In Japanese tales, the authorities always punish the bad guys. While the Japanese try to avoid conflict, in the Balkans confrontation and rebellion are the rule, opinions are strong and fiercely debated, compromise is a dirty word. After all, the entire Yugoslav tragedy can be interpreted as a failure to renegotiate the old federation. I also found the historic limitation on personal weapons and armed self-defense in Japan an interesting contrast with the great importance attached to the gun, the sword and the knife in the Balkans. If you come from the confessionally torn apart Balkans, where so many battles have been fought for or in the name of religion, where religion is a main identifier, you cannot but be amused by the super-tolerant, nonchalant, sacrilegious to the verge of comic relationship between the Japanese and their Gods.
Japan is a fascinating place to observe change.
Changes in Japan occur smoothly, within continuity. Throughout their modern history, both the Balkans and Japan have shared the same obsession - the need to modernize and catch up with the developed West. Having started at about the same time under approximately the same initial conditions, Japan was successful, ending up as an economic miracle and superpower, an example for all latecomers. The Balkans remained the European laggards and troublemakers, with a greater gap now than at the beginning. In both places a keen observer can detect the same bitter-sweet attitude to Western modernity, the same struggle to preserve one's own identity and yet be modern.