They don't feel embarrased if naked public, at least until sometime in twentieth when they finally prohibited child porns. They still have public spas that allow both men and women in one tub.
I don't think your story represents Japanese people's personality regarding not looting. Read <The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture>.
For me, as a non-english-speaking reader, who wants to know trends in these information-overwhelming and daily-innovating tech society, HN gives valuable source of news, blogs, even sometimes kind of tech 101.
Sometimes I feel like I am an only alien in the middle of natives, but think about your school days. You didn't know everything you should know, if you had finished your grade.
I'm happy everday reading and learning any tiny bit of new things posted on HN. I hope someday I can comment more and even post my own writing.
For me as a one who lives in Eastern country and practiced breathing, I can really say that it helps your body and mind. It is far old tradition to practice some kind of breathing(or zen you say, or yoga for more physical). After a few months of daily practice, I myself experienced amazing response of my body.
But never attend classes that has some kind of religious color or ask you to buy some products. They might not be a hoax but some were reported as hoax and made some news in here.
What about the opposite direction, ie. moving from a sub-menu to its parent menu.
I see both Amazon and new Khan Academy menu shows instant opening of another submenu when my cursor moves over another parent menu item.
I think there needs to be some delay when your cursor stays on another menu item in case you go back to the original parent menu item.