Japanophile
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A Japanophile is a non-Japanese person with a strong interest in one or more aspects of Japan or Japanese culture. The word describes individuals who fall in one or more of the following categories:
- Scholars on the History of Japan
- Students of the Japanese language
- Scholars on the Sociology of Japan
- Fans of a particular aspect of Japanese culture
Today, Japanophilia is becoming more common around the world, with the popularization of many Japanese cultural exports and Japanese pop culture, such as Zen Buddhism, sushi, J-Horror, J-Pop, anime, and manga. However, a strain of it has existed since the days of Lafcadio Hearn, an Irish-American author who made his home in Japan in the 19th century. His writings were the first to introduce Japan's unique culture, folk beliefs, and practices to the wider world, and served as the inspiration for many Japanophiles in the West.
In Asia, some Japanophile population exists in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China, especially among youth.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- Japonism
- Asiaphile
- Orientalism
- Otaku
- Fasian
[edit] External links
- "Japan's Empire of Cool", Washington Post
