I first started living in Japan in 1982 and I've called Japan 'home' for three decades. I am one of the non-Japanese who chose to stay here for a simple reason; I love Japan.

Does this mean I think Japan is the "perfect society" with no flaws or failings? Certainly not. I could make a very long list of things I dislike and would like to see changed. But on the whole, Japan is what I think a society should be - a place where crime is low, most people have manners, diligence is in abundance, and things work. Trains are on time, deliveries happen when promised, the streets are clean, and people are basically nice.

With the massive influx of non-Japanese tourists in recent years, however, I've started to see a change in what I used to take for granted. Mostly small stuff. Like I never used to see people eat or talk on the trains. Now increasingly I do. Just today, I was sitting on a subway in Tokyo next to me I noticed a fellow American talking on her cell phone. I paused for a few seconds to see if she would stop and she didn't. So I said, "Excuse me. Are you aware you're not supposed to talk on the phone? That's not allowed here." She replied, "Oh, it's okay", and I said, "No, it's not". She stopped. But I had to take a minute to ask myself why I got so irritated at such a small issue - a first world problem to be sure. After all, I'm not living in Aleppo, right? So why did I get so bent out of shape?

Perhaps it is because civility is seemingly in short supply with the election of Donald Trump, but I like Japan just the way it is. I like the fact that you're not permitted to speak on trains here, that buildings are basically devoid of graffiti, and that there is no tipping even though people in the service industry do a fantastic job and provide excellent service with no anticipated additional financial gain. And I like that Japanese are generally polite and indirect. It is so refreshing from the 'in your face' style that America has become.

I suppose I better get used to a 'new Japan'. On the other hand, I'm thinking there is an army of people like me who are happy to let the newbies know how things work here. Hoping so, anyway.