The idol phenomenon in Japan, which emerged in the 1970s, spotlights young artists, often teenage girls, who sing and dance for a devoted audience. While this industry may seem glittering, ...

The drugs arrest of Japanese pop idol has sparked a media fury, ... Among young Japanese body art is common, but to older Japanese tattooing is still strongly associated with Yakuza criminal gangs.

For centuries, Japan has celebrated a unique art that brings together acting, ... Danjuro the 12th, were bona fide Kabuki matinée idols, famous as much for their good looks as their skill.

Today’s pop idols, Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro, are in their 30s, while the members of Japan’s most famous “boy band” SMAP are approaching 40.

In Bandai-Namco's Idolm@ster series, you take on the role of a music producer and create and manage a group of teenage popstars. By mixing Japan's idol and video game cultures, it is no surprise ...

In April 2008, UNICEF distributed a petition with 21,000 signatures asking Japan to curb junior idols and lolicon anime. In November, at an international meeting in Brazil, Japan was condemned as “The ...