"Japanese" Black and White

David A. Goldfarb said:

If the original poster would like to move it back I can do it, but it just doesn't seem to have ever been about that, and I suspect that what we're talking about here isn't really an exposure issue. Will something look more "Japanese" if you meter in one way rather than another?

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Well, I think the discussion grew large enough that a more general category than exposure can be appropriate. Nevertheless, to reiterate the original inquiry, is there something specific in choosing the light that give Japanese photo a specific look? Is there some specific film/paper choice that have an influence as well?

The light perhaps--overcast, shade, soft light.

Film and paper? Maybe, but I would be surprised if there isn't as much a range used in Japan as there is in North America and Western Europe.

Lenses--there might be something there. The Japanese collector market tends to drive the prices of certain classic lenses.