# Weeaboos for countries other than Japan? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407 "2014-10-15T16:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/1 "2014-10-15T16:08:28Z")
There’s a subculture of non-Japanese people out there who are fanatic about all things Japanese. Anime, food, social norms, whatever. The polite term for these people is [Japanophile;](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanophile) the less polite slang term (especially for those who exhibit extreme obsession) is [weeaboo.](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/weeaboo) Thing is, I have never heard of such fanatics for other cultures of the world. Are there people who are obnoxiously obsessed with all things German? Indian? Malaysian? Mexican? …? What are the things about their target culture that they obsess/commune over? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/2 "2014-10-15T16:13:23Z")
> **[Orientalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism)** > > In art history, literature and cultural studies, Orientalism is the imitation or depiction of aspects in the Eastern world. These depictions are usually done by writers, designers, and artists from the Western world. In particular, Orientalist painting, depicting more specifically the Middle East, was one of the many specialisms of 19th-century academic art, and the literature of Western countries took a similar interest in Oriental themes. > Since the publication of Edward Said's Orientalism in 1... > **[Francophile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francophile)** > > A Francophile, also known as Gallophile, is a person who has a strong affinity towards any or all of the French language, French history, French culture and/or French people. That affinity may include France itself or its history, language, cuisine, literature, etc. The term "Francophile" can be contrasted with Francophobe (or Gallophobe), someone who shows hatred or other forms of negative feelings towards all that is French. Some Welsh, who are closely connected to Brittany, prefer calling the... I think there was also a mania in Britain for Indian culture during the colonial days. Granted these are historical mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/3 "2014-10-15T16:13:40Z")
I esteem German culture above all others. Even the bits I don’t like are like coming home. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/4 "2014-10-15T16:50:00Z")
Don’t forget [Anglophiles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglophile). ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/5 "2014-10-15T17:01:04Z")
Lots of countries have their fans. But are Franco- and Anglophiles really comparable to “weeaboos”? ---
**Author:** ![Wisp00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/977dab/32.png) [@Wisp00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisp00)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/6 "2014-10-15T17:21:49Z")
I would bet there are plenty of comparable Anglophiles, but since British culture is closer to our own than Japanese, it doesn’t seem as extreme. Still, Japan seems to be the fashion right now, so I’m sure you’ll find many more Japanophiles than fanatics of any other country, especially among the Reddit set. In 20 years, it will be something else. ---
**Author:** ![nani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58956e/32.png) [@nani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nani)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/7 "2014-10-15T17:49:15Z")
Something similar happens with religions a lot, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This applies both to converts and to people in related academic fields. Korean stuff is becoming really, really big in much of the world, even if it has yet to hit the US to the extent Japanese things have, Gangnam Style nonwithstanding. Dramas, Kpop, movies, etc. I’ve met Koreaphiles abroad who were kind of comparable. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/8 "2014-10-15T18:04:31Z")
There have been a couple of Egypt fads in America. I’ve read people were nuts for all things Egyptian in the '20s or '30s, and it happened again after the Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit went around the country in the '70s (remember the Steve Martin song?). > [@Bozuit](#): > > Lots of countries have their fans. But are Franco- and Anglophiles really comparable to “weeaboos”? They don’t seem to be judged as harshly, if that’s what you mean. > [@nani](#): > > Something similar happens with religions a lot, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This applies both to converts and to people in related academic fields. At least one of these has its own nickname: Jubus, or Jewish Buddhists like Allen Ginsburg and Adam Yauch. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/9 "2014-10-15T18:15:16Z")
Hippie types in Berkeley were embracing the heck out of various Native American cultures after _Dances with Wolves_ was released; a couple people I know changed their names to what they claimed were Native American names, or translations thereof (“Kindred Warrior” in one case). For me, after 20 years in the SCA and longer than that involved in SF Fandom, it’s kind of a forest-for-the-trees scenario: A friend of mine speaks Elvish. Somebody else had their marriage performed in Klingon. Another couple had a pirate-themed party, and everybody already had their own costume. And let’s not even talk about the Whovians. Some people really like Japanese culture? Okay… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/10 "2014-10-15T18:34:26Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Hippie types in Berkeley were embracing the heck out of various Native American cultures after _Dances with Wolves_ was released; a couple people I know changed their names to what they claimed were Native American names, or translations thereof (“Kindred Warrior” in one case). That’s another thing that has come and gone in waves- or at least that’s my understanding. Hippie types were into Native American culture long before _Dances with Wolves_. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/11 "2014-10-16T00:07:46Z")
> [@Wisp00](#): > > I would bet there are plenty of comparable Anglophiles, but since British culture is closer to our own than Japanese, it doesn’t seem as extreme. True. But on the other hand, you might say the adoption of Japanese culture by Americans _is_ more extreme for the same reasons. In answer to the question, I think the points about Indian, Native American and Islamic cultures are good answers. I’d add Chinese and African. There is at least one difference, though: Japanophiles seem to be largely interested in modern Japanese culture, whereas fans of the other mentioned cultures seem more interested in the traditions. What that means (if anything) I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/12 "2014-10-16T03:38:14Z")
