How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Even if we should get home, you know very well you can't be. You weren't born into a samurai family. You were born a fisherman's son and you will be a fisherman, and any sons you have, they also will be fishermen. That is the way it is; that is the way it has always been; that is the way it will always be." (1.2.33)
Some things never change. Like being a Japanese fisherman in the late 19th century. Good thing Manjiro isn't so stuck on tradition like his friend Goemon here—otherwise, we wouldn't have a story to read.
Quote #2
Before Manjiro's father had died, he had taught Manjiro about Bushido, the samurai code of honor. "I wouldn't be that kind of samurai," Manjiro said. "I'd be like the noble samurai of old times: heroic warriors who were loyal to their lords, and who studied calligraphy and poetry as well as the art of fighting." (1.2.36)
Manjiro's interesting because he's faithful to his father and the whole tradition of the samurai—kind of. The fact that he "wouldn't be that kind of samurai," the samurai his father told him about, means that he's willing to go his own way. But "his own way" still isn't exactly his own way—it's just an even more traditional form of samurai he says he wants to be. It's like the only way he can feel okay about deviating is if he goes one up on his father and becomes even more traditional.
Quote #3
Each of them was also given a metal stick, with four prongs on one end.
"Fork," the sailor said—and showed them they should use it to eat the rice. The fishermen recited their prayer before eating.
"Itadakimasu—I will humbly receive." (2.3.50-52)
Even eating is something completely specific to a culture, right down to the utensils used. But the prayer before eating seems to be a shared custom in this case. It may be in a different language and from a different faith, but the sentiment seems pretty universal.