In Japan, there has been much discussion of late of both morals and manners. Indeed, one national newspaper on Jan. 1, in a section devoted to scrutinizing how Japanese have changed in recent years, devoted a whole page to the question: Are good manners a thing of the past?
"It's a shame," said Marylee Behrens, for whom etiquette and consideration for others are to the manner born and bred. "We think of the Japanese as being the most polite and considerate nation in the world. But that is the image of old prewar Japan -- the Japan I love and admire. Not the Japan of today. I can't improve things in the broadest sense, but I can help individuals in certain sectors."
In October last year, Behrens gained certification in corporate etiquette and international protocol training from The Protocol School of Washington. Founded in 1988, with headquarters in Virginia, the school's mission is to present contemporary accepted etiquette and protocol programs in the highest professional manner. Some 1,000 PSW graduates are now working worldwide, counseling and training in business, government, education and entertainment.