Unlike Mainland China, they also are a nation holding self-discipline in high esteem to face all kinds of challenges like tsunamis and earthquakes.

Can't quite agree here T, I was in Sichuan last year, outside Chengdu, when the earthquake happened. All the students rallied around to help those who could not get home, because one road was blocked/damaged, and I felt there was a strong sense of solidarity or "pulling together" much like the Americans must have felt after 9/11 or so on. Also the college I was at, all the buildings withstood the earthquake with no damage, it was mostly older buildings in smaller towns well outside Chengdu that suffered the most. But I'd agree the japanese do have a certain kind of ethic, but I fear they are also very racist and xenophobic (being an island) and tend to look down on Chinese/non japanese people.