Maybe I've been brought up in a quite impolite society, but I still think Japan can't beat Europe in rudeness.And I could add Korea here too.
I remember buying a ticket in Austria- the lady just threw it to me without even stopping her nice chat with a friend.In Korea , I was preparing to buy a ticket, when an old lady just pushed me away. My friend said this happends often in Korea.
I think that the Japanese are respectful to each other.Of course, there are these busy, nervous businessmen, and the educated, but not disciplined young Japanese, or some very old people with
samurai mentality( total respect to the eldery person, no matter what s/he says).But in general, politeness is a rule ,and Japanese obey the rules.
If they don't apply these rules to us, the reason, I think, is the fact that many foreigners are not polite too.Some guys just think that they are the center of the world, and the Japanese put a stereotype on all.