243 The Land of Gold

“The Land of Gold”

“Japan, the Land of Gold”—
That’s how Marco Polo described Japan.
Viewed from a Western perspective,
This land of the rising sun must have seemed truly cloaked in mystery.

Gold is a rare metal—
likewise, Japan is a rare land,
From its people and culture to its cuisine, religion, and more.
All things Japanese are similar to yet
Different from those of other nations.

Japan is the world’s oldest nation
With an imperial history stretching more than 2,600 years.
A place where the oldest traditions
And newest innovations exist side by side,
And harmony is a cherished virtue.
With too many shrines and temples to count, a country where Shinto,
With its myriad of gods, as well as Buddhism co-exist in the people’s faith.

The endless wars over religion in other parts of the world—what utter lunacy!
More than ever,
Now is the time to learn this sense of values from the Land of Gold,
So that the world will know the importance of peace.