Okinawa Diary

Yesterday we were in our first Japanese port, Okinawa. No WIFI or satellite allowed and we were fingerprinted and subjected to a health check. Think they trust foreigners? Okinawa was the only Japanese territory actually invaded by American foot soldiers during WWII except Iwo Jima but it doesn’t count because it wasn’t populated at the time. Of course, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were obliterated by American dropped nuclear weapons…surprising they let us visit at all.

The most amazing impression upon entering Japan is how refined, orderly and disciplined the people are. Everything is clean and groomed. In Taiwan and even Hong Kong chaos prevailed. The streets were filthy and people pushed and shoved.

Okinawa was actually an independent kingdom for most of its history. The king kept China and Japan at bay by kowtowing to both sides with gifts and flattery. I think Obama could take a lesson from this history book.