America: My Time

Chapter 465 Accident
Chapter 465 Unexpected

"What happened? Why is Akina like this?" John frowned upon seeing Akina Nakamori's pale face, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He asked Naoko, knowing that Naoko and Akina were close and might know something to tell him what was going on. Had someone attacked him again, trying to use Akina Nakamori as an enemy? Was it Yoshiaki Tsutsumi?
Yes, John immediately thought of Yoshiaki Tsutsumi of the Seibu Group, because this guy had been making some underhanded moves regarding his development of real estate in Japan. It was also very possible that Akina Nakamori had been targeted, since her family was too easily manipulated.

"The death of Yukiko Okada has had a significant impact on Akina, and her family is also harassing Universal Music!"

John understood instantly why Nakamori Akina had become like this. Okada Yukiko's death not only saddened her close friend Nakamori Akina but also caused a turmoil throughout Japan. Many agencies were affected, and he didn't know what was happening with Elite Agency, as he hadn't paid attention to it for a long time. As for Akina's family, they were too greedy; they would do anything for money.

Akina Nakamori is a person who cares about her reputation, but what her family did made her lose face completely. First, they went to her agency to demand money, and now they've gone to her record company. They completely disregard Akina's feelings. Perhaps all they care about is money, and they have no family affection at all. In fact, this kind of situation is not uncommon in Japan, and it's even more common in the entertainment industry.

John, however, was also puzzled. That greedy family had sold Nakamori Akina for a good price, and it was unbelievable that they had spent that money in such a short time. Although Japan's economy was developing rapidly, that family had limited access to resources; how could they possibly have spent such a large sum of money in such a short period? Could it be that her unreliable father had done some 'big business' again, resulting in a direct loss of the money?
"What's going on? I remember that Pioneer gave us a considerable sum of money back then. How long has it been? Could it be that they've already spent that money? And I remember that they had an agreement with Pioneer back then. I think that agreement is still with the record company. Don't they have any scruples at all? Don't they care about Akina's feelings at all?"

At this moment, Naoko sighed, and Kuroki Hitomi shook her head. They couldn't bring themselves to bring up such a matter. Moreover, that family was really too greedy. Perhaps in their hearts, Akina was just a cash cow, and they wouldn't care about any agreement. As long as Akina was still an entertainer, this family would not let go.

In fact, the more a celebrity comes from a humble background, the more crazy and reckless their family becomes after they become famous. When they are exposed to boundless temptations, they will frantically treat their family members as cash cows, without any regard for their feelings. Nakamori Akina is a clear example of this. Her family is reckless and has fallen into a crazy greed.

"Alright, don't be sad over such a small matter. Your family's affairs will be handled by the record company and agency, so you don't need to worry too much. As for their endless demands, that's your choice; outsiders can't interfere. If you find it difficult, move here and live with Naoko; it will reduce your worries. As for Okada Yukiko's death, it was just an accident, and no one could have done anything about it. Since it has already happened, you have to face it!"

John knew that the greedy family had some sense of shame and wouldn't make a big fuss. Besides, if Nakamori Akina moved here, they wouldn't have the chance to cause trouble again, which was no ordinary matter.

Upon hearing of Yukiko Okada's death, John couldn't help but sigh. He feared that a storm was brewing in the Japanese entertainment industry, and the idol market would soon enter a downturn. At this time, Onyanko Club had already emerged, a group formed without any preparation or management experience. It was easy to imagine how chaotic it would become. Once a problem arose, it would be uncontrollable and would affect the entire idol market.

I've come at a really bad time; I'd completely forgotten about the changes happening in Japan right now. But since I'm here, I need to make changes to the situation here. I need to prepare in advance, at least before the era of bands arrives. I need to be prepared for the idol ice age, at least to ensure that my agency isn't too badly affected.

"Akina, Naoko, you two need to be prepared too. Japanese idols are about to enter a slump. Akimoto Yasushi's Onyanko Club will be the fuse that ignites the idol industry's downfall. With his current experience, he can't control such an idol group. If there's even the slightest problem, it will be blown out of proportion, and the entire idol industry will enter a period of stagnation. Elite Agency will not be taking any action this year. We need to be cautious in the face of the crisis that may erupt at any time."

