The Japanese, well-known for their (superficial) good manners, attribute that component of their society to the close quarters endured over centuries on a small, cramped island.
I literally come into physical contact with dozens of strangers every day riding the Lexington subway. Accidentally stepping on the toes of a towering, swaggering CoreDemocrat(tm), if followed by an immediate "scuse me", always gets an "its alright" for a reply.