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129-439: " One Choice " is the ninth single by Japanese idol group Hinatazaka46 . It was released on April 19, 2023 through Sony Music Entertainment Japan and features the first appearance of Akari Nibu as the lead performer of a title song. It is the last single featuring Yūka Kageyama . On March 1, 2023, Hinatazaka46 announced on a YouTube live broadcast that their ninth single would be released on April 19. The title, "One Choice",

258-438: A closeness between idols and fans, some talent agencies offer meet-and-greets in the form of handshake events , where fans have the opportunity to shake hands, take a photograph, and speak briefly with the idols. AKB48 's business model created more opportunities for fan interactions with their "idols you can meet" concept. An example of this are their elections, where fans can vote for their favorite member, thereby including

387-567: A darker image than that of the idol scene norm. Beginning in the mid-to-late 2010s, the Japanese idol industry crossed over with K-pop with the third Korean wave in Japan, which was sparked partially from positive reception of the Japanese members of the South Korean group Twice . In the years that followed, several Japanese and South Korean companies collaborated to form K-pop influenced groups for

516-686: A demand for idols over the industry's growth. Work schedules for idols have been criticized for being excessive, as idols are expected to work even when sick. Miki Gonobe from Nikkan Sports noted that idols generally do not have a labor union and agencies see no need for one, as they view idol activities akin to extracurricular activities at school. She voiced concerns about young girls becoming idols at an early age, especially elementary school students. In addition, Sasetsu Takeda of GQ Japan criticized some idol managements for intentionally preventing their talents from taking time off, mentioning it "strange" that idols are only notified of their assignments

645-399: A desirable image of fantastical happiness. They must maintain a perfect public image and always try to set a good example to young people. Idols aim to play a wide range of roles as media personalities ( tarento ), e.g. pop or J-pop singers, panelists of variety programs, bit-part actors, models for magazines and advertisements. Alternative media idols include the emerging net idol ,

774-476: A form of idol in which growing ones popularity on the internet is its base foundation. Many net idol groups create a large standing online before transferring their career towards the professional Music Industry . Momoiro Clover Z was ranked as the number one female idol group in 2013–2017 surveys. During 2016, about 636 thousand people attended their live concerts, which was the highest record of all female musicians in Japan. The group has been ranked as

903-533: A girl power type movement that has been commodified to sell the image of young girls alongside pop culture and the goods they might be interested in. Shōjo can be seen as Japan's version of "the girl next door" with the cute and innocent aspects of kawaii . It has been associated with fancy goods (frilly and feminine type goods marketed toward young females), character goods ( Sanrio , San-X , Studio Ghibli , anime/manga merchandise, etc. marketed to both males and females), entire fashion movements, and idols. As long as

1032-472: A global consumer base, such as Iz*One , JO1 , and NiziU . Passionate male fans of idols are colloquially referred to as wota ( ヲタ ) , derived from the word " otaku ." Beginning in the 1980s, they formed cheering groups known as bodyguards ( 親衛隊 , shin'eitai ) to support idols at concerts and public appearances. During these events, the wota perform wotagei , an organized sequence of fan chants and dancing to show appreciation for

1161-410: A greater cause. However, the first cinematic blockbuster of the postwar era was Gojira which, did not share the same support as other films. For Japan, this film represented a return to popular entertainment that catered to the move towards technology. Gojira showed the destruction of Tokyo and the atomic bomb that victimized Japan during the war in order to gain opposition towards the war. Japanese cinema

1290-454: A group are often given a farewell concert known as "graduations" ( 卒業式 , sotsugyō-shiki ) . The term originated from the idol group Onyanko Club , as the group's youthful concept drew similarities to an after-school club, and the fact that Miharu Nakajima 's final single before retirement was released around graduation season in Japan. Prior to the 1980s, the terms "retirement" and "disbandment" were used. "Graduation" saw usage again in

1419-402: A message that markets and packages Japan as a nation of commerce and "pop culture diplomacy" as opposed to a militarily focused and driven country. Japan's actions during World War II made it necessary for the nation to rebuild their national image; moving away from a national image of military dominance and into an image of cultural diplomacy. Initiated by the Japanese government, the creation of

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1548-411: A mix of video game livestreaming , entertainment, and music. The idol system has been criticized for its strict rules, intense work schedules, and offering idols little control over their personal lives. The system has been likened to salarymen in Japan who are unable to disobey their employers. Labor rights activist Shohei Sakagura stated that idols get very little revenue and are ill-prepared for

1677-413: A mixture of current and traditional trends . Such clothes are generally home-made with the use of material purchased at stores. At present, there are many styles of dress in Japan, created from a mix of both local and foreign labels. Some of these styles are extreme and avant-garde , similar to the haute couture seen on European catwalks . Though the styles have changed over the years, street fashion

1806-523: A model for other pop idol industries, such as K-pop . Sub-categories of idols include gravure idols , junior idols , net idols , idol voice actors , virtual idols , AV idols , alternative idols , underground idols, Akiba-kei idols, local idols, bandols, and Japanese- South Korean idols . An idol is a type of entertainer whose image is manufactured to cultivate a dedicated consumer fan following. Talent agencies commercialize idols by recruiting preteens and teenagers with little or no experience in

1935-493: A more instructive viewpoint, rather than a comedic style. Manga are more significant, culturally, than Western comic books (though many fill the same role). Originally, manga were printed in daily newspapers; in the Second World War, newsprint rationing caused a down-surge in manga popularity. In the post-war 1950s, they made a resurgence in the form of "picture card shows" , which were a style of storytelling supplemented by

2064-499: A new winner; for example, 2011's champion was Kumamon (the Mon Bear) of Kumamoto prefecture, pulling in more than 2.5 billion yen in merchandise sales across the nation that year. Purikura , a Japanese shorthand for "print club", are Japanese digital photo sticker booths. It has roots in Japanese kawaii culture, which involves an obsession with beautifying self-representation in photographic forms, particularly among females. By

2193-418: A product of their popularity and reception they dominate sectors of the industry and what consumers expect from certain genres of game and how new games are received by players and critics. The Japanese game development engine RPG Maker has also gained popularity, with hundreds of games being created with it and released on Steam by the late 2010s. Video games in Japan have expanded in number of ways since

