Iran and Japan
There is of course something common between Japanese and Iranians.
Islam confines the minds of Iranians in their social behaviors. The Japanese group mentality confines the minds of Japanese in their behaviors, especially in organizations.
In Iran women are strongly requested to wear scarfs as a religious practice. Japanese workers, especially public servants, are strongly but implicitly recommended to wear clothes like others do.
Iranians are educated to follow rules, which are mostly Islamic, almost blindly. Japanese are also educated to observe rules set implicitly in a group or an organization as an essential condition to be a member.
Iran and Japan are both old countries with unique spiritual or religious backgrounds. Those backgrounds are quite opposite to Western, Anglo-Saxon, and American ways of life. But, Japanese people have accepted the American-style of democracy and economy without much sacrificing their religion and spiritualism so far. Yet, it looks more difficult for Iran to adopt the American-style of democracy and economy due to its religion, a special type of Islam.
After WWII, Japanese changed its paradigm in politics and popular culture to absorb American systems. Many Japanese thought they were freed from various out-of-date commandments socially. Chinese are now accepting American ways of business. Many Chinese must think they are being freed from various out-of-date commandments at least economically. Indians are now part of the American IT industry. Many Indians must think they are freed from out-of-date economic situations. Only Iranians remain as a major race, a major ethnic group, or a culture zone that does not accept American ways of politics, business, industry, and popular culture while another big Islamic nation Indonesia has been long friendly to the US.
So, the tension will remain between Iran and the US at least in terms of way of life. But, it cannot be a reason for Iran's making a desperate war against the US. It is not necessarily good for Iran to get support in its conflict with the US from Russia and China that have anti-American components deeply in their society. Yet, Iran will continue to be unique against the US in terms of culture, religion, and spiritualism as Iran is an old Islamic country.
As for Japan, the most significant national agenda is how to preserve its spiritual and cultural virtue unique to Japan while its politics, economy, industry, and popular culture are so Americanized. (Those Japanese who are against the TPP trade agreement are also concerned with this agenda, as American businesses are trying to make money in Japan by demolishing the cultural barrier.)
Nonetheless, the best way for Japan and Iran is to find a new way that can surpass the level of conflict with the American way of life, politics, business, and so on. And, it must be only realized by enhancement of spiritualism in their unique environments to the very universal level.
Episode 1.
A Japanese couple visited Iran. They got in a taxi whose driver said he was happy to speak Japanese since he had lived in Japan for some time. Then, this driver never requested a charge nor received any money the couple offered.
Episode 2.
A Japanese young man traveled to Iran. He took a week to visit tourist sites in Iran, hiring a guide and driver. Then wherever he went, people, namely Iranians, watched him, took him into a picture, and spoke to him: "Japanese?" "Yes, I am." "Japan is good! I like Japan." Even a young child came to him lying under a tree for a rest. The child looked into his face for a very long time till he was called back by the mother. When he left Tehran, all the family members of the driver/guide came to the airport to see him off. The Japanese youth recalled that he was a focus like a movie star in Iran.
Episode 3.
A young Japanese tourist was moving around Iran. In a city, he found a great mosque. He wanted to enter it. He was not rejected at the entrance, so that he took off shoes and checked them at the gatekeeper's office as everybody did. Inside the inner precinct he was surprised to see people walking backward as they exited the dome. So, he dared to get in the dome to be moved so much watching people, namely uncouth Iranian men, crying from extreme belief before a golden coffin of some saint.
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Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.