Robin Boyd wrote about Japanese architecture, urban development and design culture across almost a decade, from Kenzo Tange in 1962 to his critical analyses of Expo 70 in Osaka for Architectural Review (UK) and Architectural Forum (USA). Over this period, Boyd’s view of the Japanese architectural scene became more granular and nuanced as he visited the country and developed relationships with key practitioners. In Tokyo from the Monorail (1966), Boyd mentions Kenzo Tange, Kunio Maekawa and Junzo Yoshimura, but none of the younger Metabolist generation then coming into prominence. The commission to write New Directions appears to be a turning point in Boyd’s writing about Japan - his research, including correspondence with Paul Hopkins and the working notes presented here, show Boyd diving deep into the increasing diversity of Japanese architectural culture. This research is reflected in New Directions and influences his Expo 70 articles, in which Boyd seeks out Metabolist strains amongst the wildly divergent pavilions on display.