EXPLORE THE THEME
Media & Technology
How we meet our oshi is changing
Social media, streaming and AI are changing how we watch, talk and take part. We look at new ways to enjoy fandom, along with cost, personal data and ease of access.
5 articles 11 podcast episodes
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How to explore this theme
Check terms like streaming and clip videos, then go to the episodes on using social media, exclusive streaming and AI. We separate what you can use today from predictions, so you can choose what fits your life.
READ & DISCOVER
Articles and glossary terms
From the key words to real cases.
- 01Glossary
What Is a Streaming Archive? How It Differs From Catch-Up Streaming and Clips
A streaming archive is a replay of a past live stream on an official service. How it differs from catch-up streams and clips, and how to watch it in time.
- 02Glossary
What Is Online Sansen? Attending a Live Show by Stream, and How to Prepare
Online sansen means joining a live show by stream from home. Prep before the show, setting up your space, comment and spoiler manners, and how it differs from going.
- 03Glossary
What Are Kirinuki? Fan Clips, Culture and How Official Permission Works
Kirinuki are short clips edited from long streams. How they bring in new fans, how they differ from reposting, how official permission works, and how to watch wisely.
- 04Glossary
What Is Dousetsu? Concurrent Viewers, Live-Watching and Why Just Watching Counts as Support
Dousetsu means concurrent viewers: how many people watch a livestream live. Why it counts as your oshi's record, live vs. archive viewers, and healthy habits.
- 05Glossary
Kojinzei vs. Kigyozei: Independent and Agency VTubers, and What the Difference Means
Kojinzei and kigyozei describe whether a VTuber works independently or under an agency. Meanings, where the terms come from, and what to check before you support someone.
PODCAST STORIES
Go deeper with the podcast
English summaries, and every episode has English subtitles.
- #62
1.7 Billion Views: How Monaki Won Over TikTok's Generation and Showa-Era Music Fans
How the four-man group Monaki, average age 33, turned viral clips into real fans by pairing TikTok discovery with the face-to-face support culture of Showa-era kayokyoku.
- #53
What Is Oshi-Katsu? Why Fandom Matters in the Age of AI
A seminar-style talk on what oshi-katsu really means, how fan support has evolved, and why human warmth and trust count more as AI gets better.
- #50
100,000 Plays Across Podcast and YouTube: What One Year of Publishing Taught Us
After one year the lab passed 100,000 combined Podcast and YouTube plays. What the data on listeners, search and media roles taught us.
- #45
Can Netflix Grow Membership with the WBC? Exclusive Streaming Today
After Japan's WBC exit, streaming's real test begins: how sports and other shows connect, and why a free way in still matters.
- #40
Snow Man, timelesz and Arashi: What Netflix Exclusives Are Really For
What Netflix exclusive content about groups such as Snow Man, timelesz and Arashi does for fans, agencies and the service, and what fans should check first.
- #36
2026 Outlook: Will AI Glasses Bring Fandom Into Physical Space?
AI glasses could lay stories over pilgrimage sites and concerts, but privacy, camera rules and consent decide whether fans will actually wear them.
- #34
Streaming Exclusives: Where to Watch Your Favorite Oshi Across Netflix, Disney+ and U-NEXT
Why exclusive streaming splits fans across services, what it costs them in fees, time and region limits, and how clear official guidance can help.
- #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.
- #22
AI and Virtual Romance: How ChatGPT Is Changing Fandom, for Better and Worse
From Ghibli-style portraits to AI avatars and AI idol auditions, a look at how generative AI is changing fan participation in Japan and where the boundaries should sit.
- #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.
- #3
Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok: Using Five Major Platforms for Fandom
Each social platform plays a different role in oshi-katsu. How fans and organizers can match platforms to purpose, and respect the people who only watch.
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