While this guarantees that no single entity loses everything if a show fails, it systematically undervalues animators—leading to low wages and "black company" conditions. The paradox is that this fragile system produces the world’s most intricate animation. Studio Ghibli is a rare exception; most studios survive on the margins, hoping for a "hit" that sells 10,000 Blu-ray copies.
Before they play the Dome, bands play the Live House . Venues like Shinjuku Loft or Liquidroom have capacities of 200-1000. This ecology supports everything from jazz to death metal to Visual Kei (androgynous, theatrical rock). The culture is brutally respectful: audiences follow strict "no moshing" rules in many indie venues, using specific hand movements ( furitsuke ) instead of crowd-killing. This "safe chaos" allows niche genres like Shibuya-kei or Kawaii Metal (Babymetal) to gestate organically before global explosion.