As a Japanese national who received the “post war” education to deny and ridicule the traditional Japanese culture,  I did not know the “truth” about the nature of the Japanese mentality and the Japanese culture.

I was told that Japan has been a bad county and we were given the concept of “democracy” only after the World War II.  I believed what I was told at school and I had very little respect for the traditional Japanese culture until recently. “Modesty” was highly regarded in Japan and I was never taught to be proud of or feel good about my own country.

After moving to the United States and having lived here for many years, I started to realize the wonderfully unique qualities of the Japanese culture. These articles are from my personal notes of what I have relearned and rediscovered about Japan. I hope you will enjoy them.

Sai Nozaki