B Anderson wrote:
> > I think it has to do with the increasing cult popularity of japanese
> > entertainment, which is is sort of the "last straw" on top of other
> > positive characteristics associated with japan and its culture;
>
> I have been studying PR recently... I sometimes wonder how Japan has
> managed to get such good PR for itself.

I actually think this is a general trait of japanese history, even in
more racist times.  There is just a tendency to overrate things
japanese.   My only guess is:

japanese culture is concerned with appearances
certain japanese social strata have very high moral standards; problem
with this second one is, not only japan is like this.  Its almost as if
people insist on looking at japanese society half full and no other
society.

>

>
> Korea is a comparable country in many ways. Why is Korea not "cool" like
> Japan is?

Mystifies me too; i wont say what aspects of korean society remind me
of japan becuase i never been there and I think you cant really get a
grasp of society simply by meeting individual members.
>
> You don't see hoardes of people learning Korean, dreaming of living
> there, buying Korean comic books etc. I'm sure there are some
> Korea-philes out there... nowhere near as many as Japanophiles.

In all fairness, i dont think korea was anywhere near as succesful as
japan until 10 or 15 years ago, byt maybe im wrong.
>
> Indeed, look at the English teachers in Korea vs. Japan. The ones in
> Japan often have a primary obsession: live in Japan. Whereas the ones in
> Korea seem to be there to save money, and experience a "different"
> culture. A foreign culture... not singularly obsessed with that one country.

 I would move to korea in a heartbeat if the immigration qualifications
were any more lenient than japan