2322-487: A product or person has "cute" elements, it can be seen as kawaii . In 2008, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved away from just using traditional cultural aspects to promote their country and started using things like anime and Kawaii Ambassadors as well. The purpose of the Kawaii Ambassadors is to spread Japanese pop culture through their cute personas, using mostly fashion and music. This can also happen at

2451-538: A rehaul in Seiko Matsuda 's public image. Namie Amuro , who gained fame as the lead singer of Super Monkey's , found popularity among young girls who emulated her appearance. At the same time, Speed also found a fan following. However, neither Amuro nor Speed referred to themselves under the idol label. While idols appeared less in mainstream media, the popularity of Onyanko Club from the 1980s led to an increase of idol groups with large numbers of members debuting in

2580-699: A sense of humanity between them. An example would be the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department mascot known as Pipo-kun, which is an orange-skinned, elfin creature with rabbit ears that are made to listen to the people and an antenna to stay in tune with what is happening. The use of Kawaii in public relations has been a large factor for many and will continue to be used by those who want to have an optimistic view of them. One type of mascot in Japan noted for their 'Kawaii-ness' are advertising characters known as ' yuru-kiyara ' (mascots representing their respective prefectures). Each year Japan celebrates

2709-407: A shocking twist or conflict that causes conflicting endings. However, in Japan, a television drama or " terebi dorama " (テレビドラマ) is commonly thought of as a "Television Show" which can include drama, romance, and or comedy. The kaiju film genre, which features giant monsters such as Godzilla , Gamera , and Ultraman , has become one of Japan's most prevalent film genres since the 1950s, around

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2838-652: A significant influence on global popular culture. Examples include the Ultraman franchise, the Super Sentai franchise which was localised as Power Rangers in the Western world, and the Metal Hero franchise where some shows were localised as VR Troopers and Big Bad Beetleborgs in the West. In the western world, dramas are known to be pieces of literature or plays that have

2967-523: A specific concept appealing to certain audiences. The popularity of young female singers can be traced back to Sayuri Yoshinaga in the 1960s, as well as the Takarazuka Revue and theater shows from the Meiji era . In 1962, Johnny Kitagawa founded Johnny & Associates and created the group Johnnys , which is retroactively considered the first idol group in Japan. He is also credited with pioneering

3096-410: A specific concept appealing to different audiences. To celebrate the diversity of idols, AKB48, Shoko Nakagawa , and Leah Dizon performed a medley called "Special Medley: Latest Japan Proud Culture" at the 58th Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2007, introduced as " Akiba-kei idols" with each act described as a different sub-genre of idols. The idol industry experienced a rapid growth in the beginning of

3225-440: A story. Unlike western cartoons, anime can be distinguished by its detail in character design, large array of facial expressions, in-depth character development, wide target audience and rare use of talking animals. These traits are used in order to better the connection between a viewer and the characters. Most of the time, anime is based on animated comics called manga , which is an ancient form of comic writing which dates back to

3354-495: A way of having a long-term relationship without the prospect of supporting a family or dealing with awkwardness outside of a controlled environment. The idol fan culture idealizes the idea of moe , where vulnerability is seen as an attractive trait. Using idols from Johnny & Associates as an example, male idols appeal to female fans by representing a pseudo-romantic ideal for them. However, there are some female fans, particularly in Japan, who prefer to put themselves in

3483-512: A year. Beginning in the 1980s, companies would compete to secure contracts for idols in dramas, which led to the current four-season television cour in Japan. Variety, talk, and music shows also became popular, in part for featuring idols as guests or the stars of the show. The idol industry has crossed over to anime and video games. Using a media mix strategy, various multimedia projects have used fictional idols to market Japanese pop culture and anison music. The series Creamy Mami,

3612-483: Is a biannual fair dedicated to doujinshi in Tokyo called Comiket . Video gaming is a major industry all across the world, so much so that in 2012, global revenues were an estimated $ 67 billion for console and portable hardware and software, as well as games for mobile devices (e.g., tablets and smartphones). The presence and popularity of gaming in daily life in Japan in particular has been present for quite some time, with

3741-445: Is a music genre originating from Japan. It emerged in the 1950s, blending traditional Japanese music with elements of Western pop. J-Pop has evolved significantly since its inception, adapting to various cultural and technological changes. Development J-Pop's development was significantly influenced by the digitalization of global media, which expanded its reach and introduced new forms of musical innovation. The genre has undergone

3870-477: Is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese pop culture . Idols are primarily singers with training in other performance skills such as acting, dancing, and modeling. Idols are commercialized through merchandise and endorsements by talent agencies , while maintaining a parasocial relationship with a financially loyal consumer fan base. Japan's idol industry first emerged in

3999-654: Is because of how they cater to social needs special to Japan. Because people in Japan spend time traveling on public transport so often and mobile games have extremely high portability as a result of being played on phones and other devices and have extremely low entrance costs (usually they are free to download) that download them so there is something to do while on the train is an obvious conclusion. In addition, they can also serve to promote interpersonal interaction and act as an activity that can be performed with friends, or to even introduce oneself and acquire new friends, which again thanks to their low cost can allow them to lower

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4128-565: Is connected to a colour video camera and colour printer, and which allows the manipulation of digital images . It involves users posing in front of a camera within the compact booth, having their images taken, and then printing the photos with various effects designed to look kawaii. It presents a series of choices, such as desired backdrops, borders, insertable decorations, icons, text writing options, hair extensions, twinkling diamond tiaras, tenderized light effects, and predesigned decorative margins. These photographic filters were similar to

4257-443: Is still prominent in Japan today. Young adults can often be found wearing subculture attire in large urban fashion districts such as Harajuku , Ginza , Odaiba , Shinjuku and Shibuya . Geinōkai (Japanese:芸能界), meaning "entertainment world" or "the world of show business", encompasses a wide variety of Japanese entertainment from movies and television (including talk shows, music shows, variety shows , etc.) to radio and now

