The author gives a thorough examination of the phenomenon of the Shinkansen, and its relationship with Japanese society. He includes the history of the the bullet train, the reasons behind its success, and demonstrates how it went from being simply a high-speed rail network to attaining the status of iconic national symbol.

Christopher P. Hood is Director of the Cardiff Japanese Studies Centre, Cardiff University and Associate Fellow at Chatham House. He is the author of Japanese Education Reform: Nakasone's Legacy (Routledge 2001), co-editor with G. Bownas and D. Powers of Doing Business with the Japanese (2003), and regularly handles media enquiries relating to Japan.

1. Introduction 2. From Bullet Train to Low Flying Plane 3. Ambassador of Japan 4. Whose Line is it Anyway? 5. The Bottom Line 6. The Need for Training 7. Mirror of Japan 8. Conclusion