A Japanese idol (アイドル, aidoru?) is a celebrity who achieves widespread popularity and fame in Japan largely by virtue of their looks and propaganda techniques intended to work for them. The term usually refers to female performers in their teens and early twenties who are considered "kawaii" (pretty, cute) and achieve fame through publicity in the mass media. Male performers, such as Takuya Kimura and Masahiro Nakai (aka "Nakai-kun"), both from a singing group SMAP, are also commonly referred to (and refer to themselves as) "idols." Japanese idols are predominantly singers and actors, as well as models (in the case of females) for weekly men's magazines such as "Friday" and "Shūkan Gendai". Some of them may also appear as TV personalities (tarento).
