Although British, I have lived in Japan for some thirteen years, and, seen from this great distance, the changes in England appear more noticeable, especially as a period of at leat two years normally elapses between each "vist" I make to my home country. ... Indeed, one of the national characteristics of England, as is the case with Japan, is her ability to absorb new conditions, to adjust to constant, gradual change.
――英文和訳演習 上級篇 伊藤和夫 駿台文庫