Anime Studies: Media-Specific Approaches (Saito, 2020); Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture (Galbraith & Karlin, 2012); METI “Cool Japan” Strategy Reports (2023); Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) White Paper.

J-rock, or Japanese rock music, has also been a driving force in the country's music scene. Bands like X Japan, Glay, and Radwimps have gained a massive following, both domestically and internationally.

In the early 2000s, the Japanese government officially recognized its entertainment industry as a primary source of through the "Cool Japan" initiative.