ABSTRACT
From the nineteenth century onward, Europeans and Americans developed a strong cultural fascination for Asia, which is often referred to as “Orientalism.” Classically, Orientalism refers to the power relationship between the West and its Eastern Other. This relationship, however, is uneven. Even today, Orientalism is presumed to be characterized by Western superiority and Eastern inferiority as a result of the internalized power regimes of colonialism (Said 1978). The relationship between the West and Japan, however, is more complex than Said’s theory forebodes. The dialogue between Western countries such as the Netherlands and Japan is an intimate one where narratives, experiences, and memories constantly cross borders. One space where this flow is most clearly visible is in art and popular culture.
