In World War II, there were two super powers which were trying to conquer the world, one from the west; Germany and one from the east; Japan. Both had achieved a considerable amount of successes in their ambitions to conquer each end of their world before their progress were stopped by a united allied forces with helping hand possibly from the acts of God.
Both countries were given hefy penalties, embargoes and restricted under treaties to humble them and to curb the recurrance of their ambitions and eagerness to conquer the world again. Where it had succeeded in the case of Germany, now not considered as one of the super power in the world in any sense, it seems to have failed with Japan somehow.
The Japanese, with their culture which emphasizes on sheer hard work, respect, determination and loyalty had succeeded in overcoming the troubles which follow the end of World War II and are now becoming a big influence all over the world financially, technologically and culturally.
The Yen is a major currency alongside the US dollars. Chances are almost everyone of us have something japanese in us now. What car do you drive? What TV are you watching? What Hi-Fi are you listening? Have you had a Sony Walkman? Are you or your children played or playing the Playstation? Nintendo? Does Super mario rings a bell? You must have heard of the word Sushi? Sayonara? Arigato? Almost every child in the world knows the super hero called Ultraman. A big number of them are addicted in japanese anime and manga.
When we look at our lives, it is not surprising to find the many japanese influences in them. You have to really admire how the Japanese had came so far after the hardship of the end of WWII. They are now a nation held in high esteem all over the world, they have a big say financially, their technology is adopted and loved and they are becoming a force as well culturally, especially amongst the younger generation.
The new generation of Japanese had succeeded at what their more aggresive forefathers had failed to achieve, that is dominating and influencing the world. This is not by accident or good fortune. This is a result of the positive attitude that has been drilled in each of the japanese kids since the day they were borned. They have became a society that is hard working, willing to sacrifice and have respect for the things/people around them. They have lost a world war but is now winning the world over in a legitimate and humane way.
To this, i will say to them, おめでとう!!