Japanese culture notes from Rieko Rieko was born and raised in Japan, but has spent the last several years living in this country. It is shameful to be boastful or aggressive. Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world because it brings shame to ones family to commit a crime. To avoid being boastful, they will indicate they can't play the piano very well, when in fact they can play quite well. Usually, the Japanese will not speak out unless asked to.
Respect is an important component of Japanese culture.
Although shaking hands in now common and acceptable, the traditional Japanese greeting is to bow. In order to show respect, one will bow lower than the individual they are greeting. In Japan the bridegroom's parents pay for the wedding. This can become quite expensive as the bride changes her dress three times during the ceremony. The elderly are always first in Japan.