EXPLORE THE THEME
Fandom History
Past devotion explains today’s love
Collecting prints of actors, waiting for the radio, cheering in front of the TV. We trace support that has lasted for centuries, and the tools and places that changed with each era.
7 articles 10 podcast episodes
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How to explore this theme
The Chronicle shows how fans enjoyed each era; individual articles explain the background of acrylic stands and Heisei-era nostalgia. The podcast traces the history of voice actors, stage and music to show how today took shape.
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Articles and glossary terms
From the key words to real cases.
- 01History
Oshi-Katsu Chronicle: Late Edo. Wearing Your Oshi's Pattern, Backstage Prints and Days Without Them
Matching your favorite actor's pattern, peeking into the dressing room, borrowing long stories, and Danjuro VII's exile from Edo: fan life in late Edo.
- 02History
Oshi-Katsu Chronicle: The Taisho Era — A Theater in a Pool, Fan Letters to Asakusa Opera, Star Photos at Home
Takarazuka's first show ran in a converted pool. Fan magazines, gifts for Asakusa Opera, a hit record and star photos: how Taisho fans kept going after the curtain fell.
- 03History
Oshi-Katsu Chronicle: The 1950s — The Three Girls, Rikidozan on Street TV, and the Birth of Kohaku
Kohaku on radio in 1951, 20,000 at Shimbashi Station for Rikidozan, 45,000 at the first Nichigeki Western Carnival: the decade television joined film and music.
- 04History
Oshi-Katsu Chronicle: The 1960s — The Beatles Arrive, 300+ Group Sounds Bands and TV Takes Over
Astro Boy debuted in 1963, Sakamoto's Sukiyaki topped the US chart and Kohaku drew an 81.4% rating. Then came the Beatles at Budokan, group sounds and late-night radio.
- 05Fan Culture
From Fighter Jet Canopies to Fandom Icons: The 90-Year History of the Acrylic Stand
Where did the acrylic stand (akusuta), the symbol of oshi-katsu, come from? From 1930s acrylic to Hello! Project's 2014 Figure Stand Keychain and a 4-trillion-yen market.
- 06Fan Culture
Why Heisei Retro Became a 2026 Oshi-Katsu Trend: Tamagotchi, Purikura and Sailor Moon
Tamagotchi, purikura, Sailor Moon and 90s music are being loved again across generations. Here's why: memory, analog effort and long-lived franchises.
- 07Merch
Why Muffler Towels Show Up at Both Stadiums and Concerts: The Origins of Holding Them Up
Why did the football scarf and the concert towel end up the same shape? A history of fan towels and the three ways to use one: hold it up, swing it, or wear it.
PODCAST STORIES
Go deeper with the podcast
English summaries, and every episode has English subtitles.
- #57
The Full History of Acrylic Stands: How Fans Turned a Material into a Medium
From clear plastic sheets to fan altars: how the acrylic stand went from shop signage to the go-anywhere oshi, and why prices and randomness now divide fans.
- #52
Why Gen Z Loves the Heisei-Era Nostalgia They Never Experienced
Tamagotchi, purikura and Sailor Moon: why 1990s Japanese culture is selling again in 2026, to two generations at once, and what it means for oshi-katsu.
- #39
50 Years of J-Rock: From Southern All Stars to Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Vaundy
A fifty-year tour of Japanese rock fandom, from Southern All Stars, X and GLAY to Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Vaundy, and how the doors into a band keep changing.
- #33
Kohaku Becomes an Oshi's Big Stage: How a National Program Has Changed
Kohaku once drew an 81.4% TV rating. Today it is a stage where fans celebrate their oshi's year, and what 'national event' means has changed with it.
- #31
Why Is Morning Musume Still Loved? 28 Years of Lasting Fandom Built on Shared Stories
From a 50,000-CD challenge in five days to constant graduations and new members, how Morning Musume turned its story into something fans co-own.
- #27
Takarazuka Revue and Oshi-katsu: 110 Years of Tradition and the Challenge of Renewal
Takarazuka's school, fan clubs and stage form a 110-year dream culture. A look at its unwritten fan rules, labor reforms and what keeps a tradition sustainable.
- #21
Why Heisei-Era J-pop Keeps Coming Back: How Old Songs Find New Fans on TikTok
How 2000s Japanese hits return through short videos, dance, overseas covers and memes, and how labels can back fan-led rediscovery instead of overriding it.
- #15
Fandom Across Borders: North America, Europe, South America and Africa
From Comic-Con and Anime Friends to Doctor Who fanzines, Weverse cash payments in Mexico and Nollywood piracy: what stops fans abroad from joining in.
- #12
The Birth of Idol Voice Actors? A History of Voice Acting and Today's Fandom
How Japanese voice actors went from radio performers hidden behind their roles to people fans support directly, and the safeguards that closer contact needs.
- #11
Why 2.5D Spread: A History of Stage and Character Fandom, From Tenimyu to Demon Slayer
How manga and game characters came to life on stage, from Takarazuka's The Rose of Versailles to Tenimyu, and why 2.5D theater became a market of its own.
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