Japanese Bankers in the City of London

The globalization of the world economy today means that more and more people are experiencing working in another culture. Focusing on the real experiences of workers in Japanese transnational finance companies, this book not only throws light on this specific case, but at the same time raises timely questions and insights into the newly-emerging multicultural work experiences worldwide. The book reflects on contemporary discussions in sociology, anthropology and cultural studies of individual global movement and cultural interaction. Whilst there are some studies on Japanese multinational companies in Europe, they have typically assumed stereotyped differences in management systems and work cultures. This book, however, aims to break the mould by looking at the culture and individuals' subjective views about their working lives and also their own world views; this perspective illuminates the difficulties in working relationships between Japanese and Europeans. Junko Sakai reveals, through 100 transcribed interviews, transnational working experience in the context of individuals global movements between East and West, and explores how the ideals and interactions of ethnicity and cul

'...offers a rare and welcome insight into the inner lives and psychology of Japanese bankers...Sakai delivers a rather unique anthropological interprestation of human narratives and life stories , displaying a rich tapestry of interwoven discourses that are accentuated by 'us' and 'them' remarks...The book is a fascinating read, and the subject is one of considerable practical and theoretical significance.' - Tomoko Hamada'[This] is the kind of book which stays with you after you have turned the final page, inviting you to reflect on your own multicultural experiences and your own notions of cultural identity' - The Japan Society