Japan vs the US...Values!

We will soon be leaving this wonderful and amazing country and return to the US...today while shopping at a large department store i was struck w/a realization.
This has been floating around in my skull for quite some time but came to fruition today. The elderly are ever where in Japan...obachan (grandma) and ojichan (grandpa) are a group of folks who are out and about riding bikes,walking, jogging,training in classical Japanese arts including martial arts and not accepting the fact of growing old as an excuse to do nothing...along w/that there is a respect here for the elderly...my sensei is almost 80 and when he lectures the kids class all listen and take what he has to say to heart including any adult who might be there watching their kids and including any adult students preparing for the adult class.
On the train obachan will lecture younglings for disorderly conduct and the kids listen and obey!
In the US the result of such an action would most likely send grandma to the emergency room and the kid to jail...the school kids are chatty and have fun on the train but study as well...they also wear uniforms to school and to cram school after regular school hours are completed.
The dedication to learning and excelling among the average student is amazing...school is five days a week w/cram school six days a week some times the kids arrive home at nine thirty at night and continue to study and do their home work.
Years ago we had a Japanese student stay w/us as a home stay...she would have a thermos of tea and her books and begin study...sleep on the floor when exhausted and continue w/her study after her nap...
The dedication to discipline here is completely different than what passes for discipline in the US.
Of course there are plenty of unsavory types here as well...but the vast majority of students represent the uniformed dedicated to work/education type of kids.
The Japanese culture is not based on first person singular its based on the idea that "the nail that stand's out gets pounded down"...one works for the good of the group rather than the need to be seen as an outstanding individual...As w/all matters concerning human nature things can go to the extreme...Japan has the highest suicide rate on the planet...lots of tobacco and spirits are consumed and work in many cases takes precedence over family...so my conclusions are both cultures have much to offer and the US culture can be benefited by the Japanese paradigms of self discipline,work ethic and desire for an excellent education...while the Japanese culture can benefit from a bit more of a relaxed way of life a bit more akin to the US paradigm but still holding on to the amazing attributes that make this country as magical as it is!