Tokyo Reborn: Dark Superstar

Chapter 54 The entertainment industry version of cultivating immortals and overcoming tribulations

Bunta Takakura opened Kondo Masahiko's "Yuyaki no Song" album.

There is an introduction to the second song about "The End of the World" (Until the End of the World).

…………

The inspiration for "The End of the World" came from a prophecy legend widely circulated in RB society in the 20s, which was about to usher in the turn of the century.

1999 will be the end of the world.

This rumor is said to come from Nostradamus, a French doctor from the 16th century. He once said in his collection of poems "Centuries" published in 1555:
  "On July 1999, a terrifying demon king descended from the sky."

Because of such a sentence, an RB reporter named Tsutomu Goto deduced that 1999 would be the end of the world, and it was because of this conclusion.

In the 20s, the entire RB was immersed in the atmosphere of the impending doomsday.

…………

Initially, the song was named "このTragedy Night" (This tragic night), but at the producer's insistence, it was renamed "Until the end of the world" (Until the end of the world).

Not long after the new song was born, this song was selected as the ending theme of the animation "Slam Dunk" currently being broadcast on TV Asahi.

Starting from episode 25, as one of the characters Hisashi Mitsui recalls the past in the plot, "The End of the World" (Until the End of the World) gradually sounds.

It was originally a lonely monologue before the end of the world, but it accidentally became the dream song of the "returning prodigal son" Mitsui Hisashi.

In the match at Shoyang, Mitsui's physical strength nearly collapsed when he faced Hasegawa.

But he thought of the junior high school final and what coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai said: "If you give up now, the game will end early."

Thinking about it, he persisted until the end and won.

Mitsui regained his fighting spirit, and the background music sounded...

This makes "The End of the World" become the most passionate song in the entire animation.

Johnny's professional rock team gave the audience a wide sense of space through the rhythmic percussion of bass and drums.

Kondo Masahiko, with a high-spirited singing voice, is highly exaggerated...

....................................

Bunta Takakura closed the album and lit a Peace cigarette.

The album's introduction is of high quality.

However, there is no mention of the WANDS rock band in the entire article. Instead, there is a lot of praise for the Johnny Rock Team and Kondo Masahiko.

It's as if this song was originally written by Masahiko Kondo.

This is the "complete stripping" of the "Three Dark Principles of Copyright" in the "Universal Convention for the Protection of Copyright".

…………

In the NHK-FM radio station, the host was still talking about this matter.

"The legal department of Johnny & Associates has recommended that the Nerima District Copyright Tribunal adopt the maximum sentence and sentence the WANDS rock band to a fine and fifteen years in prison."

"According to the absolute jurisdiction of jurisdiction in the three copyright principles of the Universal Convention for the Protection of Copyright, the suggestion of Johnny & Associates is very likely to be adopted."

Bunta Takakura opened the car window and blew out a smoke ring.

In this dark star world, the entertainment circles of various countries are a hundred times crueler than in previous lives. Behind these big offices are countless dark and dirty transactions and methods.

However, Johnny & Associates was really ruthless when it came to this.

…………

"This is Mary Kitagawa's handiwork..."

Keiko Kanda made a few calls, put down her phone, and said.

"Empress Jenny?"

Bunta Takakura remembered the title of Mary Kitagawa in the "Women's Seven" entertainment magazine.

Keiko Kanda turned down the volume of the car radio and said, "The Empress? To be more precise, she is the Bloody Mary of the Johnny Empire..."

Takakura Bunta asked: "What is the specific situation?"

"This rock band, which was only established in 1991, is still too young."    "They signed a blank contract. The agent told them that it was a song licensing contract..."

"The executives of Being Music Production Company and Johnny & Associates have reached some deals."

"According to the "Complete Divestment Agreement" presented by Johnny & Associates."

"Since last year, they have performed "The End of the World" in concerts, commercial activities, program announcements, etc., all of which violated the "Universal Convention for the Protection of Copyright"..."

Takakura Bunta listened to Kanda Keiko's story.

I think of the host Zhu Dan in his previous life. Many years ago, he was defrauded of all his savings by a very close friend and was in debt of 1600 million because of a signature on a piece of white paper.

....................................

Kanda Keiko continued to drive, and Takakura Bunta listened to the content of the NHK-FM radio station, thought for a while, and asked:

"What can Bloody Mary gain by investing such a large amount of resources into a has-been king?"

"Mahiko Kondo's single has invested so much resources, but it still has not gained a firm foothold on the Oricon chart. The release of the new album is in a very unfavorable situation."

"According to the style of Johnny & Associates, they should have stopped the loss in time, stopped the sale of new albums, and let him work behind the scenes..."

Kanda Keiko said: "Because of the dark gambling agreement..."

"Ikuko Iijima's success has stimulated all careerists in the entertainment industry."

"Mahiko Kondo has the promise of Mary Kitagawa and the full support of Johnny & Associates."

"In exchange, Kondo Masahiko will sign the "Dark Gambling Agreement" with the Dark World. As the first Johnny's idol to impact the "Dark Gambling Agreement"..."

Bunta Takakura interrupted: "Why not let the trainees sign the contract?"

"This "Dark Gambling Agreement" is extremely risky, but it has caused many bizarre disappearances and deaths..."

Kanda Keiko drove the car and patiently explained:

"To ensure the high quality of the agreement."

"Unless you are a genius like Elvis Presley, you have to sign the "Dark Gambling Agreement" and at least reach the level of king or queen in the niche field."

Bunta Takakura put out his cigarette butt and asked in confusion: "Is this dark gambling agreement worth the investment of Johnny & Associates? And it also involves a veteran king?"

Keiko Kanda rolled her eyes at him and said: "This is the T0 level resource of the entire Japanese entertainment industry!!!"

"Not only the artist himself, but other artists in the office, and even the entire office, enjoy the benefits of overflowing resources."

"Poseidon Pictures' direct sales channels originally only covered the Tokyo metropolitan area and parts of Osaka. In other places, we had to find regional agents."

"Now it not only covers the whole country, but also fully opens overseas market channels. Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and South Korea also enjoy tax-free discounts for high-quality cultural products..."

“The company’s share price tripled in one month.”

"The status of the artists in the agency has also been improved. Your bald friend, because he has acted with Ikuko Iijima many times, can now accept Asahi Beer commercials."

Takakura Bunta: "..."

…………

Listening to Kanda Keiko's description, Takakura Bunta remembered an allusion.

One person wins the way, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven
  This dark gambling agreement is a huge temptation for both artists and firms. It is simply the entertainment industry version of cultivating immortals and overcoming tribulations.

....................................

Half an hour later, the Lincoln Continental drove to the filming location of "The Couple on the Back Floor, Osaka's Escape from Osaka".

This is the last video film of Ikuko Iijima, the queen of video movies and the first actress to complete a dark gambling agreement.

After Takakura Bunta got out of the car, he looked at the unfinished building set built on site, as well as the 1:1 accurate restoration of Sumitomo Real Estate's sales office.

Rent such a large-scale unfinished real estate as a shooting venue.

Poseidon Pictures is spending a lot of money...

The staff immediately took him to director Hideki Kojitani.

The two began to discuss the action design of the split shots and devoted themselves to the intense work.

(End of this chapter)