Read an interesting piece of writing about Japan, directed from Alllooksame.com. Reminded me of that book, Polite Lies, by Kyoko Mori, who also wrote Shizuko's Daughter and One Bird. Here's the link:
http://www.traces.ws/writings/gambatte.htm If you go back to the menu, you can find other writings by the same author. I liked Yankee Manners.