<span>technological advances that lowered transportation costs dramatically</span>
One reason why Japan has such a distinctive culture is because it was closed off from the world from 1623 to 1641. The Tokugawa Shogunate closed Japan because they were afraid of all the new ideas and cultures that came from trading. Because of this period of isolation, Japan created their own unique culture without being influenced by any western ideas.
Hope this helps! Please let me know if I'm wrong :)
Voting rights, I would say.
