"Partly it is the beauty of the country...
Partly it is the ancient, intricate arts and crafts...
Partly it is the bottomless depths of Zen Buddhism...
Partly it is the cuisine...
And partly--and perhaps most persuasively of all--it is the kindness and sensitivity of the Japanese people...

The truth, of course, is that all of these attributes interact in amazingly complex and compelling ways, creating the whole of Japanese culture and countryside--a whole that is as enchanting as it is enigmatic."
~Traveler's Tales - Japan, True Stories of Life on the Road
Donald W. George, Amy Griemann Carlson

The Japanese place great importance on the concept of wa, emphasizing harmony, group loyalty, and consensus.  Japan continues to blend the traditional culture with new ideas, creating a uniquely Japanese approach.  

Japan has always been an enigma.  Japan is also one of the most challenging and complex markets in the modern world.  Despite the current economic instability, or perhaps because of it and the significant changes currently taking place, the Japanese market offers a wealth of new opportunities.  

The United States and Japan, the two largest economies in the world, continue to be plagued by misunderstandings and misconceptions.  Sometimes humorously referred to as "the oddest couple," these two countries are at opposite ends of the cultural spectrum.