This book concludes Sumie Okada's trilogy concerning cultural relationships between Japan and the West. This volume discusses six Japanese authors (Soseki, Mishima, Akiko Yosano, Hiroshi Yosano, Endo and Murakami), analyzing the encounter between their traditional Japanese group-consciousness and western individualism. It also covers Endo's student days in Lyon, and his relationship with the humanist Francoise Pastre, appending a moving account by her sister Genevieve.

This book relates the experiences of a range of Western writers who went to Japan as teachers and lecturers, covering a period of over 100 years. It discusses East-West cultural differences; Western 'individualism' encountering Japanese 'formal' society; and draws on the author's interviews with many of the writers featured. It includes some hitherto unpublished correspondence, as well as comments on their published works. The author hopes her book will encourage a deeper understanding between East and West.