John Hawkins

You Know Why I Love Japan? Japan is showing all kind of respect to America on our 250th birthday. Europe isn't doing this. Canada isn't doing this. Mexico isn't doing this. All these little Third World pestholes we've been pouring aid into for decades in return for nothing aren't doing this. Japan is doing this. That matters. But you know what else I like about the Japanese? They're a modern society, but they also have a beautiful, old culture. Japanese gardens, Pagodas, Shrines, a belief in duty, and people determined to perfect a craft. They're also more than a little badass. Samurai. Ninja. Bushidō. Miyamoto Musashi. The Book of Five Rings. Hattori Hanzō. Even Godzilla. They didn't just create some monster; they created THE KING OF ALL MONSTERS. Meanwhile, have you ever met Japanese people? I have. I've been to Tokyo, and you know what my impression of them was? They were polite, kind, orderly, law-abiding, clean, and hard-working. The city was safe, the women were attractive, and the food was good (and surprisingly pretty, if you care about that sort of thing). Like every other group of people, the Japanese have their flaws, but they seem to care a lot about their country. They're serious about preserving their culture, and as far as I'm concerned, the world is a better place today because Japan is in it.