Dragonblade
Adventurer
A few years ago I played a D&D campaign in Japan, with Japanese gamers. This was before 5e. Most D&D books were not available in Japanese. This was the biggest barrier to entry. The Japanese players I gamed with all spoke and read English so they used the English versions of the D&D books. We played in English even though I myself also speak Japanese and half of my family is Japanese.
They liked D&D but other than my game, it was easier for them to find other players when playing in Japanese and using Japanese gaming materials and books.
There were no cultural issues related to gaming using D&D vs. some other Japanese system like Sword World. It was simply a matter of practicality.
Related to that, they all LOVED Oriental Adventures, both the original AD&D and the 3e version. Seeing Asian fantasy and mythos reflected back through the perspectives of American writers was something they found endlessly fascinating. One reason I feel that Isekai and fantasy themed anime is so popular these days in the US is because the reverse is also true. All of my current gaming group loves anime like Goblin Slayer, Reincarnated as a Slime, Solo Levelling, etc. We all love seeing European themed D&D style fantasy reflected back through the perspective of Japanese or Korean writers.
They liked D&D but other than my game, it was easier for them to find other players when playing in Japanese and using Japanese gaming materials and books.
There were no cultural issues related to gaming using D&D vs. some other Japanese system like Sword World. It was simply a matter of practicality.
Related to that, they all LOVED Oriental Adventures, both the original AD&D and the 3e version. Seeing Asian fantasy and mythos reflected back through the perspectives of American writers was something they found endlessly fascinating. One reason I feel that Isekai and fantasy themed anime is so popular these days in the US is because the reverse is also true. All of my current gaming group loves anime like Goblin Slayer, Reincarnated as a Slime, Solo Levelling, etc. We all love seeing European themed D&D style fantasy reflected back through the perspective of Japanese or Korean writers.