4386-533: Is their relationship with fans, and they are marketed intentionally by talent agencies to have a high emotional connection with their consumer fan base. Fans are built as active supporters into the narrative of the idol's journey to become a professional entertainer, viewing them as siblings, daughters/sons, or girl/boy next door types due to how easily they can relate to the public. One documented example are fans of female idols, typically consisting of men from 30 to 40 years of age, who seek interactions with them as

4515-649: The Golden Bear award in 2002 and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003). For these works, the studio's current president Hayao Miyazaki is often credited as a visionary in animation. The success of the Pokémon franchise has been credited by people such as Nissim Otmazgin and sociologist Anne Alison as popularizing anime in the United States. The anime market has also been described as owing greatly to

4644-637: The Internet . Geinōjin is a term, often used interchangeably with tarento (タレント), which refers to members of the Geinōkai . Talent refers to a rather large group of people who appear on television from night to night, but cannot be quite classified as actors, singers, or models, or comedians (and are thus given the more vague appellation of "talent" instead). Talents usually appear on variety shows or talk shows and may later move into acting or singing if they are successful. The demand for television had changed by

4773-493: The Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. In the late 2000s, Vocaloid software Hatsune Miku was received positively among amateur music producers, who used her as an avatar to perform their compositions, influencing Akiba-kei music. In the early 2010s, idol-themed multimedia projects, such as Love Live! , The Idolmaster , and Uta no Prince-sama , became popular. Professor Marc Steinberg suggested that

4902-545: The Snapchat filters that later appeared in the 2010s. Purikura became a popular form of entertainment among youths in Japan, and then across East Asia , in the 1990s. Japanese popular culture is highly surrounded by idealized celebrities who appear on many different forms of mass media. One type of popular celebrity is an Idol . These idols are mostly girls portrayed for their "cuteness" and "innocence"; they are mostly intended to be role models that everyone adores and to promote

5031-411: The "soft power" image emerged, and Japan began to sell its pop culture as its new non-military image in order to promote its own culture and reestablish a healthy and peaceful diplomacy with other nations. Otaku (Japanese: おたくor オタク) is a Japanese term that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers . The otaku subculture has continuely grown with

5160-636: The 10th century; scrolls from that period depict animals as part of the 'upper class', behaving as a typical human would in similar situations. Such scrolls would go on to be known as the Chōjū giga or "The Animal Scrolls". Scrolls found later on in the 12th century would depict images of religion such as the Gaki Zoshi (Hungry Ghost Scrolls) and the Jigoku Zoshi (Hell Scrolls). While both dealt with various aspects of religion, unlike "The Animal Scrolls", these provided

5289-452: The 12th century. The world of animated films in Japanese popular culture has been a growing trend since the 1920s. Influenced by Walt Disney and his animated characters, Osamu Tezuka (1925–1989), also known as "manga no kamisama" (which means, "God of Comics") would begin his forty-year evolution of animation, or anime, that would change the content of Japanese comic books. With the creation of his first animated character Astro Boy that

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5418-500: The 1960s and became prominent in the 1970s and 1980s due to television. During the 1980s, regarded as the "Golden Age of Idols", idols drew in commercial interest and began appearing in commercials and television dramas. As more niche markets began to appear in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it led to a significant growth in the industry known as the "Idol Warring Period." Today, over 10,000 teenage girls in Japan are idols, with over 3,000 groups active. Japan's idol industry has been used as

5547-710: The 1980s to be known as the "Golden Age of Idols", in part due to Japan's economic bubble and growing commercial interest in them. Several figures who defined the Golden Age of Idols are Seiko Matsuda , Akina Nakamori , Kyōko Koizumi , and Onyanko Club . Television programs in which idols appeared often enjoyed high viewer ratings. Dentsu also created the "CM idol" business model , where idols were able to gain fame by singing and appearing in commercials. Onyanko Club, in particular, shifted public perception of idols from professional stars to ordinary schoolgirls who would gain experience throughout their career. They were also

5676-409: The 1980s, uses idols' public image as a marketing asset. As the career of idols are dependent on their image, contracting offices create their image based upon trends in the market and with the intent of generating as much revenue as possible. Along with promoting products, commercials are also a cross-platform to promote idols at the same time by keeping both brand and idol product in the forefront of

5805-454: The 1990s during the revival of idol groups when Tsunku , who produced the group Morning Musume , used the term as a euphemism regarding one of the members leaving the group. An idol having a "graduation" ceremony is seen more favorably than terminating a contract or voluntarily withdrawing, as the latter two terms are negatively connoted with scandals. The diversity of Japan's idol industry has created several sub-category markets, each with

5934-490: The 1990s, performing under independent record labels. These idols became known as underground idols. Because of the lack of publicity over idols on television, many turned to the Internet. Johnny & Associates observed the popularity of former Shibugakitai member Hirohide Yakumaru's success as an MC on variety shows, which prompted them to develop and market their current acts with distinct public personalities. Groups from

6063-451: The 1990s, self-photography developed into a major preoccupation among Japanese schoolgirls, who took photos with friends and exchanged copies that could be pasted into kawaii albums. Purikura originate from the Japanese video game arcade industry . It was conceived in 1994 by Sasaki Miho, inspired by the popularity of girl photo culture and photo stickers in 1990s Japan . She worked for a Japanese game company, Atlus , where she suggested

6192-465: The 2010s, and the media coined the nickname "Idol Warring Period" ( アイドル戦国時代 , Aidoru Sengoku Jidai ) to describe the phenomenon. Lawyer Kunitaka Kasai cited the Internet as a reason for the rapid growth of idols, as anyone can upload videos onto websites, and AKB48's business model encouraged this even further through creating more opportunities for fan interactivity. The 2013 television drama Amachan also inspired more idol groups to appear,

6321-484: The Disney convention of a happy ending. He further states that anime was a tool in which Japan could gain popularity with their pop culture and give Americans a taste of something unique and interesting in the media. The growing international popularity of anime has led to various animation studios from other countries making their own anime-influenced works . As anime has grown in its variety of viewers, genres, and themes,

6450-461: The Magic Angel was the first notable anime series to use a media mix marketing strategy, where Takako Ōta would provide the voice to the main character and portray her at music events; the series was used as a vehicle to launch her singing career. The first fictional idol to cross over to mainstream media is Lynn Minmay from Macross , whose 1984 single, " Ai Oboete Imasu ka ", charted at #7 on

