Late career, established scholars well known for their specialisms in the humanities and social sciences in East Asian Studies (principally, to date, Japanese Studies) are invited to ‘join’ the series by Paul Norbury. The volumes comprise both published and unpublished writings, including ‘popular’ writings and reviews and, importantly, a mini memoir (intended as a historical record) focusing on their career and specialism(s) in Asian Studies and how it came about. The volume title is intended to reflect the main career focus of the author’s work and is supported by a Foreword from a respected scholar in the field who endeavours to appraise the author’s contributions in his/her particular field(s) with supportive comments and highlights.