My daughter spent 2 years living in a rural village in Japan (in Fukushima Prefecture where the much discussed nuclear reactor is, as a matter of fact). The people there were absolutely wonderful to her I know that is not the case nationwide, where foreigners often remain suspect
The day she left, half the village came out to the train station to see her off, had hosted parties, teas, luncheons and dinners to celebrate her farewell and to thank her for her contribution to their children’s lives as a teacher of English. Gifts you wouldn’t believe! So I have a soft spot in my heart for those people.
One Christmas she came home, and upon arriving at Reagan National was astonished at how minimally it was ‘done up’ for the holiday vs. Tokyo and even her little village. See, at Reagan National and across the US we don’t want to offend anyone!