In 2000 I visited Japan. In 2000 I visited Japan. I was giving Teacher Training Workshops at the ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE in TOKYO I was giving Teacher Training Workshops at the ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE in TOKYO

The Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo

A unique place in the heart of the city

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

He donated it as a gift to the Italian People

It is located near one of Japans most important Shinto Shrines

Yasukuni Shrine and War Museum

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

As I was walking around the compound on a Sunday morning I came to a plaza with a large monumental gate. I had no idea where I was. I just noticed a few policemen in uniform and maybe two or three plain-clothes agents wearing earbuds. As I was walking around the compound on a Sunday morning I came to a plaza with a large monumental gate. I had no idea where I was. I just noticed a few policemen in uniform and maybe two or three plain-clothes agents wearing earbuds.

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

Beyond the gate was a long road leading up a hill. Beyond the gate was a long road leading up a hill. One of the uniform agents politely indicated that I should move to the sidewalk a the edge of the plaza where three or four other people were already standing. One of the uniform agents politely indicated that I should move to the sidewalk a the edge of the plaza where three or four other people were already standing.

OK, I thought, OK, I thought, I have nothing else to do, I have nothing else to do, so lets see what happens

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

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

When the light turned green, the motorcade started moving very slowly to merge into the road, passing in front of me. When the light turned green, the motorcade started moving very slowly to merge into the road, passing in front of me.

The lead car, a limousine (rather modest, by New York standards) had a window open. The lead car, a limousine (rather modest, by New York standards) had a window open.

A woman was waving to salute the small crowd THE EMPRESS OF JAPAN

Next to her was the Emperor.

Thats right. IN JAPAN IN JAPAN THE EMPEROR THE EMPEROR STOPS AT THE RED LIGHT STOPS AT THE RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE

Is there a better way to Is there a better way to understand and explain what understand and explain what the Japanese culture is about? the Japanese culture is about?