> [@nani](#): > > Something similar happens with religions a lot, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. This applies both to converts and to people in related academic fields… True. Sometimes you will see US converts to Islam wearing Arabian attire like dishdashas. As far as I’ve seen it’s not extremely common, but it’s something you’ll bump into a few times if you spend any time around Muslims here. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/13 "2014-10-16T09:49:45Z")
Ireland has a lot of fans. Both people with (some) Irish ancestry, but I also know plenty of Dutch, Germans and Italians who are crazy about everything Irish or “Celtic”. Especially of the thatched cottage, music and ancient Celtic myths and legend variety. Goes for Scotland too, to a certain extent. I was interest to see how many people who were neither Scottish nor English felt very strongly about Scottish independence and I think a lot of it was about romantic “Braveheart” style ideas they had about the country. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/14 "2014-10-16T13:10:40Z")
There’s a condition called _[Paris Syndrome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome)_ > [@](#): > > Paris syndrome (French: Syndrome de Paris, Japanese: パリ症候群, Pari shōkōgun) is a transient psychological disorder encountered by some individuals visiting or vacationing in Paris, France or elsewhere in Western Europe. It is characterized by a number of psychiatric symptoms such as acute delusional states, hallucinations, feelings of persecution (perceptions of being a victim of prejudice, aggression, or hostility from others), derealization, depersonalization, anxiety, and also psychosomatic manifestations such as dizziness, tachycardia, sweating, and others.[1] Similar syndromes include Jerusalem syndrome and Stendhal syndrome. > > There is a 24-hour help line run by the Japanese embassy to help Japanese tourists suffering from this condition. The embassy reports that on average twelve people suffer from this disorder annually.[2] The condition is commonly viewed as a severe form of culture shock. The Japanese version of the article specifies that it’s mostly women in their 30s. They have this fanticy about what Paris is like and the reality completely shocks them. Having lived in Japan for 25 years over a 33 year period, you really get tired of all the completely whacky things people believe about Japan. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/15 "2014-10-16T13:28:25Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > There’s a condition called _[Paris Syndrome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome)_ The Japanese version of the article specifies that it’s mostly women in their 30s. They have this fanticy about what Paris is like and the reality completely shocks them. > > Having lived in Japan for 25 years over a 33 year period, you really get tired of all the completely whacky things people believe about Japan. even within the States I’ve seen this type of thing. e.g. someone who is literally _obsessed_ with wanting to move to New Orleans, or San Francisco, or wherever. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/16 "2014-10-16T13:46:53Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > True. But on the other hand, you might say the adoption of Japanese culture by Americans _is_ more extreme for the same reasons. It’s perceived as more extreme, but I don’t think it’s actually more extreme in any real way. OK, you’re into a culture that you don’t have a geographic or ancestral connection to. Why does it matter if that culture has some vague ties to your own? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/17 "2014-10-16T13:47:12Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > There’s a condition called _[Paris Syndrome](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome)_ > > > [@](#): > > > > Paris syndrome (French: Syndrome de Paris, Japanese: パリ症候群, Pari shōkōgun) is a transient psychological disorder encountered by some individuals visiting or vacationing in Paris, France or elsewhere in Western Europe. It is characterized by a number of psychiatric symptoms such as acute delusional states, hallucinations, feelings of persecution (perceptions of being a victim of prejudice, aggression, or hostility from others), derealization, depersonalization, anxiety, and also psychosomatic manifestations such as dizziness, tachycardia, sweating, and others.[1] Similar syndromes include Jerusalem syndrome and Stendhal syndrome. So they met French people. Big deal. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/18 "2014-10-16T17:05:30Z")
“weeaboo”? Ah, that’s a great term. So the pretentious morons who use \*Tsunami \*instead of the perfectly good english word “Tidal Wave” are 'weeaboos". Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/19 "2014-10-16T17:12:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “weeaboo”? Ah, that’s a great term. So the pretentious morons who use \*Tsunami \*instead of the perfectly good english word “Tidal Wave” are 'weeaboos". Thanks. Pretentious morons, like scientists who use words accurately? The words [don’t mean the same thing](http://www.usgs.gov/faq/categories/9755/3141). > [@](#): > > What is the difference between a tsunami and a tidal wave? > > Although both are sea waves, a tsunami and a tidal wave are two different and unrelated phenomenona. A tidal wave is the wave motion of the tides. A tidal wave is a shallow water wave caused by the gravitational interactions between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. (Tidal wave was used in earlier times to describe what we now call a tsunami.) Tsunamis are ocean waves triggered by large earthquakes that occur near or under the ocean, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, and by onshore landslides in which large volumes of debris fall into the water. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407/20 "2014-10-16T17:17:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “weeaboo”? Ah, that’s a great term. Funny you should say that- the more I look at this thread, the nastier it seems. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weeaboos-for-countries-other-than-japan/701407.md?page=2)