Steel Butterflies: Japanese Women and the American Experience examines the role of women in Japan as compared to the United States, approaching the subject from a new and thought-provoking angle. Not only does the reader learn how Japanese women view their own country from the vantage point of living in the United States, but their candid remarks also give Americans the opportunity to see themselves as others see them.

Some of the topics discussed include education; ethics; the freedom—as well as the problems—of living in the United States; why Japanese women both envy and feel sorry for American women; and the past and future status of women in Japan. Steel Butterflies examines family life, women's responsibility in the home, community involvement both here and in Japan, aspects of Japanese culture they tried to keep alive in America, and their children's experiences. Grounded in thorough research, the book offers new insights into Japanese ways of thinking from those who have experienced both cultures.