I have an all-Japanese design team and none of them speak English. So it's often funny and surprising how my ideas end up lost in translation.

The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refinement in their art. They try to produce beautiful paintings with the minimum number of strokes.

We burned to death 100 000 Japanese civilians in Tokyo - men women and children. LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side had lost. But what makes it immoral if you lose and not immoral if you win?

My dad remembers being in school with my uncle and the teacher would say outright to the class that the Japanese were second-class citizens and shouldn't be trusted.

The President regards the Japanese as a brave people but courage though useful in time of war is subordinate to knowledge of arts hence courage without such knowledge is not to be highly esteemed.

What do we want our kids to do? Sweep up around Japanese computers?

There is a Japanese proverb that literally goes 'Raise the sail with your stronger hand ' meaning you must go after the opportunities that arise in life that you are best equipped to do.

First there is the bare beauty of the logs themselves with their long lines and firm curves. Then there is the open charm felt of the structural features which are not hidden under plaster and ornament but are clearly revealed a charm felt in Japanese architecture.

I acquired an admiration for Japanese culture art and architecture and learned of the existence of the game of GO which I still play.

After World War II great strides were made in modern Japanese architecture not only in advanced technology allowing earthquake resistant tall buildings but expressing and infusing characteristics of traditional Japanese architecture in modern buildings.