During our time in Japan I've noticed an overwhelming sentiment of politeness, graciousness and attention to detail while shopping inside stores (which is our main source of personal interactions). It is very common to step into a shop and be showered with pleasantries and gratitude during the entire shopping experience. You may be welcomed as you step into the store, then thanked for shopping during the time you are browsing, and then for your patronage while checking out and again as you are leaving. The clerks take the utmost of care with packaging up your purchases (even in a no-frills supermarket) with extra bags, padding, elastic bands around things, plus accessories that you may like such as tiny spoons or condiments if you are buying prepared food. Many times you will receive a bit of a bow as you are leaving. This is a far cry from the American experience where you might get a short greeting on the way in, but then you are mostly left alone after that and your purchases just kind of tossed into a bag any which way.
It is a very different situation on the street or in the train station where it seems to be every man for himself (and every woman for herself). People are mostly looking down, not acknowledging each other and definitely not smiling. Folks also seem to be in a huge rush to get where they are going. I have been surprised many times at how when people are getting off the train, or just walking down the street they will push others out of their way, or just keep walking with a purpose until the other person moves out of their path. When preparing to board the trains, everyone queues up in these neat little single file lines, but then when the train arrives and the doors open, it becomes a free-for-all to climb on board first. We've even seen a business man barrel ahead from the back of line and almost knock over an elderly lady who was stepping into the subway car. The strangest part is that he didn't seem sorry and she didn't seem to mind at all.
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