The niche they carved out in the Japanese entertainment industry is now filled by popular idol groups like AKB48, Nogizaka46, and Momoiro Clover Z. But the idol industry has a dark side.

The idol phenomenon in Japan, which emerged in the 1970s, spotlights young artists, often teenage girls, who sing and dance for a devoted audience. While this industry may seem glittering, it hides ...

Sometimes, anime intersects into daily life in Japan ... idols who get more [modeling] work after retiring and appear with a different aura than usual. I tried drawing her in an outfit she ...