G e o r g e L a v r o v George Lavrov was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, where he attended St. Joseph grade and high school. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University, with a major in international trade management with area specialization in Japan and the Pacific Rim. He is the author of The Pacific Rim--Threat or Promise, as well as various other articles dealing with Asian and international business. Being trilingual, he speaks English, Russian and Japanese. During 1975 to 1986, Lavrov was based in Tokyo where he represented American insurance interests. Since returning to the U.S., he has continued to work in the international arena, especially related to Asia and the Pacific Rim. Yokohama Gaijin is George Lavrov's personal story, told from his own eyewitness account. It recounts the horror of WWII carpet bombings of Japanese cities, including the tragic loss of his elder brother, Konstantin, who was killed instantly when a bomb from an American B-29 bomber made a direct hit on the Lavrov residence in Yokohama, Japan, on May 29th, 1945, the harsh wartime treatment of gaijin (foreign) residents of Japan and much more. It is the true story of a stateless White Russian and his family, as they coped through some of the most difficult times of the 20th century--the WWII period in Japan and the postwar years that followed. But it's also a story of faith and hope in the future--a future that spelled A M E R I C A and a successful career in the international business world.

For a foreigner to run a business in a culture as alien to the West as Japan - the most competitive and dynamic market in the world - it takes a general manager with the wisdom of the founder, the tolerance of anaval chaplain, the toughness of a field general, and the zeal of a missionary. This book is about the "Gaijin Kaisha", the foreign firm in Japan. It discusses what the general manager needs to consider and the support he must have from his head office if his company and he are to be successful in Japan, and it tells where he can turn in the Japanese community for assistance.

Includes top lodging--from traditional ryokans to international hotels; where to go for sushi and soba, curry and caviar; great walking tours, including the Ginza and Shinjuku; an insider's guide to shopping and local crafts; after-dark entertainment, from Kabuki to karaoke; helpful Japanese vocabulary and food glossaries; maps locating hotels, restaurants, shops and sights.

"The complete guide with the best of Tokyo, Kyoto and Old Japan"--Cover.