Not demanding too much, and not expressing yourself too strongly. It can be seen as both a good and bad thing, but it characterizes daily life in Japan. People hold back. They don't show their displeasure or their anger, unless pushed beyond normal human limits. This enryo is what makes Tokyo so livable.
People put up with the daily discomforts of life in a big city.
On the surface, all is peaceful. Since the surface is what most of us see as we pass through routine tasks like traveling to work on a crowded train or going shopping, it really works. The down sides are there, of course. People get so used to showing only their surface, it is often hard to break through to the inside. Japanese people forge deep and lasting friendships, but are less likely than Americans to drop in on their neighbor's for a cup of tea or a beer.