1. Show your respect for others.

From greeting someone with a bow

A handshake is just as polite. The gesture is irrelevant. It's the cultural understading on the gesture. For example arms crossed and saying バツ doesn't mean a thing in the U.S and it's hard to understand the meaning#

to removing shoes before entering a home (or temple or occasional restaurant),

Dirty westerners walking around outside and then bringing that filth all into your house!?

every social act is completed with consideration for others

Not exactly. I know that shoulder check in the train station was done with care.

Titles (sun, sama, kun and chan) are used as suffixes to honor whoever someone is speaking to.

These titles go beyond what is stated. It's just another way to enforce the social stratification

There is an expectation #a.k.a social pressure and fear of ostracism # that members of society will act with a certain level of etiquette and decorum.

1. Take pleasure in the simple things.

The Japanese take pride in their rituals,

They sure fucking do

1. Don't waste anything -- trash, time or money.

When walking through Japan, garbage cans are no where to be found.

They are around, you just don't know here to look. From a city official I talked to, trash cans were removed due to fear of terrorism and wanting to enforce the new recycling laws (at that time)

which leads to practically spotless streets and a highly efficient recycling system.

And dirty forests

In fact, nearly all Japanese manufacturers pride themselves on energy efficiency and zero-landfill waste policies.

I do wonder how much Japanese manufacturers utilize recycled products, because Toyota said they didn't use recycled products in their car production.

I think we all know how much unnecessary packaging is used in some Japanese products.

The Japanese also prefer to save their money rather than spend it on items they don't need.

Psychedelic variety show backdrops and public works projects not included.