: Recent studies highlight a "split" in the industry. While domestic networks still dominate within Japan, international platforms like Netflix are distributing more "off-mainstream" or niche fare like The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House to reach a global audience. Perspectives on Audience Engagement
The following quotes from IAFOR and ResearchGate illustrate how viewers personally connect with Japanese media: : Recent studies highlight a "split" in the industry
“...audiences engage with media programs to experience enjoyment and relaxation, temporarily diverting from the issues one need to deal with in reality.” The IAFOR Research Archive Research indicates that these dramas often serve as
“"Japan drama, anime, and music significantly increase students' motivation to learn Japan, especially through the introduction of new vocabulary..."” ResearchGate Representative Scholarly Resources A Systematic Review of Drama Research Using Data Mining " "stylish fashion
: Viewers are primarily drawn to visual and emotional elements such as "good-looking actors," "stylish fashion," and "inspirational themes". Research indicates that these dramas often serve as a form of entertainment education , where audiences (especially younger generations) balance enjoyment with learning cultural values or language.
: In the 1990s and early 2000s, J-dramas enjoyed immense popularity across East Asia due to a shared sense of "Asian modernity". Fans in regions like Taiwan and Hong Kong identified with the "ganbaru" message (striving and struggling hard) depicted by urban heroes.