I think there's a difference between a keen interest and an obsession, but yeah, people hardcore bent on Japan confuse me, like thinking the yakuza is better than normal gangs. xD That's just rose-colored glasses.

I like watching Japanese television (I'm not really heavy in anime - I only like a few of them, but I do like Japanese game shows), but then again, I like pretty much any kind of foreign television or film. I like to see other cultures. I'm having a french movie binge right now.

In regards to books, on one hand, I absolutely adore the writing of Haruki Murakami and the author of Battle Royale who I'm too lazy to look up at the moment, but on the other hand, I've read books from other Japanese authors and felt confusion, and in some cases, disgust, which I don't feel often. So it's like any other country there, again.

As for the language, I'm taking Japanese right now in college, and I really do enjoy it. I guess that makes me wapanese in this case, but it really is a lot more fun than studying other languages that I've studied before. I have a lot of fun learning and reading hiragana, and right now I am doing the best I've done studying any foreign language. xD

I could see myself moving to Japan, but I could also see myself moving to Italy, just to throw myself in to a completely different culture. So again, like any other country! =O

Read Gajin Smash by Azreal, it's really good in explaining the appeal, but how it's really just like any other country. And it's a hilarious blog too.

This post is rambling too much, ttfn~ :flounder: