The essential reference on Japanese customs and etiquette told from the inside. Japan's image in the world, and self-image, is tied up in a tumultuous history, from turbulent medieval ages, to the stable Tokugawa era, to catastrophic world war, to global economic powerhouse, and to a period of stagnation leading into the shattering earthquake of 2011. As the New York Times reported on the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor disaster: "Maybe we can learn something from Japan. The selflessness, stoicism and discipline in Japan these days are epitomized by those workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant." This book, told from the inside by a distinguished Japanese ambassador, explains the value set and culture that underpins modern Japan. As the Western model of capitalism appears to struggle with civil disorder and crime, there is much to be learned from the cultural systems of these steadfast islanders.