Thousands of kilometers separate Bulgaria and Japan and perhaps that is the main reason behind the fact there are just 400 Bulgarians living in Japan. Probably, each one of them has their interesting stories to share and could talk about similarities and differences between Japan and Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria people are surprised and amazed by the Japanese economic miracle and the fact that after destruction in the Second World War, Japan has achieved huge economic prosperity at the backdrop of almost total lack of mineral resources and abundance of earthquakes, landslides and typhoons.

A Bulgarian woman has recently returned from Japan to Sofia to present her second book, devoted to everyday life and relations between Japanese people. Youliana Antonova - Murata went to Japan 35 years ago as a wife, diplomat and mother. Her son was born in Japan.

The titles of her two books are very memorable. The first one was titled "Moshi Moshi, Japan", which means “Alo, Alo Japan” but from the author we learned that Japanese ‘alo’ has the meaning of "Can I help you with something?"

The second book by Yuliana Antonova is titled "UkiUki, Japan." UkiUki is a Japanese expression of mutual sympathy and the feeling when there is no tension or fear. "One shows trusts and transmits this feeling of UkiUki.”

"Japan is different as Japanese love their country. There are natural disasters every day, but they see their land as the most beautiful place in the world, she says. Their success is due to the fact that they are very well-behaved and very tolerant of other people. They never show hostility to another religion. The Japanese seem to have been created for hard and difficult life, so that in all circumstances they can overcome the difficulties together. The Japanese do everything with patience, make the most of their work and do everything for the family. If we also did that, it means we are close to the Japanese and that is why they respect us."

"The difference between Bulgaria and Japan is not that big," Youliana Antonova – Murata says. “In Japan there are ordinary and kind-hearted people, who love the same things as we do. Everyone wants to live a normal human life; to love and be loved; to have the opportunity to travel. So we do not differ much from Japanese people, but what really impressed me as a Bulgarian is how much Japanese love Bulgaria."

"Unfortunately, we do not have the same attitude towards our compatriots. According to the Japanese, Bulgarians are very intelligent and beautiful and I have even heard that most Bulgarians were genius people. I am proud of what I hear about us, so I become angry when I come back to Bulgaria and hear how people insult each other with ease. That is the big difference between Bulgaria and Japan. Every word said has great power and in Japan the choice of words in communication is of extreme importance. Negative words have a negative effect not only on the person who says them, but also on the person whom they are directed to. I know that life in Bulgaria is not easy and I know politicians have great responsibility for this, but I know the power of words, so I try not to judge anyone. This behavior of blaspheming, insulting, reproaching others leads to nothing more but changing our lives to the worse. That's the big difference I've ever discovered between Bulgaria and Japan."

English: Alexander Markov