Japanese companies did not rush their entry into foreign markets, taking their time to study and learn the best means of cultural penetration.
The contemporary Japanese entertainment landscape is dominated by three distinct but interconnected titans: Anime, Manga, and Gaming.
Japanese entertainment is famously "sticky" with intellectual property (IP). For years, Western fans complained about the "Region Lock." This stems from Uchi-Soto : the industry prioritizes the domestic market ( Uchi - inside) first. International sales are secondary.
The most visible pillars of the industry are anime and manga. Unlike Western comics, which were historically viewed as "for kids," manga in Japan covers every conceivable genre—from high-stakes corporate drama to gourmet cooking.