The Hidden Flower: by Pearl S. Buck.

Post world war II when the relationships between various nations needed to be smoothened, and others were worsening due to complications of relations between erstwhile allies, humans often forged relations that went beyond the political dictats and old prejudices, cultural differences and wartime injuries.

The young man from occupying US military in Japan is innocent and without prejudices, and everything in the country he is now seeing is new, fascinating. The Japanese woman - hte hidden flower in one sense - is young, innocent, open to a true heart, and love happens. How the couple face the difficulties of parents' disapproval in Japan, how the young man overcomes their hesitations, is the gist of the gentle story.

The charm of the book is the delicate subtle beauty of Japanese culture brought out in aspects of family life - the three point arrangement in the nook in wall that the young girl does every day and the gentle approval or correction by her parents, the beauty of a little garden behind the house, the conventions of sitting thus and proprieties observed, all very charming.

Goodness of heart and love between humans can overcome the horrendous injuries inflicted by even so horrible wars as this one was.