Rice
• has been cultivated for more than four thousand years
• staple food in the Land of the Rising Sun
• rice cultivation has shaped society and culture
Hierarchies
• clear hierarchies
• evident (also) in greetings, e.g., when bowing, in seating arrangements, or in language
Harmony
• also plays an important role
• the tone is friendly
• criticism is expressed indirectly
• posters in the subway remind passengers not to annoy their fellow passengers by talking on their cell phones or applying makeup
Closeness to nature
• evident in many traditions and customs
• every haiku should have a connection to nature or a season
• folding cranes brings good luck
• according to the traditional nature religion of Shintoism, gods live in mountains, rivers, and trees
