8 Day of June – Lined up

Japan’s love of line-forming begins with the lessons kids learn as early as kindergarten: self-discipline, cooperation, and respect.

For example, it’s not uncommon for Japanese nursery and elementary schools to host group performances of more than 100 students. While one age group plays an instrument, another sits quietly and listens. The kids that are playing learn to keep time with the other students. The ones listening practice patience and restraint.

Now fast-forward to young adulthood. Japanese teenagers have started interacting with society-at-large. And since Japan’s population lives in tightly-packed cities, people learn very quickly that in order to get something, they’ll have to wait.