Pop Culture7 min
Oshikatsu: the Japanese culture of supporting your oshi
Oshi, oshikatsu, ita-bag, saidan, ninchi: the vocabulary and rituals of supporting an idol in Japan, and why the banks joined in.
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JournalJapan Japan
Japan
The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
5 articles
Culture7 min
Anisong: When Anime Music Conquered the World
From Astro Boy theme songs to Animelo Summer Live concerts, the story of anisong, Japanese anime music turned global industry and a musical genre in its own right.
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Culture11 min
Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku: Japan's Synthetic Pop Revolution
The history of Vocaloid software, Hatsune Miku's rise as a virtual pop star, the creative community behind the phenomenon, and the cultural revolution of Japanese synthetic music.
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