A surge of Japanese celebrities are announcing their decision to leave their agencies and pursue independent careers. This recent trend, involving several well-known personas, brings a new shift in the Japanese entertainment industry traditionally operated by talent agencies. Although the reasons for these departures vary, many seen being driven by the desire for more personal control and creative freedom.

In Japan, talent agencies govern almost all aspects of celebrities' careers, resulting in a very homogenised industry. Therefore, celebrities choosing to operate independently is a significant and somewhat controversial move. While offering potential benefits such as creative freedom and financial advantage, it also carries risks in terms of securing work and upholding public image, topics of considerable interest among Japanese people.

In the US and EU, while talent agencies play a critical role in boosting artists' careers, independent contracts and flat-fee arrangements are relatively common, granting performers more freedom over their work. Hence, whilst being somewhat unconventional, independent career moves in the entertainment industry are more accepted and mainstream in comparison to Japan.