6579-446: The NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) home gaming console. Nintendo was not the first, Atari released a console earlier in 1977, but because of the video game crash from 1983 to '85, it lost precedence and in that vacuum Nintendo superseded other companies and gained massive influence over the industry. This was a noted development in games history and culture in Japan because, now that there

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6708-456: The PlayStation 2 becoming the most popular and widely sold system in the world, Japanese companies like these have still maintained dominance and popularity in the industry for various reasons, shifting the paradigm from being 'west' dominated to being Japan dominated. Due to this domination of the market and Japanese attitudes towards technology and culture, Japan became the cultural exporter of

6837-408: The availability of having home television sets gave audiences greater accessibility of seeing idols at any time compared to going to theaters. Momoe Yamaguchi , Junko Sakurada , Saori Minami , and Mari Amachi , some of the idols recruited through television, were some of the more popular figures of this era, along with groups such as Candies and Pink Lady . Saori Minami, who debuted in 1971,

6966-466: The barrier and anxiety of social interaction, partially alleviating loneliness which is a big social problem that is affecting a lot of the culture and media in Japan. This is why some have argued in their research that because social participation is becoming more online in nature, games like mobile games that are able to facilitate these interactions and relationships are becoming more important and popular as time goes on. J-Pop J-Pop (Japanese pop)

7095-791: The center position in the group's choreography and thus receives the most focus. Another example is the leader, usually relegated to the oldest or most experienced member in the group, who acts as an intermediary for the members and the staff. Idols are seen as role models to the public, and their personal lives and image can sometimes be tightly controlled by their talent agencies. Common restrictions include not being allowed to smoke or drink in public, or pursue romantic relationships. Idols generally perform in elaborate costumes for specific performances. Costumes are created for each song in their promotion cycle, as well as graduation events, and some groups have their own in-house costume designer. AKB48 , in particular, has had over 1,102 costumes created for

7224-441: The company began gaining more attention, drawing in fans from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and their marketing success led to many other idols doing the same. In the mid-1990s, there was an increase in young idols in the elementary school age, which the media described as the "Chidol (child idol) Boom." The term "chidol" was coined by journalist Akio Nakamori in the magazine Weekly Spa! In the 2000s, "chidol" saw fewer usage, and it

7353-459: The consumers' minds. Pitches for commercials are often made with a specific idol who matches the company's image in mind. Idols contracted to particular brands are expected to uphold the brand's image and may not work for competing brands or networks; the agreement extends to magazine advertisements, online videos, and appearances in dramas. Idols may also provide the music or jingle for commercials. The idol industry makes approximately $ 1 billion

7482-411: The course of their careers and with support from their fans. Despite being trained in multiple roles in entertainment, idols in Japan are not expected to meet the high standards of performances that professionals in their fields do. Because of their manufactured image, idols are generally not regarded as authentic artists. Likewise, many young Japanese artists pursuing careers in acting or music reject

7611-409: The crucial role of fans as cultural agents, the deterritorializing effects of globalization, the domestication and heavy editing of anime to suit local tastes, and being part of the wider global flow of Japanese pop culture and "soft power". Otmazgin argues that the rise of anime in the United States is a result of the sophisticated graphic quality, a wide thematic diversity, and an inclination to reject

7740-440: The cute kawaii culture is openly visible throughout Japanese society both visually in manga, fashion, and stuffed animals and internally in situations such as the relationship between idols and their fans. Japan began to emulate Western fashion during the middle of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 21st century, this emulation has formed street fashion , a fashion style in which the wearer customizes outfits by adopting

7869-490: The earliest examples of this being well known game titles like Pac-Man first appearing in arcades. The beginning of the growth of Japanese game development is often identified with the golden age of video games , a period that is often accredited with saving the industry from what could have been its downfall. This time brought about many highly prominent developer studios in Japan, some of the first include Nintendo under Shigeru Miyamoto and Hiroshi Yamauchi , Sega during

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7998-530: The early 2000s. When AKB48 debuted in 2006, the group used a school concept and the members have performed in various stylized costumes based on school uniforms. Since then, other groups have used stylized school uniforms as costumes, such as AKB48's sister groups, Sakura Gakuin , and Sakurazaka46 , with some modifications to suit the groups' image and choreography. In 2017, Nihon Tarento Meikan noted that stylized school uniforms being used as costumes gained popularity through AKB48 due to their unique designs,

8127-407: The early 2010s, the diversification of the idol industry led to several acts mixing pop music with other musical genres such as alternative rock and heavy metal ; this was pioneered by Bis and Seiko Oomori and was given the sub-category " alternative idol " by English-speaking publications. They have also been known for utilising shock value to gain public and media attention and making use of

8256-428: The entertainment industry, and market them as aspiring stars. Idols are marketed for their image, attractiveness, and personalities. An idol's main objective is to "sell dreams", offering fans a form of escapism from the troubles of daily life. Idols are predominantly singers, but are also often trained in acting, dancing, and modeling. This style of recruiting and training was pioneered by Johnny Kitagawa ,

8385-410: The expansion of the Internet and media, as more anime, video games, shows, and comics were created and an increasing number of people now identify themselves as otaku, both in Japan and elsewhere. The Japanese adjective kawaii can be translated as "cute" or "adorable" and is the drive behind one of Japan's most popular aesthetic cultures. Kawaii culture has its ties to another culture called shōjo,

8514-486: The fans directly into the members' individual success. Because idols share an intimate relationship with their fans, fans may feel "betrayed" if idols reveal unfavorable parts of their personal lives that are different from the image they present, or break the illusion that they are there exclusively for fans. Idols often appear in advertising, with 50–70% of commercials in Japan featuring an idol. The "CM idol" business model, conceptualized by advertising agency Dentsu in

8643-415: The film industry progressed from targeting adult audiences to targeting children. Since the 1990's, when the Japanese economy suffered a prolonged recession , narratives of psychosocial angst have manifested widely in Japanese popular culture. Cool Japan (クールジャパン Kūru Japan ) refers to the rise of Japan's soft power and prevalence internationally as a cultural influence. These cultural elements project

