The entertainment world is called Geinōkai ("the world of performing arts"). It runs on seniority ( senpai/kohai ). A young comedian must bow to a veteran actor. A new idol cannot speak unless spoken to on a variety show. This hierarchy creates immense pressure. Scandals are treated differently than in the West. A drug arrest results in total career death. Conversely, an extramarital affair might actually increase a celebrity's popularity if they apologize sincerely on live television (a ritual known as the "tearful press conference").
Beyond idols, Japan has a rich tapestry of legacy acts: (the queen of J-Pop), B’z (rock giants), and X Japan (the inventors of Visual Kei—glam rock meets classical tragedy). Jav Suzuka Ishikawa