There definitely seems to be a bit of a climate-based difference in attitudes about being on time and keeping promises. Germany is, as you say, similar to the Scandinavian regions. During my master studies in Germany, other than me, most of my classmates were German. But there was one from Turkey and one from Brazil. They generally arrived late to everything. They both made a big effort to improve on that, knowing that the Germans value punctuality, and they did manage to get better. But it was really a struggle. They just weren't used to the idea.

My home country of Canada is also much the same as Germany/Japan/Scandinavia, as are the northern U.S. states. But as you head south things get slower and more laid back. Tropical island life is, from my experience, the most extreme example. No one is in much of a hurry and many are not bothered about just deciding not to show up if they feel lazy that day..