I found something out about Japan earlier today. I was talking with my Japanese ESL Language Partner this morning and at one point I asked her what the words to the Japanese national anthem were in English. What I expected to be a straight forward answer turned into quite the story. Apparently there is a hidden meaning in the anthem that not every Japanese person knows. Apparently it says something along the lines of: The emperor is perfect and is equal to God and should therefore be worshiped by all. And the flag is also a symbol of the emperor's perfection and equality with God. She gave more details, but that's the gist...it was quite the story.