Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 2024: Shohei Ohtani's 50-50, SHOGUN at the Emmys, Chiikawa and Pokémon TCG Pocket

In 2024, Shohei Ohtani pulled off the “50-50” in Major League Baseball: 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. SHOGUN, an American-made drama with much of its dialogue in Japanese, won high praise at the Emmy Awards.

At home in Japan, idol shows and auditions shared the spotlight with a Chiikawa collaboration with a restaurant chain and a smartphone app for collecting Pokémon cards.

The Paris Olympics and Ohtani’s 50-50: Following an Athlete’s Records

The Summer Olympics were held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. Japan won 45 medals: 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze. Leaving aside the Games it hosted itself, both its gold count and its total were the most ever. Summary of results at the Games (in Japanese)

45

Medals in all

20

Gold

12

Silver

13

Bronze

Excluding the Games Japan hosted itself, both the gold count and the total were records.

Source: Summary of results at the Games (in Japanese)

On September 19, in Miami, U.S. time, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani became the first player in history to reach 50-50. Major League Baseball’s announcement of the feat

In Japan, on November 3, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars won the Japan Series, their first title in 26 years, after fighting through the Climax Series playoffs from third place in the Central League. Nippon Professional Baseball tournament record (in Japanese)

SHOGUN Wins 18 Emmys

SHOGUN, starring Hiroyuki Sanada, is a drama set in Japan’s Sengoku (Warring States) period. It won 18 awards at the 76th Emmy Awards in 2024, an American honor for outstanding television programs and performances. Disney’s record of the awards (in Japanese)

The visual identifies the drama through an armored figure and a red-black background. It gives the awards report a specific screen work to refer to.

In November, episodes one and two got a limited run at some movie theaters in Japan.

STARTO’s Full Launch, and the Debuts of Number_i and ME:I

On January 1, Number_i, a trio of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji and Yuta Kishi, released the digital single “GOAT.” The group’s formation had been announced in 2023, and their music releases began that day. Report on the start of streaming (in Japanese)

On April 10, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT began full-scale operations. It manages the talents’ activities and was established amid the restructuring that followed the sexual abuse scandal at the former Johnny & Associates. At its full launch, it announced contracts with 295 talents in 28 acts. The company’s announcement (in Japanese)

Meanwhile, ME:I, which debuted on April 17, came out of an audition show with viewer voting. Announcement of ME:I’s debut

From a formation announcement

Number_i

• Trio of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji and Yuta Kishi
• Digital single "GOAT" on January 1

From an audition show

ME:I

• Viewer voting decided the group
• Debuted on April 17

From an open call

timelesz

• Renamed from Sexy Zone
• Selection streamed on Netflix

In each case, fans could follow the story before the finished lineup appeared.

That same spring, timelesz, renamed from Sexy Zone, announced a call for new members. From September 13, Netflix streamed the selection process. Start of the show’s streaming (in Japanese)

NewJeans and Stray Kids at Tokyo Dome

NewJeans held a fan meeting at Tokyo Dome on June 26 and 27, drawing 91,200 people over the two days. Besides songs and dance, they also performed songs in Japanese. Show report (in Japanese)

Stray Kids performed at Tokyo Dome on November 14, 16 and 17, drawing 165,000 people over three shows. Record of the shows (in Japanese)

ILLIT, which debuted on March 25 with SUPER REAL ME, drew attention for the track “Magnetic.” ILLIT, ME:I, Number_i and Creepy Nuts, among others, made their first appearances at the year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen, NHK’s New Year’s Eve song show. ILLIT’s official release information (in Japanese) / ORICON NEWS: 75th Kohaku lineup (in Japanese)

The cover groups the members in varied poses and directions. It identifies ILLIT’s debut release, separately from reports about concerts by other groups in Japan.

Music shows

¥529.9 billion (roughly $3.5 billion). Estimated ticket sales for concerts and the like.

Stage shows

¥230.6 billion (roughly $1.5 billion). Estimated ticket sales for theater and other stage performances.

In Pia Research Institute’s finalized 2024 figures, the total rose 10.9% from the previous year, a new record. Several factors were cited, including new large venues, use of existing ones and rising ticket prices. The tally does not include online concerts. Pia Research Institute’s finalized figures (in Japanese)

Kura Sushi’s Chiikawa Collab, and Sanrio’s Popularity Vote

Chiikawa, a favorite in manga and anime, teamed up with the Kura Sushi chain in March. The campaign put the characters on perks tied to how much you spent on a meal and on prizes in the restaurants.

The March 2024 campaign image combines character goods and restaurant products. It records that particular dining collaboration rather than advertising the same conditions as currently available.

Kura Sushi’s earnings presentation says the campaign got people talking and that March same-store sales reached 123% of the same month a year earlier. That 23% rise is an example of a character campaign moving a restaurant chain’s results. Kura Sushi’s 2024 interim earnings presentation (in Japanese)

123%

March same-store sales versus the same month a year earlier

+23%

The rise over the previous year

A character campaign shows up in a restaurant chain's results.

