The Global Resonance of the Japanese Entertainment Industry and Culture

No look at the industry is honest without the shadow. The Power Harassment (pawa-hara) watchdog in 2023 exposed several major agencies for sexual abuse of minors. Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of the male idol empire, was posthumously revealed to have abused hundreds of boys over decades. The silence was deafening; media outlets reported on his idols for 50 years but refused to publish the crimes due to kisha club (press club) cartel pressure.

She hesitated, then took a sip. The sweetness was jarring. "It’s... very sweet."

The rain in Tokyo doesn’t wash things clean; it just makes the neon reflect brighter on the wet asphalt. For Kenji, the rain meant overtime.