My dad was career Air Force, and our family went to Japan 1959, I was 3 years old. I find it astounding even today that only 14 years after the end of World War II, American military dependents were allowed to go to Japan. We were there for 3 years. I have vivid early childhood memories of being there. We went back in the early ‘70s, and I experienced two of my best growing up, teenage years while in Japan. I’m very grateful to have had the experience.
When Americans finally landed on Japan.’ they ruled with a pretty heavy iron fist. Anything less than total subservience was met with swift and deadly response. No messing around was allowed in the least. Incredibly strict but fair.
All thrived because of an early education there. The youngest is an executive for an internationally known company. The middle daughter is a quality control manager for an equally well known Japanese auto maker in the southeast. The oldest tutors Japanese executives on-line.
OTOH, they never did learn how to put a condom on a cucumber or about the 56 different genders. They are all in stable marriages.