Generation Z Artists

Chapter 170 Living with Bloodline

After the appetizers, the atmosphere became cheerful again, and the program finally began to move towards its core theme.

It was very natural, very smooth, and very emotional.

What makes Takeshi Kitano's shows so interesting is that he never engages in stiff interviews or sentimentalism; he always manages to achieve a deep emotional resonance through humor, satire, and banter.

For example, he has now taken the pre-conference approach to in-depth communication to a whole new level.

"Okay, it seems I really don't deserve to be your sugar daddy. It's too inappropriate for the two of us to stand together; no one would think we're related by blood..."

While mocking himself for being too ugly, he relentlessly took advantage of Fang Xinghe, retaliating while also bringing up the main topic.

"But we can be brothers, you know? I feel a special connection with you the moment I see you..."

It's a perfectly normal statement, but when he says it in his uniquely playful tone, it's absolutely hilarious.

But he had a blank expression on one half of his face, while the other half was making faces, still looking like he was taking advantage of Fang Xinghe.

The guests burst into laughter again.

But Takeshi Kitano immediately became serious.

“It’s true, Fang Xinghe, we are very similar.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned serious. Realizing what was happening, the guests immediately stopped smiling and listened attentively to his story.

"My father was an alcoholic and a gambling addict. When I was very young, he would often beat my mother after drinking.

My mother was an intellectual, and she had high expectations for my brother and me, but I wasn't a filial child, and I disappointed her many times..."

Takeshi Kitano's upbringing was remarkably similar to that of Fang Xinghe.

No, it's even worse.

Fang Tonghui is at least concerned about his reputation and wouldn't suddenly rush to the school to humiliate Fang Xinghe.

But Takeshi Kitano's father, Kikujiro, was different. When he was drunk, he would do all sorts of terrible things, even causing a scene at a school parent-teacher meeting and his brother's wedding.

This kind of thing caused almost devastating damage to the self-esteem of a young boy.

But he was luckier than Fang Xinghe—yes, he said it himself.

“I am luckier than you, Fang Xinghe. My father still has a concept of family. When he doesn’t drink, he loves me and my brother. He is not the kind of bad person who has completely lost his humanity. He just has poor self-control.”

I realized this much later.

For a period of time, he lay in his hospital bed and would often burst into tears. Before he died, he called me to his bedside and told me: I regret not talking to you more often before.

I countered by asking him: Don't you think it's too late?

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, losing the power to defend himself.

He must have been very disappointed.
Actually, me too.

Much later, I suddenly realized that my father actually smiled at me quite often when he was alive.

So I made "Kikujiro's Summer," a film about my remembrance of him, and also a film about my reconciliation with myself.

It wasn't until I read your book and saw how you and Fang Tonghui got along that I realized once again that misfortune is a cycle, and that among all the misfortunes, I am not the one in the worst situation.

But we are the kind of people who are born with the power to fight against misfortune, aren't we?

We are really alike.

You write books, and so do I; you like movies, and so do I; you're good at making sarcastic remarks, and so am I.

Every time I see what you've accomplished, I feel like I'm seeing an even more amazing version of myself.

I've been wanting to talk to you for a while, and that's why.

It doesn't matter if we mock each other, curse each other, or even go a little too far.

Come on, tell me, what do you think of Takeshi Kitano and his film *Kikujiro's Summer*?

Takeshi Kitano looked at Fang Xinghe with anticipation.

But that was just an illusion.

He doesn't expect any praise, nor does he need anyone to praise him.

This little old man is in the most sincere and passionate time of his life, completely self-sufficient, like a treasure trove.

Fang Xinghe had no intention of offering praise to this master as a junior student; that would be too cliché.

He replied very calmly, "I haven't seen 'Kikujiro's Summer' yet. I heard you filmed it as very heartwarming, but I have no warmth and I have no intention of making peace with anyone."

He gave a chilling answer that made everyone in the room hold their breath.

"As for you..."

Fang Xinghe continued to make startling remarks: "The only person I know about you is the one the media portrays. If we could become friends, I would read my final eulogy at your funeral, and that would be my complete assessment."

This is not a curse, but rather my respect and reverence for a master.

So I have nothing to say right now. I lack the will to do it, I lack the understanding to do it, I lack the stance to take, and I lack the qualifications to do it.

I wonder if this answer is the same as what you expected from Fang Xinghe?

It's different, so very different.

No one expected that Fang Xinghe would still be so brave and reckless, even while recording a program.

But Takeshi Kitano laughed heartily, so much so that he danced with joy.

"awesome!"

