The book is divided into six parts: International Aspects of Japanese Capital Markets; The Framework of Capital Markets; Thte Bond Market; The Equity Market; Futures, Money and Foreign-Exchange Markets; and Investment Trusts and Securities Financing. The editor and contributors have focused primarily on the institutional details of the various markets (including stock markets, bond markets, and futures and options markets). However, there are also chapters on theoretical issues, legal and regulatory issues, and recent policy changes and developments including the foreign-exchange market, securities financing and securities market regulation.

The contributors include academics and practitioners from the US, Japan and Europe. They are all recognized experts on the Japanese financial system and they have been commissioned to write on their respective fields of expertise with include economics, finance, banking and law. The book is rich in both institutional and analystical information, some of which has not previously been made available in English. The contributors have also provided new information obtained either from original research or from operational experience.