Amos, I have a scanned jpg of an article in our local paper "Popularity of Stephen Foster's Music No Longer a Mystery in Japan." It notes that his music is more compatible with the scales used in Japanese music than other American music. I believe that his music is sung in Japanese elementary schools. If you'd like the article, PM me your addy. It was one of the first things I scanned, and IT'S HUGE.

Mary (35 miles from Louisville)