"Live your era, surmount your era!" With these words, written in 1935, the young woodblock artist Yoshio Fujimaki gave out a cry for genius. Certainly his words apply to the genius of Bob Dylan (whose 70th birthday was celebrated on these pages last week), since both he, Fujimaki and others of genius not only represent their generation but are also symbols of the aspirations of those coming after.

It was this notion — of individuals bridging eras through the force and inspiration of their outstanding creative ability — that set me to mulling the nature of Japanese genius. In this society, which is self-deprecating to a fault, its geniuses often remain unsung — I sometimes even think Japanese people are perversely ashamed of them — yet their number is legion.

First, though, what are the specific qualities of Japanese brilliance that characterize this nation's gifts to the world?