Is it me or is Europe or the western world in general a more violent society??
This is a hard subject to get into, but if you've ever been to Japan (which is my case) everything is totally different. Obviously, you'll be thinking..
But it's true, Tokyo is the biggest city in the world (27 700 000 inhabitants!!) yet is one of the safest cities in the world! I'd walk there and feel so safe, yet the city is amazingly busy but, the people still have time for a smile and to be polite. Young people mind their own business and don't come out of school screaming and shouting like they do here..
Just observe them in Sheffield actually, think about Chinese or Japanese people you've seen in the street, they never scream or shout or bother anyone. Have you ever felt threated by a group of chinese or japanese people?? I think not!!!
As most of you might be aware japan is a country which the world should take example from. The streets are spotless, the trains are clean and run on time, and there are so many other positive things to mention...
Yet, you might say they like it when they come here as we get quite a few of them studying here ha ha!! I wonder what they think when they come here??!
I just can't understand how we (westerners) can be so different?
Any ideas??

There is a bigger emphasis upon collective rather than individual values in "east asian" societies, and a bigger emphasis on conforming to the norm in terms of social behaviour. On the surface, these societies are less violent in terms of street crime. However, the Japanese consume vast amounts of sadistic pornography in the form of "comics", and their societal attitude towards the disposability of pets might cause alarm in the "west", with pet schutes provided in some cities for unwanted dogs and cats. Bullying in Japanese schools is at crisis level. The Yakuza are amongst the most violent and feared gangsters in the world. So, things are not quite as simple as one might be tempted to think...

Have a look at the criminological theorising of John Braithwaite - he gives quite a lot of serious consideration to this issue in his work on reintegrative shaming