Yes, the above is an accurate description of Japan. But these facts alone tell you nothing of Japan's unique culture. We have adapted elements from Asian and Western cultures and harmonized them with our own distinctive civilization.

These facts tell you nothing about the arts that have developed in Japan during our more than 2,000-year history. What can such a description tell you of the refinement of ikebana flower arrangement, the serenity of the tea ceremony, the subtlety of Japanese painting and pottery, and the dynamism of such martial arts as karate and judo ?

These facts tell you nothing of the beauty of Japan. They say nothing of the natural beauty of Japan's mountains, lakes and countryside and how one's appreciation of the landscape changes as the seasons change. Nor do they speak of the attractiveness of Japanese architecture and the grace of the people themselves.

These facts also tell you nothing of the vital modern society that has developed in Japan since we opened our country to the West just over a century ago. Today, Japan is a land where the old and new exist side by side, harmoniously but each still retaining its own unique qualities.

The Japanese people can look backward and forward. They continue to cherish their heritage while working for a better tomorrow.