The godfather of this system is Johnny Kitagawa (Johnny & Associates), who created the Johnny’s boy band model (Arashi, SMAP, now Naniwa Danshi). His rules were draconian: idols could not date (to preserve the "boyfriend fantasy") and were often not allowed to put their music on streaming services (to force physical CD sales).
Japan uses Cool Japan strategy (government-backed) to export content. Results include: The godfather of this system is Johnny Kitagawa
Whether you are watching a Sumo tournament, playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth , or crying over a slice-of-life anime about high schoolers who never actually go to space, you are witnessing a culture that has perfected the art of turning tradition into global obsession. playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth