Where is the beautiful Japan now?｜The Old Japan is Gone｜Remnants of Days Past

When I was in my 20s, I came across a book.
This is the book.
The English title is “Remnants of Days Past.”
After reading this book, I came to love Japan.
Before reading this book, I did not think Japan was such a wonderful country.
This is because we did not learn that in school.
This book is about the impressions of foreigners who came to Japan at the end of the Edo period, around the 1860s to 1870s.
At that time, Japan was in "Sakoku."
"Sakoku" means restricting the entry and exit of foreigners.
To foreigners, Japan was a "mysterious country."
The foreigners who were able to enter Japan saw it as a "paradise."
Japanese people were always cheerful, lively, and seemed happy, and they laughed a lot.
They were friendly, polite and kind.
Their lives were simple, but rich, and everyone looked satisfied.
Children were loved dearly and were cheerful and innocent.
The towns, roads, and fields were beautifully maintained and clean.
The foreigners were surprised and fascinated by Japan, which they saw for the first time.
But I, too, did not know about this old Japan.
However, sadly, the book says that these things are already "gone."
It says that the "paradise-like" Japanese civilization has disappeared because of modernization.
But is that really true?
I ‘m looking for these things in the Japan where I live now, and also in myself.
I still want to believe that they are still in Japan.
I want to be a person who is cheerful, lively, and happy, and to laugh a lot.
I want to be friendly, polite and kind.
I want to live in a simple and beautiful way.
I hope Japan will be a beautiful, rich, and comfortable country filled with greenery.
I felt this way again after reading this book for the first time in a long time.