Is there a big difference in attitudes of people around the world...

[Boojatta]

towards the use or learning of English and the use or learning of Japanese?

The author of Guns, Germs, and Steel might have something to say about the fact that the UK is on the extreme West of the Eurasian continent and that Japan is on the extreme East of the Eurasian continent.

I find it more interesting that Japan is a collection of islands and that the UK is also a collection of islands.

(Or is the UK just one island? I haven't bothered to check this geographical issue because my focus is on the world historical issues.)

I have heard that the UK has a tradition of using marines and of minimizing the use of a standing army.