America: My Time

Chapter 986 John's 'Guidance'

Chapter 956 John's 'Guidance'

When John finished speaking, everyone present was taken aback. They hadn't expected John to say such a thing, nor that he would be so open and direct in revealing the true state of Neon Entertainment. While the giants could naturally understand the current situation of Neon Entertainment, smaller companies might not have the same ability, which had a significant impact on them!

John was very satisfied with the reactions of everyone present. This was the result he wanted. Not only in Japan, but the whole world would be entering an entertainment feast, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Although many people had things to say and wanted to communicate with John, they soon found themselves at a loss for words, especially the smaller companies. They had no idea what to say to John! Cooperation? They didn't have the qualifications, and even if they wanted to cooperate, they didn't have the ability. Phoenix Media and Legendary Entertainment were global media and entertainment giants. If they wanted to cooperate with them, they had to show sincerity. Without sincerity, why would they help you?

These guys in Japan aren't unaware of Toyota's situation; it's common knowledge within Japanese businesses. Many attribute Toyota's success to John's integrity and his support for partners. Therefore, if they want to cooperate with Phoenix Group and Legendary Entertainment, they need to show sincerity; otherwise, it won't work.

The Japanese entertainment industry is extremely ruthless, especially for idols. Although the entertainment industry is expected to see great development and a large market in the future, no one knows whether idols can revive. After all, it is still a period of stagnation for idols. Without sufficient strength and powerful promotional capabilities, they will naturally not achieve anything.

Currently, only Elite Entertainment remains a dominant force among idol groups. From the outside, it's all thanks to their powerful resources; otherwise, it wouldn't be possible. Not to mention anything else, just consider Japanese music festivals and TV Tokyo – these guys can participate whenever they want, while other idols don't have such good fortune.

“John, let’s go over there and talk!” After some discussion, Akio Morita and John left the Japanese circle. During the discussion, everyone had their own opinions, and Phoenix Group and Legendary Entertainment both expressed their views. Their presence freed John up, since John, as the boss, didn’t have to get involved in many things.

With Akio Morita and John's departure, the atmosphere became quite intense. These guys were frantically vying for resources, making introductions to the bigwigs of television stations and advertising companies. The Japanese officials hadn't expected John to make such a bold statement, praising Japan's future entertainment market so highly. Most importantly, John attributed everything to the overall economic climate, leaving them utterly frustrated. It was like being directly insulted, yet they were speechless!

"John, are you sure that Japan's entertainment industry will flourish because of the current economic climate? I find this all rather abnormal, and it's hard to believe. A good economic climate and people having money are what make entertainment more developed, but how can entertainment flourish when nobody has money? Isn't this a bit too frivolous?"

“That’s not how it works. Mr. Morita, by saying that, you mean you haven’t done a thorough investigation. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have such an idea. The market is the best indicator of everything, and market changes are the only way to explain everything!” John shook his head as he spoke, because those sitting here were not only Akio Morita, but also some people from Matsushita and the government. Akio Morita’s words were also intended to raise questions for these government officials.

Akio Morita sighed and said, "I haven't done any research. As you know, the current economic climate isn't ideal. Moreover, the bursting of the real estate bubble has left me overwhelmed. The real estate I own has put a lot of pressure on me, and Sony's own electronics business has also been significantly impacted by rising costs, especially in North America. So, I haven't paid much attention to the changes in the Japanese entertainment industry!"

"The bursting of the real estate bubble has not only had a huge impact on the real economy, but also on the confidence and consumption habits of the Japanese people. I think the Japanese government should conduct a thorough investigation. Public opinion is very important, otherwise it will have a significant impact on Japan, and may even affect the normal development of Japan, causing the Japanese economy to stagnate even more. In my opinion, Japan's manufacturing industry will be in trouble for a long time, which is caused by the overall environment."

