Kamikaze airplanes in the sky

[Japan has picked up the communicator to speak. But he freezes. He freezes for a good thirty minutes, flipping the device over in his hands occasionally. It's only a matter of time before the audio is flipped on. The first words are soft, whispered in Japanese.]

Two lonely centuries.. and what was it that I was dreaming of? Illusions.. [He stops speaking from a moment. A small intake of breath can be heard over the motion of the device before the movement stops completely.] I was not throwing anything away. I am not.. It's renewal. Adaptation..

So what is it that I'm looking for? [There's an extended silence interrupted only by the movement of the communicator before Japan begins to speak again. The trace of sadness vanishes from his voice and nothing fills it in. His voice is just.. there.]

Ah, people of Discedo. I apologize for speaking again so soon, but work has truly caught me off guard. I am doing my best to complete it.

However, I have a quick question for those of you who are not too busy to answer me.

Which do you value more: Traditions or new ways? I apologize if it is too vague. Please feel free to take it as you will. Thank you for your time.

[He repeats the formal, non-italic part of the message in English, then turns off his communicator.]