One of the symptoms of this is that a Japanese can be easily insulted by any perceived put-down. For example, when the Versailles Treaty established the 5-5-3 warship rule, with Japan being the 3, the Japanese perceived this as a put-down, which would have to be avenged at some point. When America seemed not to be bothered by European colonies in Africa and Asia, but did seem to be bothered by Japanese colonies in Asia, that was also a perceived put-down, and the Japanese had to do what it took to show the Americans that they were just as much Big Boys as the British, French, or Dutch.
Another symptom is that a Japanese can know how to be graceful, but generally not how to be gracious. "Gracious" means to have the ability to give grace, and that is a uniquely Judeo-Christian concept. A few months ago I told the story related to me by a Marine who fought on Okinawa, how when they captured their first Japanese they all acted like they were going to torture and kill him, until another Marine said, "C'mon guys, someone give him a cigarette," and they immediately changed their demeanor to offering the captured Japanese cigarettes and water, etc. The Japanese would never have done the same.
Part of the reason for this is that the Japanese had their scores to settle, such as were discussed above. But there is something else here. There is no concept in Japanese ethics of the inherent dignity of the individual, something which requires a belief in a monotheistic Judeo-Christian God who ascribes dignity to all. The Japanese concepts of giri, or duty to recompense those who have given you something, and on, the shame associated with not doing so, mean that one keeps very strict accounts: if I owe you something you get it, but if I don't owe you something, you don't get it. And this duty/shame is handed down through generations: if my great-grandfather received something from your great-grandfather, at some point someone will have to pay it back in some way.
Which leads to one more thing. The Japanese, I think, believe something that they began thinking during the 80s, but then screwed up on with their own bubble economy that collapsed in '89: they believe that they have finally paid us back for the graciousness with which we handled them in the Occupation and beyond. This means the US-Japan alliance now hangs in the balance, and desperately needs someone who understands the major differences between them and us, and the subtleties of their own cultural thinking. The last person we need in Tokyo is Caroline Kennedy, the last person we need directing her is John Kerry, and the very last person we need being the face of America is Barack Obama. Shinzo Abe is dealing with his own Obama-clones in trying to thread the needle between building a necessary Japanese military and not feeding the nationalist desire to Putin-like attempt to rebuild the Empire, and he needs the support of American leaders who understand the times and what is necessary. But then, our present leader thinks our enemies are our friends, and our friends are our enemies. God help us.
In one sense I am stunned to read this, because at least since I believed in 1977--not so much before--this respect for individual dignity is now such a very fundamental and foundational element in my own worldview. Yet in another sense I'm not a bit surprised, not after seeing the casual atrocities and cold indifference to life exhibited by the Japanese. I'm largely ignorant of their culture, and I think I've learned more about it in the last couple of weeks through your incisive explanations than the sum of what I previously knew.
But there is another reason why I'm not surprised, and you expressed it well: it is from the God of the Bible. Although I'm not exposed to much Japanese culture, I am inevitably immersed in a post-Christian American culture which exhibits in and even glories in that same constant quest for the aggrandizement of personal power at the expense of all--and anyone--else.
You said it, FRiend.