As things get older in Japan, they get venerated more, so Japanese employ more efforts to maintain them

The opposite happens in most other places, old things are detested and owners ashamed

Naturally this doesn't apply to all old things in Japan, but they so frequently and competently decide to conserve the right stuff, it just makes me happy

And these conservation efforts don't just stem from institutions or government orgs, but individuals, private businesses etc

A well known example of this is the noren cloth above the entrance of restaurants. These are cherished emblems of tradition, a testament to the Japanese commitment to honoring the past.

You can see some of them are extremely cut up and tattered while the restaurant and everything within is pristine and tidy.

The contrast intensifies the effect. (Noren is usually placed in the entrance of the restaurant so people slightly disturb it over the years and it has that subtle aging effect)