And yes, rudeness is in the eye of the beholder. As Shakespeare said, There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Not sure I agree, but that’s what he said.

The honest truth, and one reason why I’m stressing Japanese ways of using space, is that I just don’t think they consider cutting you off as “rude.” It’s just “how things are,” and people adapt to it.

But you’re right, there are dozens and dozens of possibilities, and it’s hard to get the answer.

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Back on point, I’ve always attributed the way people walk and drive to 1) a generally safe and tolerant society, where if you cut someone off they probably wouldn’t curse you out or (in the case of America) shoot you, 2) The effect of culture, where, as you described, people have to tune others out, and 3) A fair bit of incompetence mixed with just a dash of dickishenss.

But we’ll probably never come up with a unified theory which explains all Japanese behavior. Although it would be cool.

So, I don’t disagree with you that plenty of people move the way they do out of sheer dickery, but I think cultural ideas on personal space, &c., are just better overall for understanding what’s happening around you here.

On the other hand, to add to your point, a lot of Westerners just have no idea how brutal, cold and cruel Japan can be. I do not put it past people here to be driving so recklessly on purpose.

Still, that seems a bit too generous for all cases. Because the society is so hierarchical–even down to what month a person is born determining who the sempai is–people are very sensitive to who is allowed to do what, and when. Choosing to tune that out and ignore other people (and thus the rules of hierarchy, politeness, and even common sense) may be a necessary habit, but I’ve no doubt that sometimes it’s also done on purpose.