8772-435: The film industry when many theaters started installing various arcade cabinets in their lobbies. These also were exported to other countries such as the United States, becoming similar cultural focal points in those regions as well and inspiring the creation of new companies and developers who would be dedicated to making games to try and claim part of this new market. Later in the 1980s, specifically in 1985, Nintendo released

8901-402: The film sold more than a million copies in Japan. Vartan was heralded for her youthful, adorable looks and musical talent, leading the Japanese entertainment industry to assign the word "idol" to singers who shared a similar aesthetic. Television greatly impacted the popularity of the idol phenomenon, as beginning in the 1970s, many idols were recruited through audition programs. In addition,

9030-442: The first group to introduce a "graduation system", where older members would eventually leave the group while newer inexperienced members would join, with the system being named such as the group drew similarities to a school club. Onyanko Club also led to idols becoming closely associated with television due to the popularity of their variety show, as the visual component became important to the overall enjoyment of their music. At

9159-536: The founder of Johnny & Associates , and has since been used in other pop idol industries such as Korean idols in K-pop . Idols often spend time isolated from family and friends while enduring busy work schedules, with some agencies withholding job assignments from their talents and notifying them of work on short notice to prevent them from taking time off. Some talent agencies do not rigorously train their idols and market them as amateurs who will gain experience over

9288-558: The fourth generation members' introduction concert, or "hospitality party", on February 11–12, 2023, as well as behind-the-scene footages from the concert. The music video for "Koi wa Nigeashi ga Hayai", performed by the first to third generation members, features several scenes of members in the present composited with footage of them from the early days of the group, then known as Hiragana Keyakizaka46. The dance scenes were also filmed at Yokohama Stadium. Each generation of members also performs one B-side song. "Ai wa Kocchi no Mono da"

9417-450: The greatest films ever made . Other noteworthy directors in this era of Japanese cinema include Yasujirō Ozu , Masaki Kobayashi , Kenji Mizoguchi , Kon Ichikawa , Keisuke Kinoshita and Ishirō Honda . The following Japanese film genres have had a significant influence on global popular culture: Anime (Japanese: アニメ) is a movie or television episode of sorts which utilizes animation as an art style iconic to Japan in order to convey

9546-641: The group since 2017. The outfits worn by female idols are generally described as "cute", while outfits worn by male idols are described as "cool." Among many idol groups, school uniforms have been used as a standard costume. The integration of school uniforms in the idol industry originated from Onyanko Club , who debuted in 1985 with a concept based on school. Following their disbandment in 1987, other groups began adopting school uniforms as costumes, such as CoCo and Ribbon , two groups put together by Fuji TV 's audition programs, followed by Seifuku Kōjō Iinkai  [ ja ] in 1992 and Morning Musume in

9675-559: The group's dating ban to similar dating bans for baseball teams competing at the Kōshien , where dating is seen as a distraction from preparing for tournaments. On the other hand, critics have suggested a dating ban is implemented in order to sell a fantasy of idols being accessible to their fans and disagreed with them for being inhumane. The Japan Times noted that aside from talent agencies, idol fan culture has contributed to this, especially with male fans of female idols; male fans buy into

9804-824: The group's streak of topping the chart since its first single, " Kyun ". Real Sound comments that "One Choice" is a modern pop song with a "poignant yet cheerful" melody which makes full use of live instruments, with lyrics that encourages one to "find their own desire" in a society with vast amounts of information and intermingling different values. It also positively comments on "Koi wa Nigeashi ga Hayai" with its upbeat composition reminiscent of house music . All lyrics written by Yasushi Akimoto . Center: Akari Nibu Center: Akari Nibu Two Center: Ayaka Takamoto, Mei Higashimura Center: Hina Kawata Center: Haruyo Yamaguchi Center: Yōko Shōgenji Center: Yūka Kageyama Shipments figures based on certification alone. Japanese idol An idol ( アイドル , aidoru )

9933-463: The group, and Nagata filed a counter lawsuit for libel and resigned several days later. On February 10, 2020, the Tokyo District Court dismissed his claims and ordered him to pay ¥1.1 million to the woman in damages. Most idols are not allowed to form romantic relationships or must obtain permission from their agencies to get married. Yasushi Akimoto , the producer of AKB48 , likened

10062-548: The idea of " moe ", which fetishizes weakness and submissiveness while asserting "complete control" over the girls' sexual independence. Several idols who were confirmed to have been dismissed, suspended, demoted, or forced to leave their groups following reports of them dating or having sexual relations include Mari Yaguchi , Ai Kago , Aya Hirano , Rino Sashihara , and Minami Minegishi . Minegishi, in particular, caught international media attention after her apology video went viral, causing international criticism over

10191-616: The idea, but it was initially rejected by her male bosses. Atlus eventually decided to pursue Miho's idea, and developed it with the help of a leading Japanese video game company, Sega , which later became the owner of Atlus. Sega and Atlus introduced the Print Club (Purinto Kurabu), the first purikura, in February 1995, initially at game arcades , before expanding to other popular culture locations such as fast food shops, train stations, karaoke establishments and bowling alleys. The success of

10320-410: The idol label in their bid to be seen as professionals. Music from idol singers is generally categorized under J-pop , though talent agencies may label them under the sub-genre "idol pop" for further distinction. Many idol singers find success as groups rather than individually. Within each idol group, the members are sometimes given distinct roles. One example of a role is the center, who occupies

10449-480: The idol system commodifying youth, the industry is criticized for putting minors at risk, most particularly junior idols , who are aged 15 years and younger. Idol swimsuit photo books are often sold in the same sections as pornographic titles. In 1999, Japan banned production and distribution of sexually explicit depictions of minors, which outlawed photo books depicting nude junior idols. Multiple junior idol distributors closed after possession of child pornography

10578-615: The idol trainee system, where talents would be accepted in the agency at a young age and train not only in singing, but also dancing and acting, until they were ready for debut. However, the concept of an idol was not defined by mainstream Japanese media until in November 1964, when the 1963 French film Cherchez l'idole was released in Japan under the title Aidoru o Sagase ( アイドルを探せ ) . Many Japanese audiences took interest in Sylvie Vartan , whose song " La plus belle pour aller danser " from

