This book, Japanamerica, focuses on how Japanese popular culture influences American culture. The author, Roland Kelts, takes a neutral perspective to create this book, interviewing many important figures who participated in the establishment of popular culture in Japan and America. Kelts explores why the phenomenon of Japonophilia, or “foreign infatuation with the cultural character of Japan” (p. 5), occurs particularly in the United States. Although the phenomenon of Japonophilia emerged before the 20th century, its numbers are increasing due to anime, manga, video games, and other popular culture media. In the first chapter, Kelts talks about the cultural norms between Japan and America. These seem almost complete opposites when compared on the surface. For example, the author talks about the Japanese valuing the characteristics of “restraint, conformity, and consent.” (p. 23). On the other hand, Americans value the characteristics of “assertiveness, individuality, and iconoclasm.” (p. 23) The diffusion of the Internet seems that these characteristics appear publicly. However, in Japan there is a tatemae and a honne. Tatemae, meaning the public presentation of yourself, and honne, the true feeling you have within yourself. Kelts interviewed Yoshiro Katsuoka, planning director at Marvelous Entertainment, about this phenomenon with Japanese characteristics. In his interview, Katsuoka talks about Americans being able to change their American characteristics to fit Japanese characteristics. This is adapted by reading, watching, and being exposed to Japanese popular culture. He explains that Americans have become "American Otaku", and that the pursuit of the medium of paper is now considered an art. I felt that these pornographic images also served as a means of spreading a new culture, even if some of them were severely restricted. Japanamerica began by talking about the author's friends and their daughter watching the Studio Ghibli film. This beginning made me a little happy. I felt happy because I always feel proud when something Japanese attracts attention. America influenced Japan after World War II in many areas such as economics, politics, etc. However, after so many years, Japan is influencing the United States in the context of popular culture. I would like to see more Japonophilia in the United States, as much as the Japanese love their manga and animation culture. Works Cited Kelts, Roland. Japanamerica: how Japanese pop culture invaded the United States. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. Print.