Is It Impossible to Cut Back on Spending for Your Favorite Activities? The Unwavering "Mental Living Expenses" Amid Rising Prices—A Survey Reflects Real Consumption Trends

The important point here is that oshikatsu expenses are not seen as "luxury," but rather as a "function of life" for the individual.
While food and utility costs can be cut, reducing oshikatsu can lead to mental breakdown. Alternatively, having oshikatsu motivates one to work hard. This sentiment is reflected in the numbers.

On the other hand, whether spending control is going well is another issue.
In the same survey,over 90% (91.6%) did oshikatsu without setting a budget, andabout 60% (58.3%) had experiences of overspending on oshikatsu, and **over 60% (63.3%) struggled with spending management**. A common concern is "unable to cope with sudden high expenses."PR TIMES, No.1 in Press Release and News Release Distribution Share

In conclusion,
it's difficult to cut oshikatsu expenses. However, if you don't "design" them while being unable to cut them, it becomes challenging.

3. Average Oshikatsu Spending: How Much Per Month? How Much Per Year? — Where is the "Normal Range"?

Oshikatsu spending varies depending on the community, genre, and way of supporting, making it easy to worry, "Am I spending too much?"

According to Japanese data on youth oshikatsu spending,the average monthly spending on oshikatsu is about 13,305 yen, with differences by age group, showing a tendency for those in their 30s to spend more.Nippon.com
This figure is close to the feeling of the "light to middle" group. Spending in the 10,000 yen range per month is easily reached with membership fees, streaming, small goods, and a few visits to collaboration cafes.

On the other hand, broader estimates include a large scale of participants and annual spending on oshikatsu. For example, a Reuters report estimates that about14 million people may be involved in oshikatsu, and the average annual spending is estimated ataround 250,000 yen, with an economic impact ofaround 3.5 trillion yen per year.Reuters
An annual 250,000 yen translates to about 21,000 yen per month, which is a range that is quite possible even for the "middle" group.

4. "Where Does the Money Go?" — Breaking Down Oshikatsu Expenditures

Oshikatsu spending can generally be categorized into the following six categories.

① Tickets (Concerts, Performances, Events)
Primary sales, fan club pre-sales, general sales, streaming tickets. Recently, seat types have become more detailed, with more upgrades and perks. This spending is most concentrated on the value of "meeting your oshi."

② Goods (Official, Collaboration, Venue-Exclusive)
Acrylic stands, fans, penlights, costume motifs, random sales, limited quantities. Goods often accelerate purchases due to "out of stock."

③ Travel (Transportation, Accommodation, Meals, Sightseeing)
Travel is what amplifies the "experiential consumption" of oshikatsu. In investigative reports on oshikatsu travel,the average cost per trip is about 47,000 yen, with a maximum of 800,000 yen. The main purpose is most often concerts, with the purchase of limited goods also shown as a factor driving travel enthusiasm.FNN Prime Online

④ Digital Payments (Streaming, Subscriptions, Membership Services)
Monthly fees, memberships, tips, exclusive chats, exclusive videos. Even small amounts accumulate as "quiet fixed costs."

⑤ Oshikatsu Presentation (Cafes, Altars, Photography, Props)
Oshi-colored drinks, balloons, altar items, photogenic setups. Easily linked with social media, spending becomes an "expression" in this area.

⑥ Secondary Spending (Beauty, Clothing, Nails, Preparation)
Meeting your oshi, going to the venue, taking photos. This is where "self-care" emerges as spending. Often overlooked, but actually significant.

Looking at this structure, the reason why oshikatsu expenses are hard to save becomes clear.
Oshikatsu involves **goods (merchandise), experiences, and subscriptions (continuity)** running simultaneously. Cutting any of them can significantly drop satisfaction levels.

5. The Biggest Reason "It's Hard to Save": Oshikatsu Has Become "Mental Infrastructure"

So why can't oshikatsu expenses be cut?
According to the survey, oshikatsu is linked to "happiness," "mental condition," and "necessities of life."PR TIMES, No.1 in Press Release and News Release Distribution Share+1

This is not about "effort." It's a structural issue.

• Identity Formation: Oshi can become a pillar supporting "who you are," more than just "liking" (especially in times of deep loneliness).

• Recovery Device: Oshikatsu is directly linked to recovery from fatigue and stress. "I can get through this week because of this."

• Community Formation: Communities form on social media and at events, making oshikatsu a circuit for human relationships.

• Time-Limited Happiness: The activity period of an oshi may be finite. Therefore, "now or never" becomes stronger.

Moreover, oshikatsu involves manyunpredictable expenses.
The performances you can attend change with lottery results. Additional performances are announced. Limited goods suddenly drop. Collaborations start. Birthday ads are launched.
This "uncertainty" makes saving difficult. While household budgets run on "predictions," oshikatsu runs on "surprises."

6. Financial Concerns Are Real: The Gap Between "Ideal" and "Reality" for Oshikatsu Fans

Even if oshikatsu is mental infrastructure, financial concerns do not disappear.
An article introducing another survey (on oshikatsu and money) shows that about two-thirds of oshikatsu participants have concerns, with "not enough money for oshikatsu" and "unable to save" ranking high.MarkeZine

What is happening here is a clash of values.
The self that thinks "oshikatsu is necessary" and the self that thinks "I should save for the future" are fighting within the same wallet.
As a result, "guilt" and "no regrets" coexist. In fact, while "anxiety and conflict" are the most common feelings when overspending, "no regrets" closely follows, according to the results.PR TIMES, No.1 in Press Release and News Release Distribution Share

This contradiction can be seen as a sign that oshikatsu is transitioning from "just entertainment" to "a part of life."

7. Oshikatsu Drives the Economy: Market Size and Expansion of "Peripheral Industries"

The rise of oshikatsu affects not only individual happiness but also companies and regional economies.
In an explanation published in the Ministry of Finance's public relations magazine "Finance," Yano Research Institute's estimate shows that the market size of the "otaku" major 16 sectors is expected to expand by about 50% from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024, with the total for fiscal 2024 reaching **approximately 1,009 billion yen** as shown in the chart.Ministry of Finance+1

While "oshikatsu" and the "otaku market" are not entirely synonymous, it is certain that related areas are steadily growing.

Yano Research Institute's press release also mentions that many major sectors are growing, with both tickets and goods driving 2.5-dimensional musicals, and the presence of inbound demand is also noted.Yano Research Institute for Market Research and Marketing