Another significant aspect of Japanese entertainment is its television industry. Japanese television shows, known as "dorama," cover a wide range of genres, from drama and comedy to science fiction and horror. Popular dramas like "Gaki no Tsukai" and "Showa Kashi" have gained a large following in Japan and have also been exported to other countries. Japanese television is also known for its variety shows, such as "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai" and "Quiz! Millionaire," which have become staples of Japanese entertainment.

Japanese television is notoriously conservative. LGBTQ+ representation is often played for minstrel-like laughs (using onee tropes). Foreigners are frequently cast as the "stupid, loud" outsider ( gaijin tarento ). Late-night variety shows are desperate for ratings and often resort to humiliating low-tier comedians.

Modern Japanese entertainment draws heavily from its traditional past.

Anime is primarily a loss-leader marketing tool to sell manga, light novels, and merchandise. Production committees (a consortium of publishers, toy companies, music labels, and TV stations) spread financial risk, which also leads to conservative, copy-cat production trends (e.g., the annual “isekai” (another world) fantasy flood).

: Highly synchronized idol groups and virtual singers (like Vocaloids) command massive, fiercely loyal fanbases through interactive hand-shake events and gamified fandoms.