The idol phenomenon in Japan, which emerged in the 1970s, highlights young artists, often teenage girls, who sing and dance ...

Decoder Ring’s Evan Chung told the story this week of the Japanese musical duo Pink Lady and their ill-fated American TV variety show in 1980. Pink Lady’s meteoric rise in Japan was exceptional—but it ...

Many careers come with sacrifices, but few demand as much personal surrender as that of the Japanese idol. A hybrid of pop star, teen model, and influencer, idols have been a mainstay of Japanese pop ...