[Tsuwabuki]

I would like to point out that if you watch a wide variety of anime you will actually have quite a good knowledge of Japanese culture. The key is that "wide variety" part.

I will fully admit that most of my knowledge of Japanese culture, and especially pop culture, came straight from fandom. I suffered no culture shock, and indeed surprise Japanese people regularly with my knowledge.

May I suggest you read The Anime Companion by my good friend, librarian Giles Poitras? It's an encyclopedia that explains what's Japanese in Japanese animation. Traditions, places, objects... The whole kit and caboodle.

As for people thinking this is a fantasy wonderland... That just strikes me as youth, and rather naive youth at that. I certainly never believed Japan was going to solve all of my problems, and I didn't think it didn't lack serious social and economic issues. But I moved here when I was 24, had a degree, and had already worked in the "real world" for a couple of years.