How much would you pay for one minute of conversation with a 14-year-old girl? Kyoko Miyake’s unflinching new documentary about the shady transactions that surround Japanese pop stardom is available ...

While it’s easy to think that the United States has cornered the market on the commoditization of young girls for the male gaze, in many ways we don’t hold a candle to — wait for it — Japan. Kyoko ...

PARK CITY, Utah -- There's a scene in Tokyo Idols where Rio Hiiragi, a pop star trying to make it big, bikes to small provinces as a publicity stunt to meet her fans. She's wearing a cute yellow ...

As a third-year university student pursuing activities as an amateur musician, Mayu Tomita was 20 years old on May 21, 2016, ...

TOKYO — A member of a hugely popular Japanese girl band has shaved her head and issued a tearful videotaped apology for violating the megagroup's no-dating rule, sparking a national debate over ...

A section displaying goods commonly used for celebrating idols' birthdays is seen during the "Oshikatsu - Merch Collection Expo" at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in the capital, July 2, 2025. ...

Fans of up-and-coming pop star who flaunted image of her 'imperfect' midriff on stage get creative in online posts 'fixing' ...

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is quite a focused game. Set in modern day Japan, we follow a group of young men and women who happen to both be Mirage Masters capable of saving people from otherworldly ...

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe. YOASOBI’s hit song “Idol” continues to dominate on the charts—the single ...

In this Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 file photo, hugely popular Japanese girl band AKB48 members, from left in first row, Haruna Kojima, Mayu Watanabe, Minami Takahashi, Mariko Shinoda, Tomomi Itano and Rie ...