Anime, manga, and JRPGs don't seem to have any trouble with creating their own fantasy races based on their own mythology. I actually hate how ubiquitous Tolkien races are because of how watered-down they've become. It's one thing to create a setting that's thoughtfully derivative of Middle Earth, but there's so much cheap knockoff trash that's made Tolkien tropes odious, even before DEI elves.
Anime, manga, and JRPGs don't seem to have any trouble with creating their own fantasy races based on their own mythology. I actually hate how ubiquitous Tolkien races are because of how watered-down they've become. It's one thing to create a setting that's thoughtfully derivative of Middle Earth, but there's so much cheap knockoff trash that's made Tolkien tropes odious, even before DEI elves.