There is also a very strong feeling of public service, duty to the nation and fellow citizens, a nearly unshakable sense of dignity, and a tendency to cooperate. Japan is one of the few nations where a call could go out to march north and, without explanation or significant delay a majority of people would stand, turn north and march.

The population has a strong tendency to self-organize. They seemingly automatically, often without prompting, offer what food and resources they can and take people in. They automatically line up and quietly wait to get what they need. In the same line they do not complain if someone with clearly greater need is allowed in ahead of them. To push anyone out of the way, fail to wait, assume that you are special, or to recognize a greater need would be selfish and undignified.

They are a small nation with many people. They know how to get along and share. It even goes to what they will see, or admit to seeing. I'm reminded of when a group of young women were washed into the bay by a freak wave. The water removed their clothes. The ladies were never really in danger as other than the freak wave there was no appreciable surf or great current and fishermen with boats were close at hand. The story made the news but there were no indiscreet pictures. Not even pictured with blurring or black blocks. This goes beyond gentlemanly discretion.

Everyone was seemingly looking the other way. Nobody seemed to have seen certain things. Japan is not a nation of prudes. Sex and nudity sells quite well in Japan. But to notice would be undignified and if nobody saw it, and nobody mentions it; it didn't happen. It wouldn't have gone that way in the US.

With many people living in a small space certain things are not heard, seen, mentioned. This is not externally imposed. It is a matter of mental discipline and social norm.

It has to be noted that the people in the areas worse struck are quite calm, controlled, if anything the people in the US, even a few on this board, are freaking out more than the people in the thick of it.