In 2023, the industry was rocked by the sexual abuse scandal of Johnny Kitagawa (founder of Johnny & Associates), which persisted for 60 years. The fallout forced a reckoning with Japan’s hōdanshugi (the culture of consensus and silence). It remains to be seen if true systemic reform will occur. Part IX: The Future – Hybrid Entertainment Looking to 2030, the Japanese entertainment industry is betting on XR (Extended Reality) and "Real-2D." The pandemic normalized virtual otaku events. Now, companies like Nijisanji have perfected Vtubers (Virtual YouTubers) – real people controlling animated avatars in real-time. In 2024, the top Vtuber earner, Kuzuha , made more money than the top human idol.

Furthermore, the line between gaming and TV is dissolving. Amazon Prime now hosts interactive Takeshi's Castle -style shows where viewers vote on outcomes. Yakuza game developers are directing live-action crime dramas.

That is the power of Japanese entertainment. And it is only getting stranger.

, with its exaggerated makeup, dramatic poses ( mie ), and cross-dressing actors ( onnagata ), introduced the concept of the "star system." Fans would riot for their favorite actors, just as they might for a K-Pop or J-Pop band today. Similarly, Rakugo (comic storytelling) established the art of the solo performer holding an audience captive with only a fan and a handkerchief—a skill now vital for Japanese tarento (TV personalities).

The average Japanese person is 49 years old. TV dramas about high school love (the classic J-Dorama) are losing relevance. The industry is shifting to Showa-era nostalgia (1980s set pieces) to appeal to aging salarymen, while younger Japanese ignore TV entirely for YouTube and TikTok.