Foreigners have exotified Japan well before anime, I think your point about exceptionalism stands though and points to what I think is the real reason for it's popularity; To explain modern day infatuation, if I were to be a little shallow, I would say Japan is just the east-asian country that's most accessible to the west, since it's cultural shifts somewhat met the west in the middle after WWII.
It's still an exotic location and culture to a westerner, but it's safe and easy to engage with, and it's acceptable to enjoy it. It has no political tensions, it has no religious tensions (for travelers), it has a very agreeable set of social rules, and it's extremely safe to visit even if you go off the beaten path. It's like East-Asia Easy Mode for travelers.
Foreigners have exotified Japan well before anime, I think your point about exceptionalism stands though and points to what I think is the real reason for it's popularity; To explain modern day infatuation, if I were to be a little shallow, I would say Japan is just the east-asian country that's most accessible to the west, since it's cultural shifts somewhat met the west in the middle after WWII.
It's still an exotic location and culture to a westerner, but it's safe and easy to engage with, and it's acceptable to enjoy it. It has no political tensions, it has no religious tensions (for travelers), it has a very agreeable set of social rules, and it's extremely safe to visit even if you go off the beaten path. It's like East-Asia Easy Mode for travelers.