He exclaimed, "This is fantastic! I envy anyone who can be your friend; you're the most interesting friend ever!"

He is Takeshi Kitano, with enough magnanimity to tolerate a teenager's rebellion.

However, not everyone present could do it.

Fukuda Kazuya thought this was a point worth attacking, so he shook his head and sighed, "How rude..."

Li Xiaomu is not a good-tempered person either—it would be strange if a so-called writer who could become a big shot among the Chinese in Japan's red-light district had a good temper.

He responded sarcastically, "That's just the personality of young people. I don't really understand it, but it sounds really impressive."

“Of course he’s amazing.” Mariko suddenly glanced over and said sarcastically, “At least the Japanese literary world acknowledges him as a writer, not some nonsense.”

Li Xiaomu's face instantly turned bright red.

His identity as a writer comes from a book that describes the red-light district and seafood trade, and it is clear that the Japanese literary world does not think highly of him.

The more crucial reason is that Japan's political system doesn't really need support from the Chinese community, so the so-called Chinese business leaders and community representatives don't actually have much influence.

Mariko's attempt to defend Fang Xinghe against him was futile; there was no one to smooth things over.

"You...are unreasonable!"

Li Xiaomu lowered his voice angrily, a little cowardly, but at least it proved he wasn't stupid.

When the show aired, all footage related to him was cut out, and viewers were unaware of the minor unpleasant incident that occurred on set.

Just focus on Fang Xinghe, who has the time to pay attention to them?

Unlike him, Masahiro Nakai has many shots because he always adds the right things at the right time.

"Fang Xinghe's will is truly unwavering; his hatred and love are so intense—that's a hallmark of a genius!"

The word "genius" serves as a transition, smoothly shifting the topic to achievements.

“Yes, it’s remarkable.” Takehiko Inoue rarely interrupted, going straight to his old expertise, “especially the feat of making it to the NBA, which is something that people of Asian descent have never achieved before.”

Takeshi Kitano immediately followed up with a curious question: "Inoue-san, you know about basketball too?"

Takehiko Inoue rolled his eyes: "I don't understand, I've never even seen it."

"Hahahaha!"

The audience burst into laughter.

Nakai Masahiro continued to play the straight man: "Inoue-san, if you were to give your opinion, who does Fang Xinghe-san resemble the most?"

He didn't add any qualifiers, but everyone knew he was asking who was more like a character from "Slam Dunk".

As a manga that swept across Asia, Slam Dunk's influence was several times greater than that of Fang Xinghe's three books.

This is not an exaggeration; the threshold for written words is far higher than that for images, and the reach of literary works is nowhere near that of comics.

Therefore, Takehiko Inoue possesses the right to criticize Fang Xinghe from a superior position, but he himself does not want to use this right.

"Fang Xinghe's achievements have far surpassed all the characters in the comics. He is aiming for the NBA and is a potential number one draft pick. This is something I never even imagined."

Takehiko Inoue sighed, deeply moved.

"Even without considering his achievements, just looking at his appearance and temperament, he surpasses the most popular character, Rukawa Kaede. If I had met Fang Xinghe earlier, I would definitely have used him as a model to create an even more charming character. It's such a pity!"

This wasn't a valuable statement; he had reservations.

Kitano Takeshi wanted more than just praise, so he turned to Orimo Takehiko and asked, "Orimo-san? Could you explain Fang Xinghe-san's strength to us laymen?"

Takehiko Orimori is a key point guard for the Japanese men's national basketball team and currently plays for the JBL Toyota Motor team. He is known for his accurate three-point shooting and is called "Mr. Basketball of Japan".

He is currently the number one player in Japanese basketball, the core of the national team, a legend on the road, and his influence in the entire sports world is enormous.

If you want to talk about basketball, he's the only one in all of Japan who's qualified to stand in front of Fang Xinghe.

"Wait a minute! Fang Xinghe is a superstar I greatly admire. I dare not speak presumptuously about his abilities; that would be too rude."

Takehiko Orimoto was very humble and gave a deep bow.

It wasn't until Takeshi Kitano invited him again, and the other guests egged him on, that he reluctantly spoke up.

"All I can say is that the gap between me and Fang Xinghe is so large that I can't even comprehend it. For example, if I wanted to participate in the NBA draft, I would definitely go undrafted. Among all undrafted players, I'm at a 60-point level, while an undrafted player who can get a 10-day NBA contract is at a 90-point level."

Above that, a second-round pick is at the 120-point level, a first-round pick is at the 150-point level, a lottery pick is at the 200-point level, and Fang Xinghe is a superstar with over 300 points…”

His attitude of praising Fang Xinghe to the skies was correct, but it lacked persuasiveness.

