Your Japan vs Actual Japan

What was your first image of Japan in your head? What did you picture the country and the people as? After learning anything about the modern culture, did you see any differences?

My first image of Japan was probably something along the lines of My Neighbor Totoro. I actually wasn't too far off, but Miyazaki does hold off on many of the less appreciable aspects like the economy and crime. Japan isn't as perfect as I'd imagined but it was still pretty nice. It has its give and takes.

I'd have to say something like "Wolf Children". Just without the fictional characters that can morph between forms at will.

As naive as it is I imagined Japan to be just like any anime I've seen; it has that vibe but everything is pretty normal to me.