No discussion is complete without these two.

Keywords: Japanese entertainment industry, J-Pop, Idol culture, Anime, J-Drama, Johnny’s Entertainment, Kabuki, Otaku, Japanese variety TV, Soft power.

The industry is funded not just by ticket sales, but by the "Bubble Economy" of (priced at $60+ for two episodes) and figurines . The culture of otaku (previously a derogatory term for obsessive fans, now a badge of honor) drives an economy of moe —a fetishistic affection for fictional characters (2D love). This has led to a unique phenomenon: "virtual idols" like Hatsune Miku, a Vocaloid software voicebank that holds concerts (as a hologram) to sold-out arenas of 10,000 people.