Being an American in Japan has been a good opportunity to learn more about…England. Yes, Japan has always had a special affinity for the British Isles, no doubt perceiving themselves as a mirror version of the U.K. in Asia, and some aspects of Japan that seem strange to us Yanks actually come from Great Britain. Japan chose to import much in the way of technology and institutions from the home of Shakespeare, including creating a British-style Parliament and cloning Britain’s postal system and the BBC (a.k.a. NHK). Japan has a “3 o’clock tea time” tradition borrowed from the U.K., they drive on the left side of the road, and they use terms like “saloon” for a sedan, “dust box” for a trash can and pantsu for underwear. But Japan’s greatest homage to England can be heard in any school classroom, or any anime series set in a school. When the school bell rings indicating the start of class in Japan, it’s a replica of the chimes of Big Ben.
Japan has long had a special connection with Great Britain.
