ABSTRACT
Elements of exoticism as well as stereotypes and clichés based on exoticism can still be found in present-day literature on Japan and in the popular image of Japan in Europe. The end of exoticism indicated by the title of Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit’s book (Das Ende der Exotik) is still not in sight (Giacomuzzi 2002: 167; Ophüls-Kashima 1995: 89), in spite of the wealth of information on Japan available now and the growing number of Europeans who have had the possibility to personally experience the real Japan. The persistency of these instances of exoticism already indicates that it will be important to take a closer look both at the factors that gave rise to exoticism as well as at the function they serve in the relations between cultures. The fact that, in Germany, exoticism and enthusiasm for Japan reached a high point at a time when the political relations between both countries were at a low point is of particular interest in our context.1
