In 2000 I visited Japan.In 2000 I visited Japan.

I was giving Teacher Training WorkshopsI was giving Teacher Training Workshopsat the ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTEat the ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE

in TOKYOin TOKYO

The Italian Cultural InstituteThe Italian Cultural Institutein Tokyoin Tokyo

A unique place in the heartA unique place in the heartof the cityof the city

It used to be the residence a It used to be the residence a Japanese aristocrat enamored of Japanese aristocrat enamored of

ItalyItaly

He donated it as a gift to the He donated it as a gift to the Italian PeopleItalian People

It is located near one of Japan’sIt is located near one of Japan’smost important Shinto Shrinesmost important Shinto Shrines

Yasukuni ShrineYasukuni Shrineand War Museumand War Museum

It is also close to the Imperial Palace It is also close to the Imperial Palace compound with gardens and buildingcompound with gardens and building

As I was walking around the compound on As I was walking around the compound on a Sunday morning I came to a plaza with a a Sunday morning I came to a plaza with a

large monumental gate.large monumental gate.

I had no idea where I was.I had no idea where I was.

I just noticed a few policemen in uniform I just noticed a few policemen in uniform and maybe two or three plain-clothes and maybe two or three plain-clothes

agents wearing earbuds.agents wearing earbuds.

Suddenly I saw a small motorcade come down Suddenly I saw a small motorcade come down from the hill toward the gate.from the hill toward the gate.

Beyond the gate was a long road leading Beyond the gate was a long road leading up a hill. up a hill.

One of the uniform agents politely One of the uniform agents politely indicated that I should move to the indicated that I should move to the

sidewalk a the edge of the plaza where sidewalk a the edge of the plaza where three or four other people were already three or four other people were already

standing.standing.

OK, I thought, OK, I thought,

I have nothing else to do, I have nothing else to do,

so let’s see what happensso let’s see what happens

Once it reached the gate, the motorcade stopped.Once it reached the gate, the motorcade stopped.It waited a few minutes, then it started moving.It waited a few minutes, then it started moving.

As I looked around I realized that they had As I looked around I realized that they had stopped at the RED LIGHT that faced the stopped at the RED LIGHT that faced the

gate.gate.

When the light turned green, the motorcade When the light turned green, the motorcade started moving very slowly to merge into the road, started moving very slowly to merge into the road,

passing in front of me.passing in front of me.

The lead car, a limousineThe lead car, a limousine(rather modest, by New York standards) (rather modest, by New York standards)

had a window open.had a window open.

A woman was waving to salute the small crowdA woman was waving to salute the small crowd

THE EMPRESS OF JAPANTHE EMPRESS OF JAPAN

Next to her was the Emperor.Next to her was the Emperor.

That’s right.That’s right.

IN JAPANIN JAPAN

THE EMPERORTHE EMPEROR

STOPS AT THE RED LIGHTSTOPS AT THE RED LIGHT

IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSEIN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE

Is there a better way to Is there a better way to understand and explain whatunderstand and explain what

the Japanese culture is the Japanese culture is about?about?