Engineer probes the Japanese psyche; Extending Renault and Nissan joint purchasing is Desforges' mission.(Special Report)

Byline: Sylviane de Saint-Seine

After working 13 hours a day buying goods and services for Renault and Nissan, Odile Desforges reads Yukio Mishima, one of Japan's greatest 20th-century authors.

It is a testament to Desforges' willpower that she finds time to explore the Japanese psyche through Mishima.

It's not exactly light reading as Mishima's view of the modern world was decidedly glum. But by exploring Japanese fiction, she may gain greater insight into her Japanese colleagues and the Japanese mindset.

Desforges has headed Renault's purchasing since March, ...