[Sangetsu]

Japan tends to attract people who are dissatisfied with themselves or their surroundings. To many, Japan seems an exotic place, one with a more or less unique ancient culture, while at the same time being the world's most modern and technologically advanced society.

To those who eventually come here, they eventually learn that Japan is just another place, no better (and is some cases, worse) than wherever it was they originally came from.

Many Japanese feel exactly the same way about western countries, and my students (and even coworkers) tell me how much they dream to visit America or Europe. They are always asking me to tell them about New York City, or San Francisco, or Los Angeles, and the things they can see and do there. I show them pictures, and tell them stories, and they are constantly exclaiming "sugoi!" or "kakkoi!"

My friends in America react the same way to the pictures and stories I bring back from Japan.