an American expatriate
living in Japan. In 1975, a collection of his articles from 1970-1974 were published in Japan: It's Not All Raw Fish, ISBN 4-7890-0028-1, even used as course material by North Carolina State University
; followed by Son of Raw Fish. His accounts of life as lived by a foreigner striving in Japan included episodes involving "Wife Sarah," his four kids (Frances, Barbara, Shawn and Don Jr.), his Japanese neighbors and all the shopkeepers, coworkers, policemen and folks from every walk of life were grist for his knee-slapping editorial mill. The Maloney family lived next to Yomiuri Giants
manager and former superstar Shigeo Nagashima
, providing Maloney with a virtually bottomless pool of column material.
An example of Maloney's self-deprecating humor-
He served five two-year terms as a commissioner for the City of Holmes Beach, Florida
, beginning in 1995. After losing a reelection bid in 2005, he returned to humor writing, authoring a twice-monthly column for a local newspaper.
Maloney died September 3, 2007, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Sarah, as well as his four children and twelve grandchildren.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, best-known for his writings about his life as an American businessman in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the 1970s.
Maloney graduated from the Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
School of Journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
in 1948. In 1970, Maloney was assigned to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
by the Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation is a Florida-based international communications equipment company that produces wireless equipment, electronic systems, and both terrestrial and spaceborne antennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors. It is also the largest private-sector employer in...
(then of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
) to engineer Harris' entry into the Japanese market. He negotiated a 50/50 joint venture between Harris and Marubeni Corporation of Japan, and served as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Marubeni-Harris Printing Equipment Company.
He was a member of the Tokyo American Club, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, America-Japan Society, International House
International House World Organisation
International House World Organisation is a network of language schools worldwide. There are over 150 schools and teacher training centres in more than 50 countries ....
, and the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan was started in 1945 to provide infrastructure for foreign journalists working in Post-World War II Japan. Historically, the club has been located in the area around Ginza....
.
Maloney is probably best known in Japan for his humorous newspaper columns published every Sunday in Tokyo's English-language daily, the Japan Times, entitled Never the Twain...? which dealt exclusively with the experience of an American expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
living in Japan. In 1975, a collection of his articles from 1970-1974 were published in Japan: It's Not All Raw Fish, ISBN 4-7890-0028-1, even used as course material by North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
; followed by Son of Raw Fish. His accounts of life as lived by a foreigner striving in Japan included episodes involving "Wife Sarah," his four kids (Frances, Barbara, Shawn and Don Jr.), his Japanese neighbors and all the shopkeepers, coworkers, policemen and folks from every walk of life were grist for his knee-slapping editorial mill. The Maloney family lived next to Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
manager and former superstar Shigeo Nagashima
Shigeo Nagashima
is a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager.Nagashima was by far the most popular figure in Japanese baseball during his career. His contributions to the development of the sport in Japan are immeasurable.-Biography:...
, providing Maloney with a virtually bottomless pool of column material.
An example of Maloney's self-deprecating humor-
- "All foreigners should total up all the money they are spending each month on Japanese lessons. Drop out of school and send the money to the 'Maloney Final Solution to the Language Problem Fund.' The Fund will use the money to teach English to the Japanese. And since you will have free time, you can hire yourself out to the Fund as an English teacher, earning extra money to boot."
He served five two-year terms as a commissioner for the City of Holmes Beach, Florida
Holmes Beach, Florida
Holmes Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, beginning in 1995. After losing a reelection bid in 2005, he returned to humor writing, authoring a twice-monthly column for a local newspaper.
Maloney died September 3, 2007, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife of 58 years, Sarah, as well as his four children and twelve grandchildren.
External links
- http://www.weekender.co.jp/new/011102/this_week.html
- http://www.flcities.com/membership/international/article_holmesbeach.asp
- http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070907/NEWS/709070411