Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 2023: The WBC Title, YOASOBI's "Idol," Chanting Returns, and Twitter Becomes X

In 2023, Japan won the World Baseball Classic (WBC). In spring, the anime Oshi no Ko began airing, and its theme song, YOASOBI’s “Idol,” came to be heard in Japan and abroad.

At concerts, the infection-prevention limits on cheering aloud were eased, and shows where fans could call out from their seats returned. The year also saw Twitter renamed and a major talent agency restructured.

Japan Wins the WBC, and in Autumn the Hanshin Tigers Take Their First Japan Series in 38 Years

On March 22, Japan time, Japan beat the United States in the WBC final to win its first title since 2009. Japan’s games drew attention throughout the tournament, and the final’s broadcast earned an average household rating of 42.4% in the Kanto region, the Tokyo area. Video Research record (in Japanese)

42.4%

Average household rating in the Kanto region

The rating counts households tuned to the final's broadcast.

Source: Video Research record (in Japanese)

In Japan the game fell between morning and midday.

On November 5, the Hanshin Tigers beat the Orix Buffaloes in the Japan Series to become Japan champions for the first time in 38 years. The previous title was in 1985. Nippon Professional Baseball tournament record (in Japanese)

Oshi no Ko and YOASOBI’s “Idol” Spread

The TV anime Oshi no Ko began on April 12, and its opening theme, “Idol,” was released for streaming. To match a story about idols and show business, YOASOBI built the song on 45510, a novel by the manga’s original author, Aka Akasaka. Record of the song’s background and release (in Japanese)

The first-season visual foregrounds Ai’s face and costume in vivid colors. Her illustrated eyes and expression form the work’s identity alongside its opening song.

It reached No. 1 on Billboard’s “Global Excl. U.S.” chart dated June 10, which tallies streaming and other data from around the world excluding the United States. After the Japanese version, an English version came out in May, and the song was heard overseas too. Billboard’s record (in Japanese)

At NHK’s year-end song show, Kohaku Uta Gassen, idol groups from Japan and abroad joined YOASOBI’s “Idol” with dance. Report on the Kohaku performance (in Japanese)

April 12Released digitally

The same day the TV anime Oshi no Ko began.

Chart dated June 10No. 1 on a Billboard chart

The Global Excl. U.S. chart, which tallies the world outside the United States.

Year-endKohaku Uta Gassen

Idol groups from Japan and abroad joined the performance as dancers.

At the Japan Record Awards, Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s “Ke Sera Sera” took the Grand Prix and FRUITS ZIPPER won Best New Artist. 65th Japan Record Awards (in Japanese)

Limits on Cheering Aloud Ease, and Dome Shows Go Ahead

On February 6, the concert infection-prevention guidelines of three music industry bodies were revised, dropping the capacity limits that depended on whether loud voices were involved. Conditions such as wearing masks still applied to singing and cheering. Guidelines of the time (archived) (in Japanese)

On May 8, when COVID-19 was reclassified under Japan’s infectious disease law, the guidelines themselves were abolished. Record of the Association of Concert Promoters’ response (in Japanese)

BLACKPINK played Tokyo Dome in April and Kyocera Dome Osaka in June. Snow Man also held its first dome tour, i DO ME, from May to July. Information on BLACKPINK’s Japan shows (in Japanese) / Official introduction of Snow Man’s video release (in Japanese)

Each show has its own rules, but the limits on cheering aloud that were widespread during the pandemic changed greatly.

K-Arena Yokohama Opens, and Large Venues for Music Increase

On September 29, K-Arena Yokohama opened in Yokohama. It has 20,033 seats, and its acoustics and seating were designed for music performances. Yokohama city tourism site’s introduction (in Japanese)

The current seating diagram shows several levels facing the stage. It explains the interior arrangement, without being labelled as a photograph taken on the venue’s 2023 opening day.

Pia Research Institute’s finalized figures put the 2023 live entertainment market at ¥685.7 billion (roughly $4.6 billion), 8.9% above 2019, before the pandemic. That counts estimated ticket sales for music and stage shows and leaves out online concerts. Pia Research Institute’s finalized figures (in Japanese)

¥685.7 billion

Live entertainment market (roughly $4.6 billion)

+8.9%

Compared with 2019

Ticket sales for music and stage shows; online concerts are excluded.

Source: Pia Research Institute's finalized figures (in Japanese)

Pia Research Institute points to the return of audience travel, the increase in large venues and rising ticket prices as background. A bigger market, though, doesn’t automatically mean more fans.

Sota Fujii Wins All Eight Titles, and “Miru-Sho” Fans Get Attention

On October 11, Sota Fujii won the Oza title, becoming the first person in the world of shogi, often called Japanese chess, to hold all eight titles at once, the feat known as hakkan (“eight crowns”). Official broadcast record of the Oza title match (in Japanese)

Some shogi fans enjoy not just playing but watching professionals’ games. Those who listen to commentary on the moves in a broadcast and follow the matches of the players they support are called miru-sho (“watching-shogi fans”), and the word made that year’s Buzzword of the Year top ten. Buzzword of the Year record (in Japanese)

The wide coverage of his bid for all eight titles drew attention to the fans who watch the games.

In July, Threads Launches and Twitter Becomes X

On July 6, Meta began offering Threads in Japan too. It was a new service that used an Instagram account to let people post text, photos and more and hold conversations. Meta’s announcement at launch (in Japanese)

The English-language launch screens arrange text posts and replies vertically. They record the initial interface rather than the service’s current Japanese display.

That same July, Twitter changed its brand name to “X.” The blue bird logo changed too, so even long-time users saw the rename plainly. X’s 2023 record

Threads

A new place to post appeared. You can talk in text with people you're connected to through Instagram too.

