Anime is becoming really popular among people and especially among some of the Asian people. However somethimes when we really begin to like anime we also tend to like the Japanese culture itself, because Anime came from Japan. We also tend to swap it for our culture making us more Japanese and thinking that Japanese stuff are cool and so on. However to swap our culture for just anime seems so not worth it. Especially among Asian families that have memories of the Japanese attacking them. My mom and dad always say that the Japanese are evil of course I ignore them, but I don't ignore thier stories because I know that was what they felt during WWII. I like Anime and I like the Japanese culture, but I don't swap it for my culture. I am Chinese and I know a lot about Chinese history, especially the period where the Communist Party ruled China. My cousin dared said to me that I swaped my culture for the Japanese because of anime. I was offened, because at times I also didn't like the Japanese because what they did to my heritage, but I never swaped my culture for it, I like both. Also I know much about the Chinese culture and she still said it. I am at conflict by it, but I still like both cultures.

My view is that every country has it's bad history we need to acknowledge. Like Japan's history, China also has it's bad history like annexing Tibet and other autonmious regions, the Great Leap Forward, the Tiennemin Square massacare, Flong Gong sect, and etc. America is the same, the massacare of native Americans, installing dictators in the Cold War, and etc.

Its not so much that we see anime and think "I have to be Japanese" its more that to understand most things that go on in anime we require an understanding of the Japanese culture that anime is entirely subversed in. I personally dislike the people who go around thinking they can speak Japanese because they saw an episode of an anime, seriously, you dont know Japanese, and integrating one word of the language into your common dialogue is annoying. In America we are all immigrants (even the Native Americans crossed over from Russia some great massive deal of years ago) so amongst us we have all kinds of cultures and foreign thoughts and ideals are much more welcome here than anywhere else in the world (I think) so for us, anime is very popular because it exposes us to yet another culture we can try to stake claim to. As Americans some people think we have no culture, the truth I believe, is that we have an American culture, one that is a mix of all cultures.

I've Vietnamese and Chinese, and I've loved all things Japanese from the age of...three. Not just anime, but all their goods. Mainly because I'm a more 'kawaii-obsessed' person, but I would never swap my Chinese heritage for a Japanese one. Although it'd be fun to be Japanese as well as Chinese and Vietnamese (w00t), I still have pride in my culture. =)

But of course, there are the people who don't think like me and would gladly give up their culture to be Japanese. I'm talking about the ones who use incorporate little common Japanese words into their vocabulary and go around proclaiming themselves the otaku (otaku is actually more of an insult, which I find really amusing). The people like that don't even bother taking a class to learn Japanese, they just pretend they know more than they do. -.- I like to use certain words, like kawaii, but just because I've been using that word in replacement for cute for the longest time, and I can't really change it. XD

I agree, I think people can enjoy anime and at the same time understand the Japanese culture especially since it's so prevalent in anime it's more or less necessary to have an understanding of the basic traditions, language, etc but to "mold" oneself into being Japanese though you aren't is a bit overdoing it. Everyone has their own history to be proud of and at the same time not proud of. Even though personally I find Japanese culture very intriguing and interesting I wouldn't go around proclaiming I have tons of knowledge about Japan, simply because that isn't the case and it would seem immature to do so. Some vocabulary are picked among the anime community just for fun, so that's ok. But taking to the extreme isn't.

My family also mentions about feeling uncomfortable dealing with Japanese things due to their history, but I think modern times and history always has a difference, and people shouldn't lump love for anime with "overriding one's own culture"