"Mr. John, isn't there a solution? The government has been making changes, and most importantly, if we don't, land prices in Japan will continue to rise, and the consequences will be even more severe!" The Japanese government representative finally spoke. This wasn't the first time they'd heard John's words, but his assertion that Japan's economy would fall into a deeper stagnation deeply worried them; after all, this would be a disaster for Japan. "I can't think of a solution, as my understanding in this area is limited. However, based on my investigation, I predict that if things continue like this in Japan, it will fall into a prolonged period of stagnation. The reason is a change in public attitudes. Their consumption habits have changed dramatically. As you know, if the consumption habits of the Japanese people change, it means that domestic demand will stagnate. Relying on overseas markets is unrealistic, given Japan's high production costs. What other solutions do you all think we can offer?"

Upon hearing John's words, the officials' expressions turned serious. Akio Morita, with a sudden thought, said, "John, it's because you saw this that you proposed tourism development. The cost is small, but the benefits if it succeeds are huge, and it could even change the current situation in Japan!"

"There is hope, but it requires the impetus of the Japanese government and the Japanese media and entertainment industry; otherwise, it's all just empty talk. To be honest, I think the situation in Japan is going to get even more chaotic. I don't know if you've noticed, but becoming a civil servant has become a very popular career choice for Japanese people, which will further impact the development of businesses. Top talents are going into the civil service, not the private sector. How can businesses recover under such circumstances? If the Japanese government cannot change the production cost problem, Japan's manufacturing industry has no hope and may even fall into a deeper predicament. Overseas markets will become the only option for major manufacturing companies, which will further exacerbate Japan's economic development!"

John's 'kind' explanation only made the Japanese officials feel even heavier. It wasn't that they didn't want to solve the production cost problem, but that they couldn't, because Japan was currently being targeted by those damned oil-rich capitalists.

"Mr. John, what are your thoughts on the Japanese real estate market?" John's expansion in Japan, especially the resurgence of the Mandarin Oriental Group and its continuous acquisitions of commercial real estate, has attracted the attention of the Japanese government and even Japanese real estate companies. Many people believe that this may be the beginning of a real estate recovery.

"My view remains one of utter despair. The reason is that the Japanese people's consumption habits have changed. If the Japanese government cannot reverse this situation, there is still no hope for the real estate market. Most importantly, this generation carries an enormous burden; many are struggling under the weight of mortgage payments. Moreover, a sense of despair is spreading among the Japanese people, which is not a good thing. This is something the Japanese government needs to address, otherwise, the overall environment in Japan will be affected. To give a good example, the sex industry is developing rapidly, and Japan's public security environment will also be affected. I believe you have all noticed this!"

The security situation in Japan isn't great these days, all because of Japan's economic problems, especially the horrific infighting within the sex industry. However, nightclubs, and indeed the entire entertainment industry, haven't been affected much. Did those Japanese really not do any investigation? That's impossible; they just didn't want to talk about it because it was too shameful.

Neon values ​​face very much, so naturally she wouldn't say any of this in front of John. Moreover, regarding Neon's current situation, John only touched on it briefly, saying whatever he could to them 'politely' and showing them 'goodwill'. Whether they accepted it or not was their own business and none of his concern.

John kept emphasizing that the Japanese people's attitudes had changed, but this was an unsolvable problem because the Japanese all had a kind of 'mental illness.' Even if you told these Japanese guys all this, they wouldn't be able to solve the problem; they would just go from one extreme to another—that's the madness of the Japanese. The change in the Japanese people's consumption habits has had an unimaginable impact on Japan, and reversing this situation cannot be done in just a few words.

“Mr. John, the Mandarin Oriental Group is also developing rapidly in Japan, which seems inconsistent with what you said. If real estate prices in Japan are going to fall, wouldn’t this investment be affected?”

Upon hearing this, John smiled slightly. These guys had finally asked the question they were most 'concerned' about. The reason these bastards had participated in this party was probably for this very question. After all, the development of the Wenhua East Group in Japan had made some guys uneasy, making them worry that it might be a bargain-hunting tactic. So they really wanted to figure it all out and understand John's thoughts!

(End of this chapter)