10707-581: The idols' accessibility may cause fans to be unable to distinguish between fantasy and real life. Talent agencies have also been criticized over offering inadequate protection towards idols after several incidents of violent attacks on female idols such as the saw attack on Anna Iriyama and Rina Kawaei , the stabbing of Mayu Tomita , and the assault of Maho Yamaguchi . Idols are often sexualized, especially female idols, some of whom also work as gravure idols and have suggestive swimsuit photo shoots that are published in magazines targeted towards adults. With

10836-476: The idols. Fan chants where an idol's name is called after each bar is sung was popularized by Mari Amachi 's fans in the 1970s. Because mainstream Japanese media exercises self-censorship over taboo, controversial subjects, fans are influential in circulating under-reported news through social media. Idol fan culture has introduced several slang terms into the Japanese public, including: A notable trait of idols that sets them apart from typical celebrities

10965-469: The industry has become more prevalent in society. In modern Japan, anime has become so popular that memorable characters have frequently been made into byproducts such as figurines and video games. The word manga, when translated directly, means "whimsical drawings". Manga are not typically ' comic books ' as the West understands them; rather, they represent pieces of Japanese culture and history. The 'manga' style has an extensive history, beginning sometime in

11094-543: The local level as seen by the mayor of Shibuya designating Kyary Pamyu Pamyu as the " Kawaii Ambassador of Harajuku ", famously known as a hub of Japanese fashion, clothing stores, and youth culture. Kawaii in Japan has been a growing trend for many Japanese markets; they have been used in a range of spaces ranging from schools all the way to large enterprises. The use of cute, childish figures representing certain groups allows for those potentially frightened by them to have these playful mascots that represent them to create

11223-627: The majority of them being "local idols" who performed in specific rural communities. Several independent idol groups also crossed over into mainstream, such as Dempagumi.inc , Dorothy Little Happy , and Rev. from DVL , the latter of which gained mainstream popularity after a photo of then-member Kanna Hashimoto went viral. Since 2010, the biggest idol concert festival, Tokyo Idol Festival , has taken place. More than 200 idol groups and about 1500 idols performed, attracting more than 80,000 spectators in 2017. During 2014, about 486,000 people attended AKB48 and Momoiro Clover Z 's live concerts, which

11352-419: The management of her group, AKB48, as well as the Japanese idol industry. A talent agency filed a lawsuit against a 17-year-old former idol singer for accepting an invitation to a hotel room from two male fans, which had caused her group to disband within the first 3 months of their debut. In September 2015, Judge Akitomo Kojima, along with the Tokyo District Court , ruled in favor of the talent agency and fined

11481-562: The mid-1980s and the commonly viewed dramas such as family-oriented, historical, or mystery declined in popularity. These changes in demand were seen in national television throughout the world. Japan countered this decrease in demand by bringing in new celebrities known as " tarento " (タレント). These tarento celebrities are individuals whose influence stretches over different forms of entertainment such as contestants or hosts in game shows, commercials, or television dramas. Japanese tokusatsu superhero shows (also known as sentai shows) have had

11610-549: The most influential special effects directors of all time, having co-created the Godzilla franchise as well as Ultraman . Japanese cinema also gained international recognition in 1950 with the release of Rashomon , which remains one of the most well-known Japanese films. The film's director, Akira Kurosawa is one of the world's most acclaimed and influential film directors. Several of his subsequent films, such as Seven Samurai (1954) and Ran (1985), are considered among

11739-453: The most popular female idol group from 2013 to 2017. The interactions between the Idols and their fans range from live video streaming, concerts, and handshake events. Because of their promotion as Idols, these celebrities appeal to many different demographics throughout Japan. The emotional attraction to cuteness, including the cuteness these idols have, is seen all over the world. However,

11868-483: The night before. He also condemned the idol industry for not providing talents access to better mental health resources, as idols are often suspended or dismissed for publicly showing they are stressed out of concern that they may cause fans to feel worried or upset. In March 2018, Ehime Girls member Honoka Omoto died by suicide, with her family launching a lawsuit against her talent agency in October 2018. Allegedly, Omoto

11997-424: The only brands selling video games and, because they were one of the only developers, the globalization of Japanese media and games allowed Japanese industries and by extension culture to shape and control the industries development. While Nintendo since then has not been the penultimate dominating force in the industry, with contenders like Sony pulling ahead after the release of the PlayStation system and especially

12126-402: The original Sega-Atlus machine led to other Japanese arcade game companies producing their own purikura, including SNK 's Neo Print in 1996 and Konami 's Puri Puri Campus (Print Print Campus) in 1997. Purikura produced what would later be called selfies . A purikura is essentially a cross between a traditional license/passport photo booth and an arcade video game , with a computer that

12255-473: The people of foreign countries. With the popularity of television emerging in Asian countries, they produced a show that was supposed to demonstrate the actual lives of Japanese people. Before the popular television show Oshin aired in Asian countries, Japanese people were perceived as 'culturally odorless.' With this new TV drama, a sense of commonality began to form between Japan and other Asian nations. This show

12384-453: The popularity of idol-related media mix projects may stem from the managerial aspect found in life simulation games, with The Idolmaster being the first notable idol franchise to include this. These franchises set the fans in the active contributing role of the "producer" and regularly involved interactivity, as input made by the players were crucial to the idols' success. The growth of idol-related media mix projects in anime and video games

12513-407: The public after retirement. In public, idols took steps to play a distinct character and uphold an illusion of perfection, such as maintaining a virginal image. Other examples include being told not to use restrooms in public and answering interview questions about their favorite food with feminine-sounding answers such as "strawberries" and "shortcake." The influence idols had on television led

12642-634: The public became disillusioned with the idol system. By the 1990s, public interest in idols began to wane, as audiences lost interest in singing and audition programs, particularly due to a shift in attitudes caused by Japan's economic collapse . The media coined the term "Idol Winter Period" ( アイドル冬の時代 , Aidoru Fuyu no Jidai ) to describe the stagnation of the idol industry beginning in 1990. More young people yielded aspirations to be defined as an artist instead of an idol. During this decline, public perception of idols again shifted from inexperienced amateurs to strong, independent women, in part due to

