When one considers what Japan did in World War II, one might wonder how I can even suggest that Japan is the most civilized country in the world. Nevertheless, having just returned from a little over three weeks there, it is certainly the impression that I am left with.

Our modern world has amazing sights that even the most visionary thinkers could not imagine a mere century ago. In contrast, there still exist places with buildings and monuments that are hundreds of years old and demonstrate craftmanship and artistry that you could never recreate today.