I wouldn't argue with you too far on the influence of cultural imperialism but it does wash both ways.
Take for example the Japanese television show Saiyuki also known as Monkey!
It was imported into Britain, dubbed (to humourous and some may argue improving effect) by notable television and stage actors, became a big hit largely because of (to use the imperialistic term) the oriental influences in Star Wars and resold to other countries.
I imagine the show is probably more remembered in Australia and the UK than it is in Japan.
So you have a Japanese show based on a Chinese legend distributed by the broadcast network of the presently defunct British Empire to the antipodes which is remembered fondly enough to prompt this :
