From the latter half of the 20th century to the present, Japanese characters have gained global acceptance alongside advances in technology and changes in media. Manga, a relatively traditional medium, developed its own unique systems in Japan, such as the “weekly” publishing model and “reader surveys” seen in Weekly Shonen Jump. These mechanisms allowed a steady cycle of renewal while maintaining quality, creating the foundation for works like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Manga then evolved into television anime. As popular series were adapted into animated form and achieved success, they gradually began to reach international audiences as well.

In the gaming medium, which developed from the 1980s onward, Nintendo introduced a wave of new characters such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda. Remarkably, Mario, Donkey Kong, and Link were all created by Shigeru Miyamoto. These characters have since expanded beyond video games, entering theme parks and films where they have also achieved major success.

Japanese games often blend playful fantasy with real-world elements, such as mushrooms that change a character’s size. Japanese traits such as careful attention to detail and small, playful touches may also contribute to how manga, anime, and games resonate with audiences.

After decades of development, Japan’s character business now stands in what can be described as a golden age.