[Sangetsu]

If you have seen the quality of your typical Japanese movie or television drama, then there is no mystery why American productions do so well. Japanese productions are so neurotic and predictable that I'm often tempted to start throwing things at my tv screen. Japanese pop music is much the same, it's over-produced crap, like the "Back Street Boys" on steroids. It's no wonder that stores, hair salons, and radio stations play primarily Western music.

As for the popularity of anime in Japan, it's still very strong. The annual "Naruto-fest" draws huge crowds, and you'll find long lines in Akihabara when new editions are released.

BTW, "Letters from Iwo Jima" was a big hit here, and Clint Eastwood is more or less a hero.