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Japanese Idols are young performers, often in their teens or early twenties, who sing, dance, and entertain a broad audience. They are groomed by talent agencies, shaping their musical skills, image, and personality. These idols are primarily singers but are also often trained in acting, dancing, and modeling. Their main objective is to “sell dreams,” offering fans a form of escapism from the troubles of daily life12.

The idol industry in Japan first emerged in the 1960s and gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, largely due to television exposure. During the 1980s, known as the “Golden Age of Idols,” they drew commercial interest and began appearing in commercials and television dramas. Over time, niche markets developed, leading to significant growth in the industry, known as the “Idol Warring Period” in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Currently, there are over 10,000 teenage girls in Japan who are idols, active in more than 3,000 groups2.

These idols maintain a parasocial relationship with their financially loyal consumer fan base, often marketed through merchandise, endorsements, and various media appearances. Japan’s idol industry has even served as a model for other pop idol industries, such as K-pop2.