Japan for people of European culture has always been and remains to this day a country of mystery, a country of mystery. This is a completely different world, completely unfamiliar to Europeans, exotic, incomprehensible and attractive. Since the geographical discovery of Japan by Europeans (17th century), attempts have continued to comprehend this country, to convey its unique charm and uniqueness. And the book by R. Thames, of course, belongs to those works about Japan that make this country closer and more understandable.