Comparisons with China not useful
Throughout the tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan, I have been so impressed with how the Japanese have remained calm and disciplined.
This may reflect the Japanese government's success at national education and preparing the population for a big earthquake. Even Japanese primary schools conduct earthquake drills several times a year. So when people are well-trained, they are less nervous and fearful when a real emergency occurs.
The Japanese have remained calm and orderly even when queuing to buy water or waiting for transport after the trains stopped working. Their politeness and discipline during the disaster has been an inspiration for everybody else.
There's no doubt people around the world have been impressed by the way ordinary Japanese have behaved in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.
But I also find it puzzling that people try to guess how the Chinese would react in a similar situation. And the answers were extremely negative.