I have spent nearly 40 years writing about Japan, virtually all of the time trying to show how Japanese people are really no different from other nationalities. But, by God, there is one aspect of Japanese life that makes this country unique. I defy any reader to name a society that has a custom like the one I am writing about today.

You are probably expecting me to describe that fabulous device called the incense clock (which admittedly sort of went out of fashion some 600 years ago). Nope, any self-respecting Chinese scholar will tell you: "Been there, done that." What about the hallowed custom of noisily sucking in air when eating noodles? Sorry again. My own dad outdecibelled any Japanese on that hands down, and he wasn't a bit Japanese. What about the hoary practice of bowing and shaking hands at the same time? No. The Prussians used to do that -- and managed to click their heels to boot.

I tell you, if it weren't for the unique social institution I am about to lay bare, the people of this country would be no better and certainly no worse than the rest of us.