12771-421: The public. Independently managed idol groups offer even less protection, with idols given ambiguously worded contracts that keep them in their companies for years, while offering almost no pay and compensation for transportation and costuming fees. Lawyer Kunitaka Kasai stated management may be poor, especially among independent idol groups, because they were established by people with a lack of experience to fill

12900-819: The re-emerging attraction after encountering a past love interest with the rediscovery of the titular ancient fish . "Tomo Yo, Ichibanboshi da" was also performed by the first to third generation members with Yūka Kageyama as the center. The music video was primarily recorded at the Kashima Soccer Stadium in Ibaraki Prefecture and is themed around Kageyama's specialty of soccer , with lyrics about friends bidding farewell to each other as they set out to pursue different goals. "One Choice" sold 473 thousand copies in its first week according to Oricon (538 thousand copies according to Billboard Japan ) and placed first on that week's Oricon Singles Chart , continuing

13029-558: The role of an external observer. For them, the absence of other women is a way of watching the male idols interact with one another and imagining their interactions to be similar to yaoi . Fans spend money on merchandise and endorsed products to directly support their favorites, comparing it to spending money on "loved ones"; some express feeling happy that they were able to make someone they admired happy. Dedicated fans may give up their careers and devote their life savings to supporting and following their favorite members. To foster

13158-547: The same time period, and other companies such as Taito , Capcom , and Square Enix . Video games when they first appeared in Japan were during the Arcade Era, which centers on the 1970-1980's. Lists of the most popular and well known arcade games include, but are not limited to, Defender and Galaga , Pac-Man , Frogger , Q*bert , Street Fighter, Donkey Kong , Mario , and many others . Many of these became popular enough that they influenced other industries, such as

13287-465: The same time that science fiction films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and The Blob (1958), were booming in the United States. kaiju is a subgenre of tokusatsu , a genre that encompasses all Japanese films using practical special effects, except for films using only computer-generated imagery (CGI) . Tokusatsu is credited to Eiji Tsuburaya , who is regarded as one of

13416-482: The same time, male idols gained popularity, with acts from Johnny & Associates normalizing idols singing and dancing at the same time. However, fewer male idol acts from other companies achieved the same success as Johnny's idols due to the company's CEO, Johnny Kitagawa, controlling the media and pressuring certain programs not to invite male idols from competing agencies, as he would continue to until his death in 2019. Around 1985, idols soon became unpopular after

13545-427: The school children. The toy industry is just one of the industries that ultimately influenced pop culture during this era. Prior to World War II Japanese cinema produced films that supported the war efforts and encouraged Japanese citizens to fight for their country. The movie industry produced inspirational patriotic tales that portrayed Japanese militia as victors, heroes, and people who sacrificed themselves for

13674-419: The short skirts, and the neatness of the uniform. The uniforms found popularity with men, as they represent their "eternal longing" and nostalgia for high school, while only gaining popularity with women in the 2010s through anime. Idols are typically expected to change careers after aging out of the industry, with female idols typically changing careers at age 25 and male idols at ages 30–45. Idols who leave

13803-508: The single would be her last one with the group, was assigned to the front row of the choreography for the first time in a title song. The single was released in five versions: Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, Type-D, and a regular edition. The bonus Blu-ray of Type-A and Type-B contain parts of the "Happy Smile Tour 2022" concert at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium on November 12–13, 2022, while those of Type-C and Type-D contain parts of

13932-515: The sports genre in anime due to a similar competitive nature and team-building the characters face, as well as being linked to the Odagiri effect for featuring attractive people of the same gender interacting with each other. The idol fan culture is heavily tied to anime and manga , and most fans of anime are also fans of idols. The idea of " moe ", which was popularized by anime, can be projected onto both idols and fictional characters, linking

14061-560: The times dominated by PC and console gaming. One of the most explosive ways this has occurred in Japan is the introduction and popularization of mobile games. In terms of economic relevance, the games for smartphones have expanded drastically from 2012. As a result, the market size of mobile games has a 70% share in the Japanese game industry. This economic presence is parallel to the social presence mobile games possess, with most people who play video games also playing mobile games as well. One theory for why mobile games are so popular in Japan

14190-480: The two. Some may prefer fictional idols due to them never disbanding, leaving groups, or getting into scandals. A 2005 study by the Nomura Research Institute revealed that idol fans were the third largest group of otaku interests, following comics and anime . In the late-2010s, the idol agency influenced the business model of VTuber agencies such as Hololive and Nijisanji —which focus on

14319-587: The use of illustrations, and the highly popular "rental manga" that would allow their readers to rent these illustrated books for a period of time. Since their inception manga have gained a considerable worldwide consumer base. Doujinshi is a Japanese word which refers to amateur manga and fanfictions. They follow the same steps of creation that manga have, and are often created by amateur authors who are manga fans. Doujinshi enable fans to create their own amateur manga involving their favorite manga characters in it. Fanfictions are really popular in Japan, where there

14448-754: The video game world and has remained a major participant. Even in current day when there is international competition between companies, Japanese companies have always had at least a central role in the industry and in the advancement and trendsetting in games development. Current Japanese video game franchises, such as Super Smash Bros. , Pokémon , Super Mario , Sonic the Hedgehog , Kirby , Star Fox , Metroid , The Legend of Zelda , Castlevania , Animal Crossing , Kingdom Hearts , Shin Megami Tensei: Persona , Resident Evil , Dark Souls , Final Fantasy and Monster Hunter have gained critical acclaim and as

14577-533: The woman to pay ¥650,000 , stating that the dating ban was necessary for idols to "win the support of male fans." In January 2016, a similar lawsuit filed with the Tokyo District Court ruled in favor of a 23-year-old former idol, with Judge Kazuya Hara stating that the dating ban "significantly restricts the freedom to pursue happiness." Since handshake and other related events allow fans to be in close proximity with idols, critics also believe that marketing

14706-457: The women stated that they had performed the request anyway. Japanese popular culture In as early as 1920, a discussion revolving around the use of culture and media communication was being used as a strategy to enhance the international understanding of Japan's perspective was set in place. The discussion began when Japan aspired to become an imperial and colonial power, one that was equivalent to their Euro-American counterparts. This idea

