Peter Martin obituary

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/13/peter-martin

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Our father, Peter Martin, who has died aged 83, was a cultural diplomat and author of many books, from histories to mysteries, often centred on Japan.

He was born in London, the son of a postal worker. After he had undertaken studies in philosophy, and national service in the RAF, his intellectual curiosity led him into a successful career in the cultural world, first with the Royal Festival Hall, then with the British Council. After a stay in Indonesia, it was a posting to Kyoto in 1963 that began a long and productive relationship with Japan.

Kyoto attracted a wide range of British dignitaries and, as the only "official" British figure there, Peter entertained them all. The list included Tony Benn, Iris Murdoch, Angus Wilson, Bridget Riley and Dame Janet Baker. He managed to spill drinks, not once but twice, on Princess Margaret. But he found the time to learn Japanese, open a new office and supervise the British pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka, and was rewarded by being made an MBE. He and his second wife, Joan Drumwright, our mother, also produced a book, Japanese Cooking (1970). The marriage ended in divorce.

During a posting to Budapest, he met his third wife, Catherine (nee Sydee), a jeweller, textile artist and classical musician. He was delighted to be posted in 1979 back to Japan as director of the British Council in Tokyo, but an increasingly bureaucratic management and the grey mood created by financial cuts took its toll. His outlet was writing.

Under the pseudonym James Melville, in 1979 Peter created the character of Superintendent Tetsuo Otani of the Kobe police. Between then and 1992, he produced 13 fast-moving intrigues, full of vivid detail and insights into Japanese life and culture. Early retirement in 1983 enabled him to write full-time. He wrote spy stories, historical novels, including The Imperial Way about the 1936 Japanese military coup, and a history of the Japanese emperors. Peter enjoyed the writer's life, Crime Writers' Association events and the status of having his papers archived by Boston University.

His marriage to Catherine ended in separation, and he spent his retirement years with Carole Rawcliffe, a medieval historian, in Norwich. They travelled extensively. After a stroke, he stopped serious writing but learned ancient Greek rapidly from scratch, followed Norwich City football club, helped Carole with research and enjoyed life to the full, although deeply affected by the early death of Natasha, one of his four grandchildren.

He is survived by us, and by three grandchildren, Sam, Alice and Lauren.