Anime Expo- a cultural collaboration between the US and Japan.

When a foreign culture enters the general American experience, it often carries as a standard bearer some iconic, reductive representation that creates an easy association. Italian culture is in some ways defined by the foods Italian immigrants brought to the USA, Irish culture by St. Patrick's day celebrations, Swedish culture by Ikea and meatballs. In recent times, Korea burst onto the American landscape through K-Pop, making defunct any previous association with poverty and the Korean war.

Japan is different. It seemingly always had a space in the American imagination. During the Chicago World's Fair of 1892 visitors were enthralled with model Japanese buildings, cherry trees, and culture. Japanese and Chinese immigrants were heavily involved in life in California, contributing to our culture from the start. Likewise, pre-war Japan, after being forcibly opened to outside influence by the US Navy, took baseball and eventually animation technology from the USA.

After World War Two, Japan and the US were fused at the hip out of mutual distrust for geopolitical opponents. America imposed its style of government on Japan, and an American mindset came with it. Economic prosperity and American influence converged as Japanese Manga interacted with American Comics and the historic Anime "Astroboy" was created with possible inspiration from Disney.

Eventually, animation, which had been developing in its own direction in Japan, returned as "anime" to the USA, where it has steadily captured an increasing share of public attention. According to its website, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation was founded in 1992, and the conventions of anime enthusiasts put on the society would eventually blossom into the mega-convention that we have today, matching anime's growth in the USA and around the world.

The SPJA, founded as a nonprofit, now uses anime to expose more people to Japanese and Japanese American culture. Anime Expo's information booklet features a letter by the Japanese consulate. The Expo opened with a traditional taiko drum performance by the group Yuujou Daiko and the SPJA is fundraising for Kizuna, a Japanese-American charity, through a charity auction at the Expo. Anime has become a new introduction to an ancient culture and a link to the longstanding Japanese-American community.

It is fitting after all that Anime Expo starts on Independence day, since anime is a product of the special relationship between two of the world's most unique countries.