I have to disagree here, as Japanese culture is generally quite strict about rules and processes. An average japanese company is very far from what you would even dream to call agile. Rules and conventions about face-time, not being able to disagree with your superiors (basically anyone who entered the company before you) and valuing facade over results seriously hinders efficiency and trying out new and brave things.
However, I'm constantly surprised by the great ideas the Japanese get despite all that stiffness in the society.
The rules may be strict; my point was, they don't do things just because they did it that way all the time. If they see something better, they bow before the change.
If it comes from the management, I'm impressed even more.
This does not apply in general. A lot of things in the Japanese society are done in old, even arcane ways just because they always have been done like that. The society is not built on bowing before change but on to reach some kind of harmony. Changes might be accepted eventually, but getting there is the hard part.
However, I'm constantly surprised by the great ideas the Japanese get despite all that stiffness in the society.