The Tokugawa period (1603-1867) largely determined the rapid economic rise of Japan and its current triumph, the originality of the culture and ideas of its inhabitants, so surprising and surprising foreigners. About that most interesting time tells a scientist who lived more than twenty years in Japan and devoted more than forty years to the study of its history, culture and language; author of several books, including: "Japan: Faces of Time" (short list of the Enlightener Prize, 2010)