14835-595: The work force after leaving their groups, as many of them spend their academic years learning poor job skills. In addition to this, Rob Schwartz from Billboard addressed that Japanese mainstream media outlets rarely bring attention to controversies and allegations of power harassment due to self-censorship on what they are allowed to write. Sasetsu Takeda of GQ Japan wrote that talent agencies dismiss idols regardless of their popularity, sometimes intentionally blocking job offers in order to pressure them to leave, all while declaring that they are "resting from illness" to

14964-416: Was a hardware system that was reasonably affordable, people did not need to have the finances of a company to be able to afford to buy individual and very expensive game systems to play games. This initial dominance of the video games market by Nintendo continued in large part because of this initial hold they had taken of the market affording them a huge amount of economic and social weight as they were one of

15093-422: Was a testimony to the capability media culture can have on enhancing the international understanding of negative historical memories of Japanese colonialism and the hostility regarding the country's economic exploitation of the region. The entertainment industry was vital to Japan's postwar reconstruction. The desire to create fantasies was present but, the economy drove the entertainment industry. Technology

15222-640: Was also seen as an attempt from the Japanese government to market Japanese pop culture overseas through the Cool Japan initiative. Music produced by voice actor idols and fictional idols have crossed over to mainstream music charts, with Billboard Japan launching the Billboard Japan Hot Animation Chart on December 1, 2010, exclusively for anime and video game music releases. Fictional idols have been treated like real-life celebrities. Idol-themed anime and video game series have been compared to

15351-578: Was announced on March 15 in a teaser video, and the full-length music video was released on March 27. Akari Nibu served as center (lead performer) for the first time in a title song. The song was first performed live at the fourth Hinatansai anniversary concert in Yokohama Stadium on April 1–2, 2023. The plot of the music video, described by Oricon as "comical", references Nibu's interest in multiplayer gaming , and several costumes worn in previous music videos are featured. Yūka Kageyama, for whom

15480-417: Was dominated by militaristic storytelling and was controlled by the policies and agendas of Japan's totalitarian state. Films during the postwar era were used to foster new idols and icons in order for Japanese people to begin to reimagine themselves. Japanese cinemas produced films that demonstrated why they should be against the war and all the destruction and casualties that came along with it. As time went on

15609-808: Was eventually replaced by the term " junior idol " to legitimize them as part of the idol industry as well as removing the focus on their age. The 2000s saw the rise in popularity of idol groups again after Morning Musume 's debut in 1997 and the formation of their musical collective , Hello! Project . Around the same time, there was an increase in gravure idols , who competed in magazine and photo book sales. In addition, anime voice actors , such as Yui Horie , Nana Mizuki , and Yukari Tamura , were also marketed as idols to promote both their activities and singing careers. While idols briefly experienced another decline after 2002, AKB48 debuted in 2005 and later became known as nation's idol group. The public image of idols had diversified, with each idol group having

15738-631: Was interrupted once Japan was defeated in World War II. With the economic struggles Japan faced after the war, the question about using culture and media communication was once again brought up. In order for Japan to reinvent themselves and improve foreigners' impression of them, Japan focused on projecting a selected national image by exporting appealing cultural products including, animation, television programs, popular music, films, and fashion. The public diplomacy wanted to allow other countries to understand their position on various issues by acting directly on

15867-456: Was made illegal in Japan in 2014. However, junior idol content currently stands on legally ambiguous ground due to open interpretations of child pornography laws in Japan . In 2017, through a survey conducted by the Japanese government, 53 out of 197 women contracted with talent agencies stated that they had been asked to take part in pornographic photo or video shoots of which were not previously disclosed nor included in their contracts. 17 of

15996-502: Was noted by scholar Masayoshi Sakai to be the turning point of when teenage stars became popular in mainstream media. Music was produced by a shared climate of songwriters and art directors seeking a step towards a depoliticized youth culture. Idols grew in popularity over the 1970s, as they offered audiences escapism from political violence and radical student movements. Idols at the time were seen as ephemeral because of how short-lived their careers were, and how they would disappear from

16125-461: Was performed by the first generation members. "You're in My Way" (stylized in sentence case ) was performed by the second generation members. "Pakuchi Pīman Green Peas" was performed by the third generation members. "Coelacanth" was performed by the fourth generation members. The group's three youngest members at the time were assigned to the front row, with Yōko Shōgenji as the center. The lyrics compare

16254-429: Was the heart of Japan's rebuilding since, they believed it was the only reason they lost the war. Pop culture began to dominate the entertainment industry. For example, Japan used the resources they had in order to make toy cars that ultimately helped them rebuild the economy. After Japan was banned from using metal to make toys, they used old cans instead. In doing so, they were able to produce toys in exchange for food for

16383-593: Was the highest record of all female musicians in Japan. Momoiro Clover Z has been ranked as the most popular female idol group from 2013 to 2017 according to surveys by The Nikkei , There were more than 10,000 teenage girls who performed as idols in Japan in 2017. In 2019, there were over 3,000 female idol groups. From 2013 to 2018, boy band Arashi was ranked as the most popular artist overall in Japan according to Oricon polls of 20,000 people. Other male idols also found success as underground idols, as well as anime media mix projects and 2.5D musicals . In

16512-604: Was unlike any other animated character; he found the hearts of the Japanese public with a robotic boy who has spiky hair, eyes as big as fists, with rockets on his feet. Doraemon gained great popularity in Japan with the broadcast of Doraemon on TV Asahi in 1979. In 2008, he was appointed as anime ambassador by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Studio Ghibli , a Japanese animation film studio, also contributed to anime's worldwide success through films including My Neighbor Totoro , Ponyo , and Spirited Away (winner of

16641-486: Was working 10 hours a day at the expense of her studies and when she had asked to leave the group, a staff member threatened her with violence while Takahiro Sasaki, the head of her managing company, told her she would have to pay a penalty fee of ¥1 million . In June 2018, a former member of Niji no Conquistador filed a lawsuit against Pixiv representative director, Hiroaki Nagata, and the group's management companies for voyeurism and sexual harassment during her time with

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