The Mountain Is Moving describes postwar Japanese societyand the roles that women are expected to play within it. Based oninterviews with hundreds of women, the book examines the education ofwomen, marriage and child rearing, work outside the house, caring forthe elderly, political power or lack of it, and volunteerism. Morleyalso examines a diverse and compelling range of stories and novels byand about Japanese women, revealing both patterns and exceptions.


Morley asserts that the legendary Japanese system of white-collarlabour can only be maintained by the efforts of women who remain athome to care for family. In recent years, however, increasing numbersof Japanese women have begun to seek change and empowerment beyond thedomestic sphere.