The first that comes to mind is their philosophy on preserving the old and traditional while seamlessly incorporating the new and modern. Ask yourself what words come to mind when thinking about Japan. I am quite certain somewhere on your list consists some of the following: high-tech, shinkansen, kimono, samurai, manga, Bladerunner etc. If you take a walk through any city in Japan, you will discover torii gates and shrines in the middle of bustling cityscapes co-existing in perfect synergy.
A great example of this is the Osaka Castle, though newly restored, sits on an island set centuries in the past, encircled by a sea of skyscrapers. Another excellent juxtaposing of the old and new is the ancient Zojoji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo set against the metallic skeletal structure of Tokyo Tower or Japan Radio Tower. As a matter of fact, you can catch this fusion throughout the country, whether it’s in grand scale in the cities or in small corners of people’s houses in the countryside.