I couldn't get a comment to post on the blog so I'll do it here: comparing levels of violence in different cultures puts it into an interesting perspective. But what the comic book leaves out is, what is it about Japanese culture that makes violence less acceptable, and how do they resolve conflicts between people? I'm wondering if the reason there is less violence is one that is desirable or capable of being emulated. Here are some thoughts on that:
Is Japanese society more hierarchical, formal or sexist, and so conflict gets suppressed and ignored instead of being dealt with?
Does the way they live mean that they avoid conflict, or simply don't take offence at the same range of things? Or do they have better methods for conflict resolution?
What's the level of alcohol consumption like in Japan? I have heard from more than one source that south east Asian people can't digest alcohol properly (it makes them sick faster) so they don't drink as much of it as white Europeans. If that's so, it must be a factor in reducing the level of violence.

Do they have a police force in Japan that's ready to use baton, teargas, beatings, guns if necessary to protect property?
Do they have prisons where people are held by force?
Do they have women and kids battered and threatened by their husbands and parents behind closed doors?
Are kids pressured to the point of suicide to conform to the expectations of school, popularity, to fit in to society?
If so, there is violence in Japan.
Violence is not just a few pissed up street brawls. You're not even scratching the surface. The really serious violence is systematic, organised, and routine, and wielded by those who defend power and property. Violence is the state.

Thanks, some good points here. Did something stop you leaving a comment on my blog? What was that? There is a comments section under every post. Anyway, yes, this strip only goes into the issue in general, in a summary type way. 5 pages doesn't allow much detail, perhaps some lovely organisation will pay us to do a full length investigation of violence? (which i would very much like to do). Also the key point of the comparison was to not to begin a deeper consideration of the cultural differences, but just to have something very different to see, in order to indicate the high levels of violence in the UK (and US). The focus I have is on why so high and what can we do about it, in the UK itself.

But as to your points:
1. 'what is it about Japanese culture that makes violence less acceptable' - a key issue to look at more, I agree. It a complicated point and one i don't fully know the answer too, hence the need to consider more in a full book. It's especially interesting as their past is full of military spirit and colonial conquest, much like the UK. So, was there a high level of 'street violence', lets call it, in, say, the 1890's or 1930's? Did those periods of extreme 'external violence' of empire building exist side by side with young Japanese men fighting with each other in bars and clubs and schools, etc?

2. 'I'm wondering if the reason there is less violence is one that is desirable or capable of being emulated.'
- A very good point and one that does get to my key concern for the UK situation. The Japanese model might not be applicable to the UK, or only partially, as a 'way forward'. Aspects of it might actually require such a deep transformation of British culture that some positive points might be lost. Of curse, to vastly reduce the levels of violence in the UK will require a deep change. But hopefully not one that will makes us lose positive aspects. Still, there may be lessons that can be learned in the Japanese model and applied.

3. 'Is Japanese society more hierarchical, formal or sexist, and so conflict gets suppressed and ignored instead of being dealt with? '
- Yes to all three points, I would say. However, to say that violence is therefore 'ignored' or that its not 'dealt with', might not be quite the case. It implies the 'pressure cooker' analogy, and that the pressure comes up in other ways that are even more destructive. That might be true for some aspects of Japanese culture, but for violence it seems to me that its not really the case. Also, those 3 things 'hierarchical, formal and sexist' also be seen as phenomena that cause or channnel violence, not suppress it. A sexist attitude towards women may well find expression in readiness to use violence against them as part of an overall power inequality, no?

4. 'alcohol consumption like in Japan' - they take a large amount of alcohol, it seems to me. Less, per person, than in the UK, is my guess, yes. And physiological factors are apparently involved, yes. But this does not seem a key factor to me. Since, as far as I can see and some studies have considered, an attitude of 'its the drink thats talking' way of accepting violence is just that - an attitude. Its not actually getting physically 'pissed as a newt' that causes British to be more violent. Its the general acceptance of it being more ok to express violence whilst in that condition - its cultural. So, despite Japanese men getting routinely '3 sheets to the wind', the result is not a great epidemic of violence in that state.

5. 'Does the way they live mean that they avoid conflict, or simply don't take offence at the same range of things? Or do they have better methods for conflict resolution? '
- This is connected to the first point above, and i have to say in general, that I'm not sure yet. Certainly they avoid conflict, the whole culture is geered towards that, in a way that is several notches up from anything in the UK. The amount of things they take offence at may be more, compared to the relatively easy going British, being so concerned with formality and politeness as they are here (which is not a cliche, its lived reality, as far as i can see). But the point is that this offence is rarely expressed in violence, a far more common thing would be to snub the person causing offence, ignore them after that. Methods of conflict resolution - again, thats a back to school point for me, 'must learn more'.

To Miss D point - yes, i agree with you on those aspects about other types of violence. I should have made it more clear that it is specifically that type of violence I'm focused on, in this case. That type meaning the kind that happens in bars, streets, public places in actual face to face physical confrontation between. Now, hugely important as all the other versions you mention are, i think you would agree that this type of 'street violence' is also important, no? That is my focus, in this case, away.