In the mid-1950s, Hollywood was discovering Japan as a source of new and intriguing tales of culture clash and interracial romance in films like JAPANESE WAR BRIDE, THREE STRIPES IN THE SUN, HOUSE OF BAMBOO, TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON and SAYONARA, as Japan and the U.S. worked together on overcoming wartime enmity and forging a new and powerful alliance. We didn't see a lot of this reflected in the animated cartoons coming out in those years, except for this one from Terrytoons, "A Yokohama Yankee" (1955). Set in Japan, it's a standard cartoon insect tale of a bullying spider trying to force himself on a delicate Japanese butterfly until an American fly, dressed as a sailor, intervenes, but it opens with a beautifully animated and designed sequence showing the butterfly preparing herself for her wedding in traditional garb with the help of an army of eager insect helpers, accompanied by a lovely song, sung by a female soloist, on the soundtrack. The song lyrics take dramatic license by placing Yokohama at the foot of "Fujiyama" (Mount Fuji), which is not at all close, geographically, but at least it rhymes. And there's something of a surprise locale at the end. To my eyes, at least, the characterizations took great care to avoid stereotyping. I found this on YouTube along with many additional Terrytoon shorts.
There was a series of later Terrytoons, made from 1959 to 1963, that were set in Japan and featured a mouse named Hashimoto. Many of them were directed by a Japanese-American director named Bob Kuwahara. There was a sincere attempt in these cartoons to offer a respectful portrayal of Japanese culture. These are definitely worth checking out also.
There was a series of later Terrytoons, made from 1959 to 1963, that were set in Japan and featured a mouse named Hashimoto. Many of them were directed by a Japanese-American director named Bob Kuwahara. There was a sincere attempt in these cartoons to offer a respectful portrayal of Japanese culture. These are definitely worth checking out also.