Most civilizational behaviors are related to illness and hygiene. I've often said that jewish traditions around food preparations and the concept of "kosher" foods is basically a Bronze Age way of maintaining sanitation during food prep. If you have no idea what Germ Theory is, a priest working traditional ways that you know won't make god give you a disease actually makes a ton of sense.

I wouldn't be surprised if Japanese obsession with cleanliness prevented disease, even in potentially rancid environments (like raw fish as you point out), and sex, prevented the spread of disease.

they didn't have monkeypox because they didn't have lots of gays having disgusting orgies with random guys with no protection.

So, the answer to my question is what I thought it was.

It was the gallons of piss.

That was the difference.

What's japanese for "We're degenerates, not savages"?