Made in Japan: The San Jose Mercury News examines how Japanese popular culture -- particularly, anime and manga -- is being embraced in the United States, at least on certain levels:

"But while the imprint of the Japanese cultural tsunami has spread wide, some critics lament that it remains shallow -- Americans don't really learn much about the deeper values that shape life in Japan outside its stylistic entertainment industry.

"Lost in Translation, a story about the midlife crisis of a 50-something American actor (Bill Murray) and the identity crisis of the bored young woman he meets at a fancy Tokyo hotel, could have been set anywhere. Japan was a very cool, but superficial, backdrop.

"'Americans are fascinated by Japanese society but they continue to dance along the edges and never get into deeper elements. It continues to amaze me,' said Peter Goodman, editor of Stone Bridge Press, speaking at a recent seminar on Japan's cultural influences. Goodman's small East Bay publisher puts out manga in translation as well as conventional books on Japan."