Kadomatsu's work with artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Utada Hikaru, and Namie Amuro helped to popularize J-Pop not only in Japan but also across Asia and beyond. J-Pop's catchy melodies, highly produced music videos, and fashionable style quickly gained a massive following worldwide.
To understand Japanese entertainment culture is to understand Shokunin kishitsu —the artisan’s spirit. Whether it is an idol rehearsing the same 2-second hand gesture for 14 hours, an animator drawing 30 frames of a crying face, or a variety show talent enduring physical comedy for a laugh, the throughline is discipline.
You cannot understand modern Japanese entertainment without acknowledging its past. The influence of (stylized drama) and Bunraku (puppetry) is evident in the dramatic pacing and character designs of modern animation.