IntroductionJapanese culture is truly unique. It is a culture that has piqued the curiosity of many outsiders throughout history due to the level of mystery surrounding it. It is a culture that many admire. The reasons behind the mystery and uniqueness of Japanese culture in the eyes of foreigners are due in part to the unique history that has made it what it is today. Because Japan is an island chain, its culture has developed in an atmosphere of isolation and control to a certain extent. extension. Throughout Japan's history, layers of cultural development can be seen where external influences have been adapted or protected by the culture. There are three very influential layers created by the Age of Reform (552-710 AD), the Meiji Period (1868-1912), and the decade following World War II. The layers of culture have resulted in today's Japan, a delicately balanced technologically modern and developed country with strong ties to a rich cultural heritage. The ancient ancestors of the Japanese people are not fully known, only that they were varied, perhaps including people from China, Korea, Siberia and Polynesia. Civilization on the islands of Japan can be traced back to 300 BC. At that time, metal technology, rice cultivation, and livestock breeding, including horses, were already present. The Age of Reforms The development of culture can be seen in every era of Japanese history, starting with the influence of the Age of Reforms (552-710 AD). During this period influences came from China and the Silk Road trade route. Prince Shotoku sent groups of people including representatives, monks, and students to China to learn and bring back knowledge and skills gained from Chinese culture. Groups reported significant contributions to literacy...... middle of paper ...... including an excellent work ethic, attention to detail and aesthetics, balance between past and future, and attention to both to doing than to being. Japan's unique culture, influenced and developed through a rich history, will be an asset to the Japanese people as they move into the future. References Bix, H. (2009). Hirohito and the birth of modern Japan. New York: HarperCollins.Hearn, L. (2012). Glimpses of an unknown Japan. London, England: Duke Classics.Martin, J. and Nakayama, T. (2010) Intercultural Communication in Contexts (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. National Geographic Society. (2010) Concise History of the World's Religions; An illustrated timeline. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society.Shepley, N. (2012). The rising of the red sun. London: Andrews UK Limited. Storlopare, P. A life in Japan. Documentarylovers.com/film/a-life-in-Japan/