Takeshi Kitano had no choice but to press further: "Isn't that an exaggeration? Where exactly is the difference?"

"Body."

Takehiko Orimo finally understood what he meant and gave a detailed explanation to the audience.

"Basketball is the sport that demands the highest level of comprehensive physical qualities. Height, wingspan, speed, agility, strength, jumping ability, explosiveness... If you are slightly lacking in talent, you may become an invincible wall."

There has never been an Asian guard in NBA history. It's not that we can't develop the skills, but rather that we lack the physique to bring those skills to fruition.

I'm also a guard, and I know all of Fang Xinghe's techniques, but I can't use them against NBA players.

It's utterly impossible to fight against an opponent with such a vast physical difference; it's utterly hopeless.

Therefore, I never believed that people of Asian descent could do well in the NBA. Mengke Bateer and Wang Junkai from China are examples. They are the strongest centers in Asia, but they only played a few minutes in the NBA.

The situation will only get more brutal at the backcourt. Without our height advantage, we'll be torn apart by Black guards like a cat chasing a mouse.

This is not because I am weak; so far, Fang Xinghe is the only exception.

Fang Xinghe's physical attributes are enough to overwhelm even the most talented Black people. He has surpassed the upper limit of Asian basketball, and even the upper limit of race.

This is an incredible miracle, proving to us a very important possibility!

Towards the end, his expression became somewhat fanatical.

For decades, the Japanese men's basketball team has never played against the United States in a major tournament, but they are not pushovers—the Japanese national team can find NCAA Division I college teams to play training games before every major tournament.

Although they hadn't won a single game, they knew best the strength of those black beasts.

Most NCAA stars who have dominated men's basketball teams don't make it to the NBA.

The gap between them is simply despair-inducing.

Therefore, as a member of the national men's basketball team, Takehiko Orimoto firmly believed in the theory of racial disparity and was not ashamed of it until Fang Xinghe emerged.

"Does this prove that we Asians can do it too?"

Nakai Masahiro confirmed with emotion, and Orimo Takehiko nodded vigorously: "Yes! That proves it!"

"Hiss!"

Norika Fujiwara and Mariko were amazed.

"That's amazing."

"Yes, it is the glory of all Asia!"

This time, the unrest in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and even the entire Southeast Asia is essentially due to the word "proof".

Fang Xinghe's ambition to become the NBA's number one draft pick as a guard is no less significant than shattering the "sick man of East Asia" label for the second time.

Actually, the basketball foundation in these countries and regions is not very strong. There are many people who watch the games, but few who actually play. Whether Fang Xinghe plays in the NBA or not has little to do with them. The key is racial confidence.

That's the topic I most want to discuss on today's program.

Takeshi Kitano finally got to Fang Xinghe.

"Fang Xinghe, what are your thoughts on racial differences?"

Fang Xinghe has already answered this question in the country, only the wording is slightly different.

Takeshi Kitano asked very broad questions without setting any limits, making it easier to answer. Fang Xinghe could discuss the topic in any depth or at any level.

This is because race is a very sensitive topic in Japan.

From a historical perspective, the aristocratic class, led by the Emperor, placed great importance on the purification of bloodlines.

From a policy perspective, postwar Japan enacted the Eugenics Act to encourage mixed-race individuals.

Based on public sentiment, people are quite fond of mixed-race individuals.

Based on social realities, they also subtly reject foreigners.

Based on right-wing ideology, the theory of bloodline is deeply ingrained.

From a left-wing perspective, modern reform is essential.

So, what exactly is right?

There is no true right or wrong, only ubiquitous awkwardness and contradiction.

This also means that no matter how Fang Xinghe answers, it will be impossible to satisfy everyone.

But he never intended to satisfy the Japanese.

"This question is too broad."

The boy spoke calmly, his voice carrying the weight of thunder and lightning.

"Are we just talking about basketball, or should we broaden our discussion to include everything related to race?"

Takeshi Kitano vaguely sensed something was wrong, but this old rogue was also someone who wasn't afraid of making things worse. He asked with great interest, "How about just talking about basketball? Or how about a more in-depth discussion?"

"If we're just talking about basketball, then it is indeed a sport that is more suitable for Black people than for Asian people, based on its rules."

Fang Xinghe undermined everyone's sense of shared honor because of him.

"All the qualities required for basketball—height, long limbs, good jumping ability, explosive power, low body fat percentage, high muscle density—are exactly what Black people are naturally gifted with."

