I am definitely glad I came to Japan. It shifted my view of the world 180 degrees compared with when I was living in Canada. We have such limitless access to natural resources in Canada that people hardly ever think about them. Our attitudes toward nature are different too. I did feel a little claustrophobic in Japan initially but soon began to appreciate the benefits of living in a finite environment, of making the most of things to create your own lifestyle.
Japan has a deep-rooted set of values based on an appreciation of quality over quantity. Producing goods has always been a combination of functionality and beauty. Now in the 21st century, we all need to switch from the notion of quantity to quality. People from other countries may tend to have a continental view of nature, in that resources are limitless. Their coming to an island country like Japan would help to change their mindsets.