Final answer:
The fascination with Japanese popular culture is linked to the historic Japanese influence on the West, rooted in traditional arts revival movements like Nihonga and the global appreciation of Japanese art forms like Ukiyo-e.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Napier, the fascination with Japanese popular culture like anime, games, and manga is deeply rooted in the historical context of Japan's cultural development and its influence on the West. This interest can be traced back to movements such as Nihonga, which sought the revival of traditional Japanese arts and culture. The subsequent international attention towards Japanese aesthetics, fueled by Japonisme and celebrated at expositions, also played a critical role. Such arts included the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints which depicted varied facets of Japanese life, embracing both traditional and Western modes of pictorial representation. Moreover, historic fascination, as shown by Western artists such as van Gogh, reveals the long-term influence of Japanese art on global artistic practices. Today, anime, games, and manga are extensions of this historic international esteem and appreciation of Japanese creativity, manifesting as a vibrant and rich subculture with global appeal.