Surprised, the three beauties were taken aback when John said this. This was something they hadn't expected. Although Hitomi Kuroki had left the entertainment industry, she still paid close attention to its developments. The death of Yukiko Okada had already caused a major upheaval. If Onyanko Club were to suffer a similar fate, the idol market might truly collapse. Elite Agency primarily focused on female idols; such a situation would have a significant impact on the agency, potentially even affecting its future. This made her wonder: if Elite Agency were affected, could she intervene in its affairs, could she have some influence over it?
Although Naoko is also a member of the agency, after observing for so long, Hitomi Kuroki realized that Naoko clearly had the opportunity to take control of Elite Agency, but she did nothing and wasted the opportunity that was within her grasp. So at this moment, she had an idea in her mind and intended to use the power of TV Tokyo to influence Elite Agency.

In the current situation, Hitomi Kuroki felt powerless because Naoko and Akina Nakamori clearly had a good relationship and were almost always on the same side. This put pressure on Hitomi, so she wanted to speak out about the current situation.

If the Japanese idol market were to enter an ice age, this would be her opportunity. Although she was only nominally affiliated with TV Tokyo, she still wielded considerable influence, far surpassing that of Naoko and Akina Nakamori. Therefore, she was now restless and eager to gain more power.

Naoko wasn't too concerned about whether the idol market had changed, because she wasn't interested in gains or losses anymore. She had long since broken free from the constraints of being an idol, so although she was somewhat surprised, she didn't think there was anything wrong with it, nor did she think Elite Agency would be affected. After all, with Phoenix Group and Legendary Entertainment as its backers, Elite Agency didn't lack resources, and even if the idol market was bad, it wouldn't have a major impact on the agency.

As for money, neither Naoko nor Hitomi Kuroki are short of money now. After all, they are not like Akina Nakamori, and their families are not so greedy and foolish. They have more money than most people could ever have in a lifetime. In contrast, most of the money Akina Nakamori earned was taken away by greedy people, and these greedy people are still demanding money from her agency and record company. It can only be said that they have gone crazy to an incomprehensible degree.

If Akina Nakamori didn't have John as a powerful figure behind her, her family's outrageous behavior would likely have been known to the outside world long ago, potentially even affecting her career. After all, such a family wouldn't help her development; they would only hold her back. In this situation, it would only harm Akina Nakamori herself.

Even John called it a crisis, which shows how bad the environment of the Japanese idol market is. In fact, the collapse of Japanese idols did not start entirely with Onyanko Club. There were many such cases, but Onyanko Club had too many problems. Because it was a large idol group and did not have enough experience, most of the Onyanko Club idols were involved in scandals, which directly brought down the Japanese idol market and plunged it into an ice age.

Akina Nakamori nodded thoughtfully, but Naoko didn't react, which made John shake his head. Naoko no longer seemed too concerned about her acting career. Perhaps because of the external help she received, which allowed her to reach a level many Japanese entertainers struggle to achieve, she was no longer so focused on it. In contrast, Akina Nakamori hadn't given up on her idol career and still held some hope.

John was somewhat surprised by Hitomi Kuroki's reaction; a change appeared on her face, as if she was quite concerned about the changes in the idol market. However, John didn't pay much attention. The existence of Elite Agency was merely to ensure that TV Tokyo and Phoenix Media were not affected by artists in Japan; as for how the idol market changed, it wouldn't have a significant impact.

"With the idol market entering a period of stagnation, will enka (Japanese folk music) revive?" At this moment, Hitomi Kuroki suddenly asked, a hint of anticipation in her eyes. Perhaps, given her background in Takarazuka, she had some ideas about enka. However, her understanding of the Japanese music scene and the Japanese music market was limited; she couldn't possibly foresee the changes in the Japanese music industry or what new things would replace the idol market with the arrival of the idol stagnation.

(End of this chapter)