Financial and economic crisis that has engulfed the world to some extent entails a crisis of previously firm ideas on globalization. On the eve of the XXI century Russia was shocked by events that radically changed its appearance, size, living standards and even the people’s psychology. Serious changes in foreign policy also occurred. Among the variety of issues facing new Russia, a special place was occupied by relations with Japan. Complicated history of bilateral inter-state relations, system of geo-psychological relations East – West and myths abundance have led to the fact that now Japan in many ways is a symbol and image for Russia. Often this image has almost nothing to do with the original. Like a hundred years ago, the most popular in Russia now is Japan, which does not exist. It would not really matter if it didn’t influence so often the serious problems facing our countries. Who and how does form the image of Japan? How real is Japan conceived currently in Russia, does it exist at all? In the interview to Alexander Ageev Ivan S. Tselischev, professor of the Niigata University of Management (Japan), author of the bestseller «Asia’s Turning Point», RAS IMEMO representative in Japan told about peculiarities of Japanese development, originality of Japanese business ethics, his vision of modernization in Japan, organization of big business and the banking sector.