The Magatama Doodle: One Man’s Affair with Japan, 1950-2004

Part personal memoir, part professional flashback, part socio-cultural commentary, The Magatama Doodle chronicles the author’s experiences during his twenty-four years (1950-74) of living in Japan as a reluctant banker. The book comments extensively on the country’s social, economic, political and cultural realities during the crucial early years of post-war reconstruction and recovery. Rich in anecdotal material often enough highly amusing the book also delves beneath the personal story in search of the bigger picture. Neither an apologist, nor a Japan-basher, the author approaches Japan’s complexities with informed respect and due care and attention, but also with well-targeted criticisms. Finally, in an Epilogue, the author touches on some of the significant changes that have taken place in Japanese society since the mid-Seventies; he also addresses his current concern widely shared about the sustainability of Japan’s prosperity without implementing important structural changes in existing political and social systems.