As an archipelago, Japan is/was an insular society with dense urban populations. It's robust transportation system developed as a necessity. America is/was a sprawling continent with a consistent population shift. By the time Japan came under America's thumb, it had other social structures in place that the US couldn't dislodge.
If I were to get problematic (but not exactly incorrect IMO) about it, it's the difference between a indigenous civilization like that which exists in Japan, Korea, the vast majority of the world, and even places like France, Germany, or... bleh... the UK... versus a culture dominated by settler-colonials (one could also say- barbarians, and true barbarians, not due to their technological development level, etc. but rather their mentality, the mentality of rootless, systematically divided, inherent imperialists whose culture was truly only built on theft, genocide, and slavery), who squat where they please and have little to no ties to the land, like the cultures dominating the US/Canada/Australia.
The simplest explanation here is also just the toned-down (and accurate) version of this- the US has little to no culture, no civilization, outside of theft and genocide. Building up their country and people (most of whom are barely treated or seen as people to begin with) is not in their nature. Its great infrastructure and industrial developments in history were primarily in the name of westwards expansion, and war profiteering.
"Why build when you can steal" sums up the settler-mentality.
Politicians in the US lack pride and/or shame. Something should have been done after the first train derailment, someone should either felt a sense of shame or had enough pride in their country not to allow it to happen again.
As an archipelago, Japan is/was an insular society with dense urban populations. It's robust transportation system developed as a necessity. America is/was a sprawling continent with a consistent population shift. By the time Japan came under America's thumb, it had other social structures in place that the US couldn't dislodge.
Source: ass, mine
Korea has decent public transit though, the bones of which don't predate the US.
If I were to get problematic (but not exactly incorrect IMO) about it, it's the difference between a indigenous civilization like that which exists in Japan, Korea, the vast majority of the world, and even places like France, Germany, or... bleh... the UK... versus a culture dominated by settler-colonials (one could also say- barbarians, and true barbarians, not due to their technological development level, etc. but rather their mentality, the mentality of rootless, systematically divided, inherent imperialists whose culture was truly only built on theft, genocide, and slavery), who squat where they please and have little to no ties to the land, like the cultures dominating the US/Canada/Australia.
That's a good explanation, but I think it's fair to settle with Ozzam's Razor and just say it was boring stuff.
The simplest explanation here is also just the toned-down (and accurate) version of this- the US has little to no culture, no civilization, outside of theft and genocide. Building up their country and people (most of whom are barely treated or seen as people to begin with) is not in their nature. Its great infrastructure and industrial developments in history were primarily in the name of westwards expansion, and war profiteering.
"Why build when you can steal" sums up the settler-mentality.
Politicians in the US lack pride and/or shame. Something should have been done after the first train derailment, someone should either felt a sense of shame or had enough pride in their country not to allow it to happen again.