I'm still not sure what actually makes up Japanese culture, except what I've been exposed to through my dad's business associates. I take exception to that, Holgate. Yes, it is a type of feudalism. In comparison to what little I've seen of japanese culture, the 'inferior' members of the staff are scandalized when they come to America and their american boss doesn't want them to bow and scrape and open the door for them. This is one way where class stratification is a much 'bigger' thing in Japan than in America.
Japan still makes excellent games.
My main point was put far better by gen. This constructed fantasy tends not to be very helpful in understanding the real place or its people. Class mobility is usually ratcheted by the beneficiaries to make sure they're not challenged. It's an interesting idea, holgate. The economic system does seem to be changing.