I will say this. Just like the USA, there was no shortage of bookstores in Japan carrying Japanese books making fun of W and his quotes, or his flubs, with comic photos. The Japanese were told far and wide the guy was an idiot and a doofus with words.
Then the Obama phenomenon, and all the stores have now (except that it is finally changing somewhat) are texts on how to improve your English listening to Obama speeches, or Obama is great this, Obama is great that, one can really see a double standard. The press would be LIVID over such an insult to the Philippines as former Senator Obama has made the other day.
I can see the American press’s reasoning, but what dog does/did Japan have in this fight?