im from latvia...since past 700 years (from ~1200 till ~1860) we were pretty much owned by german landlords so we dont have a culture like japan has. we do not have traditions as deep - polite language with stranges (name+sensei/chan/san), tea drinking traditions, temples and etc - thats what fascinates me about it...
we just have our own "octoberfest" at summer solstice and nation wide singing festival -
here is a small preview
also im about to start asian studies programme and learning japanese at univesity.