Social distinctions related to class, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation that mean a lot in everyday life tend to mean less in the world of show business. Indeed, it's one of the few places where the normally dispossessed can expect an even break, especially in Japan.

However, the insularity that characterizes careers in the popular arts also fortifies any outsider status these popular artists may possess and thus make them more sensitive about that status. Japanese show business is filled with ethnic Koreans who are still reluctant to reveal their heritage; and performers who overcame poverty may never quite overcome the feeling of being second-class, no matter how much money they make.

One of Japanese show business's greatest success stories is Shinsuke Shimada, a former juvenile delinquent who made his name as a comic during the manzai (standup comedy) boom of the early 1980s. Possessed of a nimble wit, Shimada has since become one of the most sought-after emcees on television. He currently hosts eight different quiz or variety shows, and until last spring helmed TV Asahi's Sunday morning news program. In addition, as a self-taught financial wizard, he has written several best-selling books about investment strategies for lay people.