Page 36 - WDT Winter 2018 japan

cheek by jowl, traversed by narrow lanes, as they have been
throughout history. I sense that they have been able to live
closely together because of their elaborate good manners,
mutual respect, self-sufficiency, and work ethic. A less polite
society would require more space or higher fences or guard
dogs.”
To our delight, the sprawling suburbs eventually did give
way to an amazingly beautiful countryside. Most Japanese
live on the coasts in concentrated populations centers, sur-
rounded by thick neatly planted forests. It was fall, and the
trees were turning brilliant shades of orange, yellow and red.
Between busy cities, we saw wild rivers in deep gorges with
the densely forested mountains rising into the clouds. Rarely
did our trains go up or downgrades, just a flat, smooth ride
through the scenic valleys and the mountains by way of a lot
of very long tunnels.

Sengen-Yama Koen Park iin Fuchu city, near Tokyo

36 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018