[Tsuwabuki]

I've lived in America, South Korea, and Japan, and out of all three, I would say Japan is the best about "practicing what you preach." I would rather live in a country with morals that I disagree with that is honest in its differences than a country which proclaims to have morals I agree with and then fails to do them more than lip service.

I have a rather unique moral code, which surprises people, as I am a devout Roman Catholic. Just because I am, however, does not mean I agree with everything typically applied stereotypically to Catholics, let alone mainstream Christianity as a whole.

I have found Japan to be a much better fit and much more personally tolerable than most places in America. Where I can divide America into places very amenable to me and places not so amenable, Japan as a whole seems very rarely offensive. Furthermore, when I do have an issue in Japan, I have never felt like I should keep it to myself. I do not feel compelled to accept Japanese behavior I disagree with just because it has been Japanese behavior.

Cultural relativism is a matter of moderation: some things are different between cultures, and we should respect those values that vary by culture, however, other things are wrong every where and cultural relativism should not be used to wantonly allow courses of action that are irresponsible.

The individual who says that when in Japan, one must always follow the Japanese without criticism is just as wrong as the individual who claims that Japan's failure to emulate such and such value system makes its citizens immoral.