Cultures clash and hearts open in this exciting memoir set in 1970s Japan. What happens when an Italian-American airman stationed in Tokyo breaks free from expectations and fully opens to embrace - and be embraced - by Japan's traditional way of living and loving? Other books and movies have shown us the politically authorized view, the Hollywood view, the Americanized view of Japan. For the first time, in Cultured Gaijin, you will discover the hidden mysteries of Japan. Whether you are a lover of The Land of the Rising Sun, or you have been curious and want to go beyond the guidebooks and documentaries, this book is your gateway to an immersion that is as humorous as it is thought-provoking. Through the eyes, mind, and spirit of a U.S. Air Force serviceman willing to step deeply into Bushido, the moral code of the samurai warrior, while staying true to himself, you will journey from Japanese countryside to city, from mountains to temples, and meet real-life characters who will enliven and enlighten you long after you have read the last page of this respectful, revealing, romantic, and raw autobiography.