>>512221845 (OP)
For me it started when I discovered an obscure video store cleverly disguised as "The Pop Shoppe". Within said video rental establishment was a bizarre collection of rental videos. Faces of Death, I spit on your grave etc. That is were I came across a movie from Japan called "Shogun Assassin". I probably watched it 50 times over the next few years. That led to Zatoichi, Abarenbo Shogun etc. Of course Akira, Ghost in the shell, Ninja Scroll etc were in there as well. All of the Kurosawa films, Donzoko being my favorite film. If I had to give you and answer it would be that I think the japs make some damn good cinema.