"Tawada was alluding to the idea that Japanese appreciation of insects is one marker of Japanese cultural uniqueness... A major proponent of this Japanese "insect appreciation" argument was Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904), the Irish author celebrated as the Westerner who has perhaps come closest to grasping the unique "soul" of Japan."

This fits in to the Nihonjinron[1] literary genre of Japan, which explores Japan's alleged uniqueness. Hearn was leading light of the Nihonjinron genre. It also fits in with Japanese Nationalism[2] and Orientalism[3].

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonjinron

[2] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_nationalism

[3] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism