I live *in* Tokyo and I see plenty of butts (and other trash) tossed on the ground, people spitting on the sidewalks, pushing one another, and other inconsiderate behavior. I don't think this is related to any specific race or culture. There are simply lazy and inconsiderate people everywhere. In Japan, there are strict rules society imposes on human interaction, which is why people say that Japanese are unusually "polite". But, in an anonymous situation where no definable relationship exists, you're just as likely to be elbowed in the back and pushed out of the train by some old lady here as anywhere else.

What *is* strange, at least to me, is that the same guy who doesn't think twice about tossing his cigarette butt on the sidewalk in front of the train station as he enters will be out with his local "cho-kai" (community organization) picking up the cigarette butts others have tossed around their local temple or school. Go figure...