This article, written as a memo to the author's friend in response to an earlier conversation, compares the American education system with that of Japan. First, the author examines cultural differences between Japan and America as a lens through which to look at these two countries. Then, Japanese and American schooling are compared in terms of four suggestions that the author's friend had proposed to improve American students' academic achievement. The four suggestions were: (1) more testing; (2) increased administrative oversight of teachers; (3) a return to basics; and (4) stronger discipline. Finally, the author shares a classroom model from a large-scale project and two simple yet effective ideas that offer promise for American students' academic, social, and ethical growth.