Dear Professor Macfarlane,
 
     Apologies for this note from a stranger, but I have just finished
 your book on Japan. I thought it was excellent and enjoyed it
 thoroughly!
 
    I work here (and have done for over 20 years) at Hiroshima Shudo
 University, a small university outside Hiroshima. I do Applied Linguistics
 and related areas of language and culture, UK studies, etc. Hence the
 cultural side of the book was of great interest, especially the central
 five chapters. I feel you have got things "right" in many areas and it is
 clear that you have great sympathy for the ambiguities of the country.
 
 .......
 
 Malcolm Benson,
 Prof. of English,
 Hiroshima Shudo University.