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Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honor a famous person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific examples to support your choice.

22/M/Japan>>> University Student>>> TOEFL CBT 267 (5.0)
     I would choose Musashi Miyamoto. Musashi is one of the most famous "Samurai" in my country. And though he had no relation with my city, I want my city to make his statue or monument. "Samurai" is our ancestor and movie makers sometimes take "Samurai" as their theme, so you may have heard of it somewhere else. Recently in my country, Musashi is loved by many young people, because one of the most popular comic writer in my country write a comic about the life of Musashi. So if my city build a statue of Musashi, young people would visit my city and enjoy looking around the statue or museum of his life.
     I think Musashi did especially nothing for my country's benefit. Many famous people in my country usually did something usuful for my country or took some important role for my country. But Musashi did especially nothing in my country. What he did is only pursuing his life as one Samurai. I think this, his way of living is important for us, living in a modern society. Many young people in my country also think that his way of living is very smart, and even think that they also want to a person like Musashi.
     We, Japanese, usually think that America and some European countries are suprior than Japan. So we study English hard, and try to be get into such countries. We can easily go to such countries as travellers if we pay some money. But to understand the culture and the life of one country, I think to live in the country as one resident is the best way. And we know that, to live in a foreign country, to study a language of the country is the best way. I agree with that. I think America, the United States are superior than Japan in many ways such as medicine or some other scientific reagions. But still, I love the spirit of an old Japanese Samurai. I also admire the American's pioneering spirit and their assets to be able to welcome every new things. But at the same time, for us, Japanese, however we admire or live in some foreign countries, it is important to remember our ancestors' Samurai spirit. That is, the spirit of to be albe to respect others and respect old people and pursue one's way of life as an individual. So I want my city to build a statue of Musashi Miyamoto, in order to remind me the spirit of Samurai whenever I come back to my city.