The year featured several high-profile theatrical releases and global streaming hits. : Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
| Sector | Winner | Loser | Deep Takeaway | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Streaming (Netflix, D+), ufotable | Broadcast TV slots, CGI-heavy shows | The global audience now dictates production priorities. | | Music | Yoasobi, Ado (anonymous/solo acts) | Johnny's idols, AKB48 | Trust in manufactured groups collapsed; raw, direct lyrical rage won. | | Gaming | Switch (OLED), Genshin Impact | PlayStation 5 (supply in Japan) | Japanese gamers preferred portability over power in 2021. | | Live-Action | Amazon/Netflix originals | Fuji TV Getsuku | The TV season drama is dead; longform streaming is king. | | VTubing | Hololive (corporate) | Independent VTubers | Management and IP protection became as important as talent. | japan xxx hd 2021
Ironically, the best-selling "Japanese" music act in 2021 was Korean. BTS's Japanese singles ( Butter , Permission to Dance ) topped the Oricon charts. This forced Japanese agencies (Johnny & Associates, now Smile-Up) to accelerate their digital distribution, finally releasing catalogues on Spotify and Apple Music. | | Gaming | Switch (OLED), Genshin Impact