Japan is composed of many small islands, and the constriction from lack of natural resources and living space on the islands and close proximity to an overbearing country like China, created an environment that required social cooperation to avoid conflict or disasters. Less space meant living in constant close proximity with others, less resources meant rationing. Therefore Japanese people today continue to rely on social cues and etiquette, like ba no kuuki wo yomu (場の空気を読む) “reading the atmosphere” or rather “understanding the situation without words”. The result is a collective society that values social harmony, preservation of similar values, and preventing and shaming disruptive behavior that would hinder the daily functions of society.
In Japan, traces of collectivism can be observed through strict rules and specific attitudes towards social behaviors or traditions. For example:
