It will be difficult to moderate anything about Japan. There is an old adage about doing all things with or in moderation. As one who once lived in Japan, I must say that it was impossible to keep my emotions about such a beautiful country moderate. It was love at first sight. From the first day I arrived by Pan Am 707 in August of 1961, I knew that I was in for the time of my life.
The bus ride from the old International Airport was the busride of a lifetime; it was the busride I had been waiting for since I was a small child. The weather was pretty warm and the air was thick; my nostrils noticed some strange new aromas. There was the sharp aroma of spices that were pleasant and nice; there were areas where the smells were less than nice. I learned about their source a little later. It never really bothered me since I hadn't arrived in Japan to farm or do any agricultural tasks. No, I was sent to Japan to perform some administrative tasks in a Naval Air Squadron based at the Naval Air Station near Atsugi. It had been a major airfield for the Japanese Zeros, Bettys and other combatant aircraft during World War Two.
I had no attitude about the war. I didn't get into it since I was way too young when it started, born less than a month after Pearl Harbor. But that is old news now. Nevertheless, it made a big difference in the relationship between our two nations. As I said, nothing about Japan can be described as moderate. The way the war ended was far from moderate, but it ended. And look at Japan today. It's success is far from moderate. I love America. And I love Japan. We are like two siblings sometimes; at other times, we are like two lovers.
And there is so much more to Japan than what one sees on the surface. One thing is for certain: anyone who has ever spent any lenght of time in Japan will understand what I am saying about moderation. Okay, now that you know that I am the moderator, welcome Honorable Visitors.
Robert L. Huffstutter
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