Japan possesses a massive, wealthy domestic population. Because Japanese consumers buy physical media (CDs and Blu-rays) and attend live events at high rates, many Japanese entertainment companies historically ignored the global market. They tailored their products strictly to domestic tastes, creating an isolated, highly unique ecosystem—much like the isolated evolution of species on the Galápagos Islands.
The most distinctive feature of the Japanese industry is the dominance of talent agencies ( jimusho ), which function as total career management cartels.
The Japanese entertainment industry has a long and rich history, dating back to the 17th century. Traditional forms of entertainment, such as Kabuki theater and Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, were popular during the Edo period (1603-1867). In the 20th century, Japan's entertainment industry began to modernize, with the introduction of Western-style theater, music, and film.
The Japanese music scene is dominated by "idols"—performers trained in singing, dancing, and modeling. This industry is built on the concept of kyozō (the manufactured image) and a unique parasocial bond between fans and stars.