Japanese culture-Senpai Kohai

This is cited from "Keys to the Japanese Heart and Soul"

Seipai-kohai (Senior-Junior)

An informal relationship ubiquitous in Japanese organizations, such schools, and associations, in which older, experienced members offer friendship, assistance, and advice to inexperienced members, who reciprocate with gratitude, respect, and often personal loyalty.
The senpai-kohai tie is determined by the date of entrance into a particular organization. The "sempai" perhaps a graduate of the same school or a senior in the work group, acts as a friend and patron, disciplining and teaching the neophyte appropriate conduct. Sempai-Kohai ties permeate Japanese society. Habatsu, batsu, and other personal networks function to some extent in sempai-kohai terms, and sempai-kohai alliances often smooth the way toward a quick, satisfactory resolution of a problem. Sucessful carrers have often been promoted by these long-term relationships, though they can also have negative aspects, as when the sempai exploits his kohai.