While I agree that some aspects of American culture are adopted with little knowledge of why that aspect is popular in America to start with, and sometimes you wonder why something takes hold in Japan, the same can certainly be said of America's fascination with Japan.

I get endless emails from high school kids who watch my videos on teaching in Japan and ask me all kinds of really strange questions about Japan, and you come to realize that their interest in Japan stems from a love of anime/manga and not much else.
Japan for many Westerners is still an exotic fairy tale land of sushi, samurai and sakura.

I think that TaishaJason is exactly right. It is a two way street, for better or worse, the world is becoming a global community.
PS: I got into Japanese and Japanese Culture because of my fascination with samurai and Bushido(at least it wasn't because of anime). I know that isn't a "good" reason but, now I know a good deal about modern Japan and all so, it's okay.

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Completely agreed with petina's first post.

Though, you cannot generalize the West. It would be much more appropriate to say North America, and possibly the UK.

From personal experience, in Germany there exists an awfully small interest in Japan and its culture. Most Germans who are familiar with Japan, are only, because they have business interests there.

On the other hand, Japan seems to have a slight infatuation with Germany.

That infatuation is taken to the next level when it comes to medieval architecture. Monarchical dresses, hierarchy and etiquette are also included in the infatuation.

Little interest for Japan also seems to exist in all the other Western and Eastern European countries. The only exception would be the UK, really.




Remixer

I disagree.

Certainly there seems to be limited interest in Japan here in the UK. There are very few Japanese people around here, and for the most part they are 'blended in' with the Chinese (who are much more prevalent). On the other hand, Eastern Europeans seem to be fairly keen on Japan.

Mostly it is centered around Anime, but when you consider that the United Kingdom and the US combined make a good market for Anime, for countries like Poland it has to be dubbed into Polish, and there is very little market outside of that.

Sushi is available in the supermarkets I suppose, but it's usually just cucumber rolls and occasionally some Nigiri. Other than that, not much in terms of Japanese culture. Certainly nothing compared to the States.

The only place I can think of which might be an exception is London.


Of course, it's also probably worth considering that all of us are, presumably, interested in Japanese culture, and not that interested in our own culture. I have been to one ceilidh in my entire life, and I have only ever worn a kilt once. I don't play bagpipes or play any Scottish sports. I know relatively little about the history of Scotland. I only eat Scottish food when I visit my Grandmother.

However, I know much more about Japanese culture- I haven't experienced it first hand, but I have read and seen all about it, and I want to live in that kind of society.

Of course, I only know of the wonderful side of Japan, where everyone has hi tech gadgets for every conceivable thing; where everyone is polite and friendly; where the traditional lifestyle is preserved and simultaneously buisness thrives.

Slightly exaggerated, but I think you get the point.

Hey Sleepyhead

I had mentioned that the UK was the exception in Europe, in other words: While in Europe generally there doesn't seem to exist a great deal of interest in Japan, in the UK it does.

Cheers


Remixer