When a great-grandson inherits two aging trunks and a stack of meticulously detailed journals penned by his great-grandfather, he sets out to fulfill his great-grandfather's last request: to tell the story of an incredible life replete with adventure, violence, and tragedy. The great-grandfather's name is Billy Battles--a man often trapped and overwhelmed by circumstances beyond his control. For much of his 100-year-long life Billy is a man missing and largely unknown to his descendants. His great-grandson is about to change that. As he works his way through the aging journals and the other possessions he finds in the battered trunks he uncovers the truth about his mysterious great-grandfather--a man whose deeds and misdeeds propelled him on an extraordinary and perilous journey from the untamed American West to the inscrutable Far East, Latin America and Europe. As he flips through the pages of the handwritten journals he learns of Billy's surprising connections to the Spanish-American War, French Indochina, and revolutions in Mexico and other Latin American countries. But most of all he learns that in finding Billy Battles he has also found a long lost and astonishing link to the past.

The Compelling Saga of One of the World's Oldest Companies.Combining ancient craftsmanship with modern technology andmarketing innovations, Japan's Kikkoman Corporation hasquietly become a $2 billion market leader. The KikkomanChronicles is the fascinating story of how Kikkoman changedthe course of international marketing, shrewdly adapting to20th century realities while never truning their backs oncenturies of tradition; how one man envisioned the future ofglobal enterprise, spearheading the first Japanese manufacturing plant of any kind on U.S. soil; and howgenerations of Mogi family leadership have produced one oftoday's most formidable global competitors.More than an authoritative how-to international business, The Kikkoman Chronicles is the spellbinding story of: Shige Maki, the tough and resourceful woman who narrowlyescaped the 17th century siege of Osaka Castle to sow theseeds to today's Kikkoman Corporation. Kikkoman's survivaland adaptation across more than 300 hyears of social andpolitical upheaval in Japan. Innovative strategies Kikkoman has followed to become the world leader in the productionand marketing of soy sauce - an Asian staple.The Kikkoman Chronicles is a one-of-a-kind corporatebiography. By combining anecdotes and stories about Japan'samazing history wth hands-on tips and recommendations forproven international business success, Ronald E. Yates hasproduced an entertaining book that should become required reading for businesspersons and students throughout the world.