EXPLORE THE THEME
Social Media & Backlash
Reading the noise on the screen, calmly
The loudest voices on social media are not always what fans as a whole feel. We look at how to take in information, how to post with care, and how to respond when things go wrong.
5 articles 8 podcast episodes
START HERE
How to explore this theme
Start with what enjou (online backlash) means, then read Episode 64 on why a few posts can look so big. If you run fan projects, the episodes on collaborations and sales methods will help you plan ahead.
READ & DISCOVER
Articles and glossary terms
From the key words to real cases.
- 01Glossary
What Is Enjou? When Your Oshi Is "On Fire" Online: Meaning, Criticism vs. Slander and How Fans Can Respond
Enjou means a person's words or actions drawing concentrated criticism on social media. What fans can do when their oshi is targeted, and how to avoid fanning the flames.
- 02Glossary
What Are Egosa and Pabusa? Searching Yourself vs. Your Oshi, and Etiquette When Your Oshi Reads
Egosa means searching for posts about yourself; pabusa means searching for posts about others. How fans use each, and posting manners when oshi read their mentions.
- 03Glossary
What Is Kensakuyoke? How Japanese Fans Mask Names to Dodge Search, and the Etiquette Behind It
Kensakuyoke is the fan habit of deliberately altering names so posts don't show up in search. Common masking patterns, when it's used, its limits and the etiquette.
- 04Business
When Oshi-Katsu Collabs Go Wrong: Case Studies in Random Goods, Sell-Outs and Sloppy Operations
Partnering with a popular IP doesn't guarantee success. Case studies of random sales, sell-outs, resale and weak operations show what to check before a collab.
- 05Glossary
What Is Joho Kaikin? Why Fans Wait for Announcements and Avoid Early Posts
Joho kaikin is the set time when news may be made public. Why fans wait, how it differs from spoiler embargo lifts and kuradashi, and how to post safely.
PODCAST STORIES
Go deeper with the podcast
English summaries, and every episode has English subtitles.
- #64
Oshi-Katsu and Online Backlash: Why It Looks Like Everyone Is Angry When About 1 in 70,000 Posts
Why a fan-community pile-on feels like everyone is furious, what the numbers and algorithms actually show, and how fans and operators can respond with care.
- #55
The Dark Side of Collaboration Cafés: Reservation Battles, Resale and Waste
Collaboration cafés let fans eat inside their favorite story, but reservation wars, resale, service failures and food waste show how to run them responsibly.
- #48
Chiikawa, Kura Sushi and Collab Backlash: What Makes a Fandom Collaboration Succeed or Backfire?
Fans notice every detail of an oshi collab. What separates a collaboration fans welcome from one that backfires, from settings and prices to random sales and scalping.
- #47
Why Dating Reality Shows Became Fandom: Cheering for Someone Else's Romance
Japan's dating reality shows now work like idol fandom: viewers back cast members, follow couples on social media and stay after the finale.
- #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.
- #19
Why Does Reselling Spark Backlash? Lessons From the Switch 2 and McDonald's Happy Set
Why limited goods and tickets spark resale and backlash in Japan, and how fair distribution design can protect fan enthusiasm without punishing fans.
- #13
Can a Voice Actor's Acrylic Stand Sell for ¥150,000? Inside the Industry
A life-size acrylic stand at ¥150,000 (roughly $1,000) and a custom voice for a kitchen appliance: what fans are really buying, and where resale and safety risks begin.
- #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.
KEEP EXPLORING