X

The brand name of the Twitter people had used changes. Accounts and past posts continue to be used.

The Former Johnny & Associates Changes Its Name, and Preparations for a New Company Advance

In response to the sexual abuse committed by its founder, Johnny Kitagawa, Johnny & Associates changed its name to SMILE-UP. on October 17. It announced a policy of pursuing compensation and relief for victims and moving the management of its talent to a new company. Report on the day of the name change (in Japanese)

On December 8, the launch of a new company, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, was announced. The company was established on October 17, and it explained that it would carry out the handover of operations and begin full-scale operation in spring 2024. Announcement of the new company (in Japanese)

The fan-facing “Johnny’s net” was renamed “FAMILY CLUB Official Site.” Report on the service rename (in Japanese)

1. 01Oct 17Renamed SMILE-UP.; a new company is established
2. 02CompensationRelief for victims is pursued
3. 03Dec 8STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announced
4. 04Spring 2024Full-scale operation begins

Even the fans' official site was renamed FAMILY CLUB Official Site.

New Films Open, and Comic Market Recovers Its Scale

Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron opened on July 14, and Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One on November 3. Studio Ghibli’s introduction of the film (in Japanese) / Godzilla Minus One official site (in Japanese)

The still introduces the protagonist within an outdoor setting. It supplies a view of the film’s people and landscape beyond the bird imagery encountered in the initial campaign.

In March 2024, the two films won the U.S. Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Visual Effects, respectively. Their 2023 release led on to screenings and recognition overseas. Article on the following year’s wins (in Japanese)

Comic Market drew about 260,000 attendees at summer’s C102 and about 270,000 at winter’s C103, in each case the total across two days. Attendance was larger than the year before, and more people browsed doujinshi, or self-published fan books, at the venue. C102 event report (in Japanese) / C103 event report (in Japanese)

Key Events of the Year

1. Feb. 6Capacity limits at music concerts based on whether loud cheering is allowed are liftedMusic
2. Mar. 22Japan wins the World Baseball Classic final (Japan time)Sports
3. Apr. 8–9BLACKPINK visit Japan for the first time in three years and play two shows at the Tokyo DomeMusic
4. Apr. 12YOASOBI's "Idol" is released for streaming, and TV anime [Oshi no Ko] begins broadcastingMusic
5. May 8COVID-19 is reclassified as a Category 5 infectious diseaseSociety
6. May–Jul.Snow Man hold their first dome tour, "i DO ME"Idols
7. Jul. 6Meta launches its new social network "Threads"Media
8. Jul. 14Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron (How Do You Live?) opensAnime
9. Jul. 23–24Twitter changes its name to "X"Media
10. Aug. 12–13Comic Market 102 (about 260,000 total visits)Fan works
11. Sep. 29K-Arena Yokohama opens (20,033 seats)Music
12. Oct. 11Sota Fujii wins the Ouza title, becoming the first player to hold eight major titles at onceMedia
13. Oct. 17The former Johnny & Associates changes its company name to SMILE-UP.Idols
14. Nov. 3The film Godzilla Minus One opensFilm
15. Nov. 5The Hanshin Tigers win the Japan Series for the first time in 38 yearsSports
16. Dec. 8STARTO ENTERTAINMENT announces its launchIdols
17. Dec. 30At the Japan Record Awards, Mrs. GREEN APPLE win the Grand Prix and FRUITS ZIPPER win Best New ArtistMusic
18. Dec. 30–31Comic Market 103 (about 270,000 total visits over two days)Fan works
19. Dec. 31A large-scale "Idol" collaboration on the NHK Kohaku Uta GassenMusic

1. Feb 6Cheering guidelines revisedCapacity limits removed
2. Mar 22Japan wins the WBCFinal against the United States
3. Apr 12Oshi no Ko beginsWith YOASOBI's "Idol"
4. May 8Guidelines abolishedAfter COVID-19's status changed
5. Jul 6Threads launchesIn Japan too
6. Oct 17SMILE-UP. namedFormerly Johnny & Associates
7. Nov 5Tigers win the Japan SeriesFirst in 38 years

The Year’s Buzzword Awards

Grand PrizeAre (A.R.E., "that," Hanshin Tigers manager Akinobu Okada's word for winning the pennant)

Akinobu Okada

Top 10Atarashii Gakko no Leaders / Kubifuri dance (the "head-shaking dance")

ATARASHII GAKKO! (Atarashii Gakko no Leaders, dance and vocal unit)

Top 10OSO18 / Urban bear (OSO18 was a brown bear that killed cattle in Hokkaido; "urban bear" means bears roaming into towns)

Yoshikazu Sato (Professor, Rakuno Gakuen University; Japan Bear Network)

Top 10Kaeruka genshou ("frogification," losing interest the moment a crush likes you back)

Kotomi Sema, Kanon Itakura

Top 10Generative AI

Yoichi Ochiai

Top 10Global boiling

Takuya Yokoyama

Top 10Pepper mill performance (the pepper-grinding gesture used at the World Baseball Classic)

Kitchen World TDI

Top 10Miru-sho ("watching shogi," fans who enjoy watching shogi)

Japan Shogi Association

Top 10Yami baito ("dark side jobs," illegal gigs recruited online)

—

Top 10Yonen-buri / Koedashi oen ("first time in four years" / cheering out loud)

Japan Basketball Association, AKATSUKI JAPAN

The grand prize went to “Are” (A.R.E.), a rallying word for a Hanshin Tigers championship, which came to stand for the year the team won both the league pennant and the Japan Series. 2023 winning words (in Japanese)

The top ten also included “Miru-Sho” and “4-nen buri / Koedashi Ouen” (“First time in four years / cheering aloud”).

The following year, large-scale shows and character franchises keep expanding. On to Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 2024.