Covering the years 1971-89 the book presents the first substantial analysis of the enormous international expansion of Japanese banks. It is therefore an invaluable source of information for academics and businessmen alike. The focus on their presence in Europe and the assessment of implications after 1992 is a perspective never applied before. Two-and-a-half years of research in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo have resulted in the development of a systematic approach to identify the key pressures shaping their strategies.