My 2003 JDM is lovely and smooth at low revs, my clutch biting point is very low though (actually pretty scarily low).
I find it harder to keep it smooth on higher biting clutches in different cars, not sure why.
I suppose you would call my shift from first to second slow when travelling in traffic, it's hard to explain in text but I think you just need to take the shift slower, just don't ride the clutch.
It plays on my mind being getting hit with the stigma of that young jerk in a nice looking car and hahhaa look at him bunny hopping down the road and in any car, it's very embarrassing, worse then a stall.