28 Wa & Kaizen IN JAPAN What you think you know about a destination and what you actually find when you visit can alter hugely. Has that happened to you? The more time you spend in a culture, the more you understand the traditions, and most importantly the nuances that shape society. It’s time to demystify the wonders of Japan, one of our newest destinations in the Enchanting Travels collection. Japanese culture is entrenched in brilliant simply philosophies that provide a whole new perspective to the way people in the West usually see. You may have heard of how when an object is broken that the Japanese mend it with gold, to highlight that even something broken can still be beautiful. But have you heard of wa and kaizen? Where everything has a place and everyone belongs? These two concepts explain much of the culture, where the ancient and the modern clash, and convention and progression entangle. This is Japan. Wa Wa has been an age-old term known since the earliest manuscripts of Japan’s history. Simply defined it means harmony, balance, peace, unity, or togetherness, and invokes an action of obedience. Wa is the foundation for Japan’s moral code. You never break away as an individual to further yourself, but work within a hierarchical system to adhere to communal harmony. In the workplace, groups not individuals are rewarded, and loyalty is considered integrity. Even in the most cosmopolitan cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, you will feel safe like you never have before! The crime rate in Japan is the lowest in the world and theft is almost unheard of, even in a country of 127 million people! It’s no wonder that when you travel the country using the efficient, high- speed bullet trains, that you can leave your luggage in one carrier and be assured that it will arrive at your destination. There is impeccable convenience in ways you never imagined. hese two concepts explain much of the culture, where the ancient and the modern clash, and convention and progression entangle. This is Japan. hese two concepts explain much of the culture, where the ancient and the modern clash, and convention and progression entangle. This is Japan. Wa Wa has been an age-old term known since the earliest manuscripts of or togetherness, and invokes an action of obedience. Wa is the foundation for Japan’s moral code. You never break away as an individual to further yourself, but work within a hierarchical system to adhere to communal harmony. In the workplace, groups not individuals are rewarded, and loyalty is considered integrity. Even in the most cosmopolitan cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, you will feel safe “Japan was not a bucket list destination for me before now. Yes, I love to travel and experience different cultures, but Japan? Was I scared? Apprehensive? Why had it not intrigued me before? Truth be told, I had always thought of it as a weird place that was maybe out of my comfort zone. Not a vacation destination. Since visiting that has changed. I can't wait to go back. I need to see, hear, feel, taste and experience more!” - KATHRIN MAYR, TRAVEL CONSULTANT, ASIA Discover New Worlds NEW to the Enchanting Travels collection