Japanophile

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Lafcadio Hearn, aka Koizumi Yakumo, a notable scholar and author well known for his strong interest in Japanese culture and books on Japan.

A Japanophile, or alternatively a Nipponophile, is a non-Japanese person with a strong interest in one or more aspects of Japan or Japanese culture. The word is always used in a derogatory manner to denote a person with an excessive and misguided interest with Japan. (A slang variation of Japanophile is "wapanese", derived like "wigger". Another popular term used primarily on the internet is "weeaboo," the use of which is almost always derogatory.)

"Japanophile" is also less commonly used to alternatively describe individuals who fall into one or more of the following categories:

Scholars on the History of Japan
Students of the Japanese language
Scholars on the Sociology of Japan
Politicians seen as particularly favourable to Japanese interests
Fans of a particular aspect of Japanese culture (such as kendo, sumo wrestling, Japanese cuisine, and so forth)
Anyone seen as (or believed to be) knowledgeable regarding a particular aspect of Japan, its culture or its influence.

Japanophilia is recently on the increase 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 among others [1]. Once esoteric, many of these exports have gone from purely a geek pastime to the mainstream, with sushi being de rigueur in some circles^{[citation needed]}. However it does not always translate into political support for Japan.

Some Japanophiles have been criticized for having a limited perception of Japanese culture and many of their interests of Japan are based on an idealized, romantic or orientalist Western view of Japan. Such accusations come from many sides, from passionate, yet capricious, cynics to people with an extensive association with Japan and its culture. Some authors, such as Alex Kerr (author of Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Modern Japan), attribute limited perceptions to a superficial knowledge of difficult issues facing Japan combined with wishful thinking. Kerr's view presents a mutual tendency to obscure or minimize these issues by beneficiaries of foreign interest in Japan and by enamored Japanophiles.

Lee Teng-hui, formerly President of Taiwan, seen cosplaying a Japanese manga character, Heihachi Edajima

In Asia, some Japanophile population exists in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China, especially among youth. Notable members include Lee Teng-hui, a former President in Taiwan, who was educated under Japanese colonial rule and has claimed to be "one half Japanese". In 2005, members of the Taiwan Solidarity Union, a political party in Taiwan, visited the Yasukuni Shrine, resulting in some controversy.