There are actually a number of interesting issues from this tread, and I hope that Mr. Rivera can address some in his talk, Japanese Popular Culture Around the World, Nov. 29th,
18: 30 - 20:00, Sophia University.

As interesting as "cool Japan" as a nomenclature is (both culturally and politically), for me, the 60-80's seem the more interesting historical period, in part because the culture industries were so much more diverse, still formative and going through changes internally, only some of which was picked up beyond its own boundaries and become identified as somehow "Japanese." The process of dissemination of culture (or
subculture) into an industry of scale, seems like a dynamic that would be interesting also outside of the Japan context.

David Slater