Can someone explain to me the culture of Japan and why it's so... strange?

Question:

PLEASE READ.

Please read that I have nothing against Japan, I'm just merely curious about their culture because it's so... interesting and I'm absolutely dumb and culturally-unaware.

I know that different cultures come in all sorts of ways and can be all weird and different but Japan is very peculiar...

Such as their Penis Festivals and their unusual mythical creatures and such.

Exactly how did their urban cultures and ideas come to be?
Especially things like hentai and stuff.

Answer:

Japan was 'civilized' 500 years before Europe was.

maybe its not them that is strange, but gai jin.....