21 Years of Wisdom: One Man's Extraordinary Odyssey in Japan

Growing up in the crime-ridden streets of Los Angeles, author Darrell Gartrell could easily have become just another statistic. But after a backpacking tour of Europe, he landed in Osaka, Japan. His private English lessons led to the opening of an Osaka-based English school in 1991. The "eikaiwa", called Wisdom21, was an instant hit and eventually expanded nationwide. But a "gaijin" managing a chain of language schools was to come at a heavy price. As a foreigner, he attracted, not only the endearment of polite Japanese society, but of the Japanese mafia as well. Darrell shares his experiences here-a penetrating, exceptionally written memoir of an American entrepreneur in Japan. Buy now!

Author: Darrell B. Gartrell
Publisher: Darrell Gartrell
Published: 09/24/2018
Pages: 366
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.59lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9780692547397

About the Author
Gartrell, Darrell B.: - "Darrell Gartrell was born and raised in Los Angeles's South-Central area. Following the death of his father to cancer, he and his 4 sisters were raised by their mother who steered him away from the pitfalls that befell many of his peers. He struggled to finish a BS degree in finance at CSULA, while working nights at the Federal Reserve Bank. Darrell's life was changed forever after a chance meeting which led to a backpacking expedition across Europe and then later to Japan. There, he became the first African-American to teach English with an urban focus. Patronized by the upper echelons of Japanese society, he drew the attention of the 'yakuza' or mafia as well. He shares his heart-felt story - the journey to opening a countrywide network of language academies - in his memoir, 21 Years of Wisdom - One Man's Extraordinary Odyssey in Japan. He is currently working on the followup to the story, My American Homecoming, which describes the hardships of integrating back into American society after two decades abroad. Scheduled release date in July 2021. Aside from writing, Darrell's interests include travel, foreign languages, enjoying all kinds of music, watching NBA basketball and exercising. He reads as much as he can and enjoys spending time with his lovely young daughter. Today, Darrell lives in Savannah, Georgia and is collaborating on a screenplay of his first book. You can contact or follow Darrell at the following: Email: corp_pro@hotmail.com Personal Blog - www.darrellgartrell.com (being upgraded) Or hook up through Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or Instagram"