Dennis J. Frost - More Than Medals: A History of the Paralympics and Disability Sports in Postwar Japan

As I worked on this project, I was constantly reminded that I was never truly researching and writing on my own. A lengthy list of individuals and groups have provided assistance in some way, from anonymous grant application readers to the efficient photocopy workers at the National Diet Library. Although I am indebted to them all, it is simply not possible to mention everyone here. For those I omit, I can only apologize for the lack of formal recognition and express my all-too-inadequate appreciation for their help.

Carrying out research on Japan is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, and this book would not exist without the generous institutional and financial support I received from its very earliest stages. A Xavier University Summer Fellowship helped me launch this project, and the funds available because of the Wen Chao Chen Endowment associated with my position at Kalamazoo College, along with a well-timed sabbatical leave, were instrumental in bringing the book to completion. At various points, I was fortunate to receive external support as well, including a grant from the GLCA Fund for the Study of Japan, an NEH Summer Stipend, an NEH Fellowship for Advanced Social Science Research on Japan, and an IIE Fulbright Fellowship.

In Japan, many people assisted me throughout my research. Lee Thompson served as my sponsor at Waseda University during my sabbatical and also arranged for me to share my work and gain invaluable feedback at Wasedas Sports Science Research Workshop. The staff at Wasedas international office arranged for my affiliation, housing, and even a convenient, quiet office. The Japan-U.S. Educational Commission staff made my time as a Fulbright Fellow all the more productive and enjoyable with their quick and accommodating efforts to address any concerns from me or my family. Staff from both the Japan Para-Sports Association (previously known as the Japan Sports Association for the Disabled) and the ita International Wheelchair Marathon took time out of their busy schedules to assist me and helped me gain access to key resources. Fujita Motoaki and Watari Tadashi generously shared research materials with me, and both have performed a service to the field with their detailed and groundbreaking work on disability sports. Josh Grisdale and Michael Gillan Peckitt also shared resources, and for years to come I will continue to make use of the online materials that they developed. The staff at the Nippon Foundations Paralympic Support Center flew me to Tokyo to share my work at a symposium and, even more importantly, have played a pivotal role in developing a community of scholars and specialists working on sports and disability in Japan and beyond. The events that they organize and the materials that they continue to share and make available online are fundamentally reshaping the field.

I owe a special debt to those who agreed to sit for interviews or meet to discuss their involvement with the sporting events studied here. As Manabu, Kyya Kazuyuki, Suzaki Katsumi, and Yamaguchi Ichir participated in extended interview sessions. Although my discussions with Matthew Davis, Peter Hawkins, Katayama Takaki, Chino Eto, Kudo Norifumi, and Gotoh Keiko did not involve formal interviews, the insights each shared in our conversations provided me with critical insights. Yotsutani Natsuko, from Taiy no Ie, merits particular mention: she arranged my interview with Suzaki Katsumi and literally opened the door to the archives at Taiy no Ie, providing me access to materials unavailable anywhere else. Similarly, my work would have been incomplete without the assistance of Kashihara Tomoko, a member of the Kobe FESPIC alumni group, who not only welcomed me into the group on two occasions but also facilitated my introductions to both Yotsutani Natsuko and As Manabu.

I also benefited immeasurably from the support and advice of several colleagues outside Japan. Gregory Pflugfelder and William Kelly offered advice and assistance at various points in the project. My longtime mentor Jim Huffman was the first to read the entire manuscript. The book is undoubtedly stronger for his feedback, and I am better for his encouragement and ongoing friendship. I am grateful to participants in the Midwest Japan Seminar, as well as audiences at several other talks; their questions and comments shaped many sections of the work in beneficial ways. Portions of chapter 1 were originally published in the International Journal of the History of Sport in 2012 and in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Sport and Social Science in 2013, and Taylor & Francis granted permission for their use in the book. To access the original articles in these journals, visit https://www.tandfonline.com/. My anonymous reviewers provided kind words and useful insights for revision. I am also thankful that my editor Roger Haydon agreed to take my call that day. His patience, support, and timely feedback made a difficult process more than manageable and resulted in a much improved work. Ange Romeo-Hall and Mary Ribesky and their respective teams repeatedly exceeded my expectations as the manuscript moved through the editing process. I am particularly indebted to Gail Naron Chalew for her thorough and astute copyediting and to Kate Mertes for assistance with the index.

Many colleagues, friends, and family members supported me throughout this project, but I owe special thanks to a few: Tobias Barske, Valerie Barske, Mark Bookman, Mark Edington, Reto Hofmann, Robin Kietlinski, Kathryn Lightcap, Aaron Miller, Helen Macnaughtan, Thomas Mullaney, David Obermiller, Lee Pennington, Jennifer Robertson, Mathew Thompson, and Yuki Taketani Thompson. My colleagues at Kalamazoo College were also a regular source of inspiration and support.

Finally, I want to acknowledge those who lived with this book for the better part of a decade. My sons Dominick and Xander helped me celebrate each step of the process and made research in Tokyo a family affair in more ways than I can count. To my wife, Kelly, I owe far more than I could begin to express here. Without her help reading drafts, editing, compiling bibliographies, proofreading, and relocating our family halfway around the globe, this book would still be nothing more than notes and some files on my desktop. Thank you for everything.