What is oshikatsu and can it boost Japan's economy?
Update: 2025-11-12
Description
The superfan culture involves doing everything you can to be closer to your idols - often through concerts, merchandise, and streaming support.
And now oshikatsu is being praised by some economists for helping pull Japanese retail sales out of a long slump.
Figures suggest the role of fan purchasing power has boosted Japan’s annual retail turnover by 2%.
But what is so different about the way of supporting our heroes that has created such growth?
Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey
(Image: Anime and game fans attend the 105th ComicMarket Show in Tokyo, Japan, December 2024. Credit CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
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