Well, I'd have to say that my opinions on Japan have changed a lot since I wrote this article.

I'm surprised to hear you say that Japan is the second exporter of pop culture after the U.S. Is this based just on your observations?

Also, I don't think I've described the culture as "unimaginative". I simply mean to say that there's pressures for conformity that have to necessarily work to curtail eccentricity.

I'd be curious to know more about the school system here. I don't know much about it, except that they secure better outcomes. I also know I went from having a halfway decent SAT score back in the states to apparently having quite a low one relative applicants here.

I'm curious. Do you live in Tokyo or a different prefecture?