This isn't anyone's fault; it just happens that the rules of this sport are like that: small courts, simple tactics, emphasis on impact, no need for complex calculations. It's inherently more suited to Black people, and that's how the current outcome came about.

The NBA is dominated by Black players, with no Asian player achieving significant success.

Does this prove the racial disparities you're talking about?

No, it can't.

We're just not really suited for basketball, that's all.

This incompatibility won't change because of my exceptional case. If I become the NBA's number one draft pick and then the king of the NBA, it only proves that I'm strong, not anything else.

Similarly, even if I don't play in the NBA and leave everything as it is, it doesn't prove that Asians are inferior.

You care too much about these superficial things.

Japan is a developed country with a strong cultural influence, significant achievements in the arts, and an excellent education system, enjoying a stellar reputation internationally.

Why are you so insecure?

Despite being harshly scolded by Fang Xinghe, the guests at the scene felt a warmth in their hearts.

"Fang Xinghe-sang's words make a lot of sense..."

"When Fang Xinghe speaks, he never speaks, but when he does, it is always something that will benefit others."

“Wow, that’s really true. Even I, a layman, can understand it.”

Flattery poured in, and they were completely overwhelmed by Fang Xinghe's magnanimity.

This kind of objectivity is rare in Japan; their public figures would never speak like that. Bowing, apologizing, and then going on and on is the proper way to do it.

Who dares to be as arrogant as Fang Xinghe?
They themselves dared not, but they inexplicably admired Fang Xinghe's arrogance, which was incredibly awkward.

Takehiko Orimoto felt great, his lips trembling with excitement.

The reasoning expressed by Fang Xinghe himself addressed the frustration and despair of the Japanese men's basketball team's perceived lack of skill on a legal level.

It's not that we're bad, it's that this sport is too strange!
As Asia's number one basketball player, Fang Xinghe's views are undoubtedly true. Who understands basketball better than him?
Not only him, but also a vast audience across Japan felt comforted, refreshed, and thrilled after the program aired.

My affection for the other party, Xinghe, has increased dramatically; he seems pleasing to the eye no matter what I do.

However, this feeling only lasted for a short minute.

After the applause and cheers subsided, Takeshi Kitano persisted in asking, "So, what if we discuss racial differences more deeply? Does Fang Xinghe still insist that there is no gap, only differences?"

What happened next left the audience with extremely mixed feelings.

"Ah, yes, there are."

Fang Xinghe nodded naturally, and with an exceptionally absolute, confident, and calm attitude, delivered a shocking speech that could be considered outrageous in contemporary Japan.

"If we are discussing the overall merits and demerits of races, then without a doubt, the paternal genes from the Han Chinese are the best source of bloodline."

Currently, the world's historical community only recognizes that we have a history of more than 3000 years. So let's calculate it according to three thousand years. We created the only uninterrupted civilization in the world today. Through the Four Great Inventions, we gave birth to modern Western civilization and developed the Chinese cultural sphere that encompasses the whole of Asia.

I've heard that your country is conducting genetic research, and the conclusion is roughly that the Japanese bloodline originated from the fusion of the local Jomon people and the Yayoi people, mainly incorporating the paternal genes of the southeastern coastal branch of the Han Chinese.

In terms of culture, Japan inherited from the Tang Dynasty, and Korea followed the Ming Dynasty; the resulting national identity and cultural origins are highly related.

Once ethnicity is stripped away and only individual differences are considered, the yellow race, dominated by the paternal genes of the Chinese people, has the greatest strength, the strongest endurance, less body hair, mild body odor, clean skin, antiviral and anti-allergy properties, extremely high intelligence, and the best organization and coordination among people of the same size.

Back then, the fighting strength and will of the Japanese militarists were second only to the Chinese and far surpassed those of the Western powers.

This is not conclusive evidence, but I urge you all to ask yourselves: does your pride in calling yourselves the Great Japanese Empire stem from your national character, your bloodline, or your core culture?
This is a question that requires deep thought.

But regardless of their origin, they are all ultimately highly related to Chinese civilization.

I firmly believe that people of the yellow race, who possess Chinese paternal genes, are the most superior race. I do not have sufficient evidence to fully prove this point; I simply believe it and move forward with this spirit.

I did not succeed because of my bloodline, but my inner strength and spirit will always be with my lineage.

After he finished speaking, the entire audience was stunned.

　Special statement: The 56 ethnic groups are one family. I don't believe in bloodline theory, I only believe in cultural identity. This is just an answer that is generously provided to Japan. Stop spreading rumors and labeling me every day.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)