Source: Kura Sushi's 2024 interim earnings presentation (in Japanese)

In the Sanrio Character Ranking, the fan vote run by the maker of Hello Kitty, announced on June 16, Cinnamoroll took first place for the fifth year in a row. Pochacco was second and Kuromi third. It is a popularity vote in which fans cast ballots for their favorite characters and follow the interim results and the final ranking. Sanrio’s announcement of results (in Japanese)

Opening Packs on Your Phone with Pokémon TCG Pocket

On October 30, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, known as “Pokepoke,” arrived. It is a game in which you collect Pokémon cards in an app and battle with them. Pokémon’s announcement of the service launch (in Japanese)

The English-language launch images show opening and collecting cards within the app. They depict a digital activity rather than photographs of physical trading cards.

When you open a pack by working the screen, the card artwork appears. The makers explained that they put effort into the motion of opening, and a big draw was the fun of seeing which cards come out, not only the battles.

Comic Market, where the makers of doujinshi (self-published books) meet their readers, was held too. Summer’s C104 drew about 260,000 over two days and winter’s C105 about 300,000 over two days. Winter’s attendance was the highest since the pandemic. Preparation committee’s summer record (in Japanese) / Winter record (in Japanese)

Key Events of the Year

1. Jan. 1Number_i releases its debut song "GOAT"Music
2. Mar. 8A Chiikawa collaboration begins at Kura SushiBusiness
3. Mar. 25ILLIT debuts with "Magnetic"Music
4. Apr. 1"timelesz project -AUDITION-" is announcedIdols
5. Apr. 10STARTO ENTERTAINMENT launches in earnest (28 acts, 295 members)Idols
6. Apr. 17ME:I debutsIdols
7. Jun. 16Sanrio Character Ranking: Cinnamoroll wins for the fifth straight yearBusiness
8. Jun. 26–27NewJeans holds fan meetings at Tokyo DomeMusic
9. Jul. 26–Aug. 11Paris 2024 Olympics: Japan wins 45 medals in allSports
10. Aug. 11–12Comic Market 104 (about 260,000 total visits over two days)Fan works
11. Sep.SHOGUN wins 18 Emmy AwardsDrama
12. Sep. 19Shohei Ohtani becomes the first player to reach 50-50 (local time)Sports
13. Oct. 30Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is releasedGames
14. Nov. 3The Yokohama DeNA BayStars win the Japan Series for the first time in 26 yearsSports
15. Nov. 14, 16, 17Stray Kids plays three shows at Tokyo DomeMusic
16. Dec. 29–30Comic Market 105 (about 300,000 total visits over two days)Fan works
17. Dec. 3175th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen: ME:I, ILLIT, Number_i and others appear for the first timeMusic

1. Mar 25ILLIT debutsWith SUPER REAL ME
2. Apr 10STARTO starts full operation295 talents in 28 acts
3. Apr 17ME:I debutsBorn from a voting audition
4. Jun 26-27NewJeans at Tokyo Dome91,200 over two days
5. Sep 19Ohtani's 50-50A first in MLB history
6. Oct 30Pokémon TCG PocketCard packs on your phone
7. Nov 14-17Stray Kids at Tokyo Dome165,000 over three shows

The Year’s Buzzword Awards

Grand PrizeFutehodo (short for "Futekisetsu ni mo hodo ga aru!", "Inappropriate has its limits!")

"Futekisetsu ni mo hodo ga aru!" drama team

Top 10Uragane mondai (the slush fund scandal over unrecorded political-party funds)

Hiroyuki Kamiwaki

Top 10Kaiwai ("the neighborhood," a loose community of people who share an interest)

Mainichi Shimbun Digital Reporting Group

Top 10Shoro Japan (a self-given nickname of the eventing team, "Early-Old-Age Japan")

Japan's eventing team at the Paris Olympics

Top 10Shin-shihei (the new banknotes, issued in 2024)

Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture (hometown of Eiichi Shibusawa)

Top 1050-50 (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season)

Shohei Ohtani

Top 10Bling-Bang-Bang-Born

Creepy Nuts

Top 10White anken (a "white" case, a job with good working conditions)

—

Top 10Meigen ga nokosenakatta ("I couldn't leave a memorable quote")

Haruka Kitaguchi (Paris Olympic javelin gold medalist)

Top 10Mo ee deshou ("That's enough, isn't it?" from the Netflix series "Jimenshi-tachi")

The Netflix "Jimenshi-tachi" team

Source: Jiyu Kokuminsha, 41st Buzzword of the Year awards (in Japanese)

The grand prize in the annual buzzword awards, run by the publisher Jiyu Kokuminsha, went to “Futehodo,” short for the drama Extremely Inappropriate! (Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru!). The top ten included the Creepy Nuts song title “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” and kaiwai, a word for groups of people who share the same hobby or interest.

Kaiwai (fandom sphere) is used well beyond oshi-katsu, for fashion, hobbies and more. In a report released that year, Hakuhodo and SHIBUYA109 lab. examined how information is shared within such social media circles and leads to spending. Introduction of the joint report (in Japanese)

Besides membership organizations like fan clubs, there were also circles where people read posts about the same subject on social media and traded impressions. The word kaiwai reflects those ties among fans too.

In the next installment, Oshi-Katsu Chronicle 2025, timelesz’s new lineup is settled and changes come to character popularity votes.