For countries like Japan, the global economy has been a boon. Not only has Japan excelled on the technological front, but the country has been able to export the one thing most important to its citizens: culture. Although the concept of a “global economy” did not exist until the early 20th century, Japanese culture had long been one of fascination across Europe and the U.S. From samurai to geisha, representations of the mysterious nation and its people abounded in literature late 18th century and beyond, as Japan, once known very little outside of Asia, began to open itself up to the rest of the world.