Anne of "Anne of Green Gables" is the inspiration for Annie Daniels in my serial story, "Keeping the Peace." Annie has Anne's same boundless curiosity and penchant for getting herself into trouble.

Annie Daniels drops her hat at the feet of Baron Jutaro Komura during the Aug. 8, 1905 welcome parade in Portsmouth for the Japanese and Russians. She throws a curve ball into the treaty negotiations when she accidentally intercepts a secret message left in the Wentworth Hotel's Palm Garden and is accused of espionage by both the Japanese and Russians. She eats chocolate eclairs off a silver salver bound for Sergius Witte, the head of the Russian delegation. And she nearly shuts down the Amoskeag Mills during a trip to Manchester with Baron Komura and the Japanese delegates.

"Anne of Green Gables" is very popular in Japan. Her exploits are enjoyed by young readers of both genders. Consul Shinichi Kobayashi -- who with Consul Yasuharu Shinto kindly took me to lunch the day I want to the Japanese consulate in Boston to get a visa -- remembers reading the book quite vividly. The Anne of Green Gables house on Prince Edward Island is a popular spot for honeymooning Japanese couples.

It is these cultural overlaps between Japan and America that I am hoping to explore during this trip. We're going to go beyond sushi, karaoke and kimonos and get to the heart of things.