It seems like we agree with each other then
Timid and modest are quite different yes, even though in some situations it can be hard to tell them apart.
The examples you gave are great.
I guess you push back when people call Japan super shy, but I push back when people expect cosplay chicks or extreme fashion kids to have a mentality similar to that of a western mind in the same clothes.
I was quite surprised at first when having conversations with people in those situations, thinking "how can someone dressed like that behave that way?!"
If we compare a western society to even kansai society (arguably the loudest most outgoing society of Japan) I still think it would be like night and day in contrast, don't you?
Also, don't you think most westerners would be more than surprised at the mentality of many people dressed in crazy fashion or in cosplay?