If the 2010s belonged to anime, the 2020s belong to the (virtual YouTuber). These are streamers who use real-time motion-capture avatars—anime-styled, often with elaborate lore—to play games, sing, or simply talk. The agency Hololive has turned this into a billion-yen industry.
: There is a booming subgenre of travel where international tourists visit specific Japanese locations depicted in media (often called tourism), significantly stimulating local economies. Economic and Soft Power Impact Japan currently ranks as the third-largest global content market at 13.1 trillion yen. Its entertainment properties, such as If the 2010s belonged to anime, the 2020s
This is Japan's most recognizable cultural export. The "huge comic book industry" feeds directly into television and film, creating a massive ecosystem of intellectual property. If the 2010s belonged to anime