The News
Japan hopes that fandom can help revitalize its economy, with oshikatsu — or spending on activities related to the object of one’s adulation, whether celebrities, anime characters, or sports teams — a growing phenomenon.
One survey suggested 11% of Japan’s population engages in it. A fan told Reuters that she might visit a cafe which her favorite boy band once attended; others splash out on smartphone wallpapers or trading cards. People having children later may drive oshikatsu by spending on fandom instead.
The boost to the economy may persist: Companies are planning their biggest pay rise in decades, and young workers are in short supply, so may soon have even more money to spend on anime plushies.
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