In every age, conflicts between individuals and nations occur all over the world. In Japan, however, a spirit of cooperation has been fostered since ancient times. In the 7th century, Prince Shotoku created “The Seventeen Article Constitution.” This was the first law to be enacted in Japan. Unlike the modern constitution, it taught morals and proper ways of thinking to the nobles and bureaucrats involved in politics. It begins with the first article: “Cherish harmony above all else, and do not fight unnecessarily.” It is characterized by its warning against dogmatism and repeated advocation of the importance of discussion. This spirit is also found in the Constitution of Japan, which is said to have been created at the initiative of the U.S. It states: “The Japanese people seek international peace and will never use force as a means of settling international disputes.” In addition, most people who visit Japan, both now and in the past, have commented on how safe and peaceful the country is. It can be assumed that “the concept of harmony” developed from the idea of avoiding conflicts by being considerate of and sympathetic to others in a cultural climate of an island nation inhabited by agrarian people, whose ethnicity was almost completely homogeneous. The Japanese language has developed in a way that reflects the Japanese way of thinking. You could say that “the concept of harmony” is the very essence of “Nihongo Spirit.”