Leading Asia expert Frank Gibney dies (DTogo's former professor at UCSB)

Yahoo! News Asia ^ | April 14th, 2006 | DTogo

[DTogo]

(Kyodo) _ Frank Gibney, one of America's leading experts on Japan and Asia-Pacific affairs who founded and edited the Japanese-language Encyclopedia Britannica, died of heart failure on April 9 at his home in Santa Barbara, California, his family said. He was 81.

President of the Pacific Basin Institute and a professor of politics at Pomona College, Gibney spent most of his life attempting to bridge the gap between Americans and the countries and cultures of East Asia.

Gibney's books and films on Japan, China and other Pacific Basin countries have enjoyed broad readership, from his first book "Five Gentlemen of Japan" (1953) to "The Battle of Okinawa" (1995).

His major work, "The Pacific Century" (1992), was the capstone of the award-winning PBS television series of that name, where he served as chief editor, according to Pomona College.

A journalist by trade, Gibney established his name for reporting the Korean War in 1950, when he was Tokyo bureau chief of Time, and later edited at Newsweek and Life, before becoming publisher of Show in 1961.

[DTogo]

It was fascinating to listen to him speak in class and talk of his own personal experiences in post-war Japan and the region. Thanks for the great education, Professor Gibney.

[DTogo]

FYI, for those who may have known him and/or read his works.

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[CatoRenasci]

When did he teach at UCSB? I don't remember him from the late '60s and early '70s when I was a grad student in history -- I don't remember who did Japanese history then, but did do some Chinese history with Immanuel Hsu.

[MARKUSPRIME]

God rest his soul.

[DTogo]

Mid '80s when I was there. I'm not sure if he was a regular/tenured professor at UCSB, or just taught a few classes there now and then, but he was good.