An idol (Japanese: アイドル, Hepburn: aidoru) is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese popular culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in other performance skills such as acting, dancing, and modeling. Idols are commercialized through merchandise and endorsements by talent agencies. They dedicate significant time and resources to building relationships with fans through concerts and meetups.
Japan's idol industry first emerged in the 1960s and became prominent in the 1970s through television. During the 1980s, regarded as the "Golden Age of Idols", idols drew in commercial interest and began appearing in commercials and television dramas. As more niche markets began to appear in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it led to a significant growth in the industry known as the "Idol Warring Period." Today, over 10,000 teenage girls in Japan are idols, with over 3,000 groups active. Japan's idol industry has been used as a model for other popular idol industries, such as K-pop.
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