Japan is one of the most unique music markets in the world. Despite the global shift towards streaming, Japan has maintained a distinctive industry structure that continues to favor physical formats, strong domestic labels, and deeply rooted fan culture. For international companies, understanding this structure is essential before entering the market. Market Size: The World’s Second-Largest Music Market Japan is the second-largest music market globally , after the United Stat

Japan’s entertainment industry is not one “sector” so much as a tightly connected ecosystem of games, anime, film, music, publishing, and live experiences —all built around IP that can travel globally. Even when you look only at a few measurable pillars, the numbers are already huge: Anime : Japan’s animation industry generated ¥3.84 trillion in 2024  (a record), boosted by overseas demand and licensing. Video games (consumer spending in Japan) : ¥2.4 trillion in 2024 , also