Undercurrents : Episodes from a Life on the Edge

The author of this unforgettable, true-life adventure book is the outspoken Governor of Tokyo, whose efforts to rejuvenate and refinance the city have won over even those who thought him too unorthodox to support. What many Westerners may not know is that, before his political career, Ishihara was a prominent and successful novelist. Undercurrents now showcases his nonfiction writing with forty episodes from an active life that included pursuing two passions: sailing and scuba diving.

Ishihara has raced oceangoing yachts all over the world. In the course of this pursuit he has known of crewmen being washed overboard and drowning; of boats being upended in monstrous seas; and of navigators-himself among them-being lost from start to finish of long voyages.

Beneath the waves as well, Ishihara has had some equally exciting experiences. He recalls encounters with man-eating sharks both inside and outside a protective cage; indeed, he has seen a great white take a fisherman almost right under his own nose. Within the confines of an underwater tunnel he has come close to losing his life to a giant rock cod. And thanks to powerful currents, he has put his own and his sons' lives in jeopardy in remote Pacific seas.

Linking all these episodes together is the awareness he has gained in extreme situations both at sea and on land: only a fine line separates life and death, and it is possible to cross that line yet still bear witness to the experience. It is the acceptance of this truth that led Ishihara to write of incidents that defy "normal" explanations, for example, the time his father was seen in the garden of close friends just moments after he had died elsewhere.

With good humor, in a relaxed, personal style, Ishihara tells stories that will fascinate not only those who share his love of dangerous outdoor pursuits, but also readers who are intrigued by the prospect of knowing what lies just beyond the boundary of common reality.

SHINTARO ISHIHARA is one of Japan's most successful writers. He was elected Governor of Tokyo in 1999, a post he still holds. The Japan That Can Say No, which he co-authored with Akio Morita, then head of Sony, brought Ishihara worldwide attention.