Tokyo Reborn: Dark Superstar

Chapter 40 Kill the Tokyo Man
  RB No. 7-1, Konan -chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Sony Records Headquarters, Office of the Executive Vice President of Sony Records.

"Boss Hirai, this song really has great potential. This is an opportunity to open up the local male idol market."

Keiko Kanda pushed the simply recorded CD to Kazuo Hirai's desk and persuaded her.

"Kanda, I understand the bond between you and Akina Nakamori."

"But Kondo Masahiko is the sweetheart of the Johnny siblings. There is a dedicated Kondo Masahiko room in the president's villa. Even Kimura Takuya does not treat him like this..."

Ichifu complained, but he still opened the CD case and inserted the optical disc into the card slot of the Discman50 Sony CD player.

"There is no absolute certainty and it is the company's established strategy not to compete head-on with Johnny & Associates in the local market."

"You know Johnny's influence in the industry. Don't let personal feelings affect your professional judgment."

…………

In 1984, Hirai joined the record company jointly owned by Sony and CBS, the predecessor of Sony Records.

Unlike other Sony Records executives, Hirai is the only executive with no relevant professional experience. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from International Christian University in Tokyo.

During his tenure as executive vice president of Sony, he voluntarily gave up the direct confrontation with Johnny & Associates and concentrated on operating overseas markets.

In the fiscal year 1994-1995, the tape business, which had suffered losses for five consecutive years, was successfully turned around.

…………

"Listen first, this is my judgment based on a professional perspective without any personal emotions."

Keiko Kanda took off the Sony MDR headphones from the headphone stand and handed them to Kazuo Hirai.

Hirai Kazuo took the earphones and said helplessly: "You can watch the latest episode of TV Tokyo's "Home, Home, ついて行ってイイですか?" (Can I follow you to your house)?"

Keiko Kanda said: "I've heard about this variety show and it's very popular, but I haven't watched this episode yet."

Hirai Kazuo said: "In the latest episode, the program team follows a 1800-year-old girl who was laid off that day and is burdened with a mortgage loan of 28 million yen for an unfinished building."

"I found out that he has been a loyal fan of the Johnny's family group for 9 years since he was 19 years old. From the slightly unpopular Snow Man to the youth team, to the top national group SMAP..."

“The female fan has a lot of treasures, and there are many different kinds of peripherals and support items in her bedroom.

"After this program was aired, many fans of Johnny's groups in their 20s and 30s expressed sympathy."

"Some fans even called the TV station and said that we might be fans of Grandpa Xi."

Kanda Keiko felt goosebumps when she heard this, and said sarcastically: "Great, those two perverted siblings now have fans too."

Kazuo Hirai, adjusting the red Discman50 Sony CD player, said seriously:

"Kanda Keiko! Stay calm!"

"This incident proves from the outside that the male idols hatched by Kitagawa have accompanied female fans throughout their youth..."

"For Sony Records to break this fetter, it still needs time to settle and accumulate strength."

…………

Kazuo Hirai put on his headphones.

The first thing that catches my ear is the interlude of the song, from bass to trumpet, which vividly interprets people's despair, fear, and confusion...

He straightened his back and started to sound serious.

After listening to it once, Hirai Kazuo wanted to take off the headphones, but halfway through putting them down, he put them back on and listened to the demo three more times.

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

1: a.m. にRetirementし、シャツのネクタイを解く
  Get off work at 1am, take off your shirt and tie
  Izakaya をtan して, senior とビールを何杯かDRINK みます

Find an izakaya and have a few beers with your seniors
  ビルが壊するまで30年働いた

Work like this for 30 years until the building collapses
  云の奥の黑さよ

The darkness deep in the clouds
  The heart is sinking and the scenery is beautiful

The landscape that drowns the bottom of my heart    …………

プラザホテルで、クレイジーな Tokyo Securities
  At the Plaza Hotel, the Crazy Tokyo Stock Exchange
  ドルで, samurai sword をbuy って, ローンのアパートをkeeper って…

Use a dollar to buy a samurai sword to defend his crappy apartment...

ビルが热れるまで
  until the building collapses
  …………

夜のとばりがTokyo Port を Cover
  Night covers Tokyo Harbor
  The girl's face is sad
  Sadness soaked her face
  Ochanomizu University Affiliated High School, a 16-year-old girl named Nakoto Nora
  Ochanomizu University High School, a 16-year-old girl with her back to me
  Shen 黙の行方, 里れられないダイヤモンドの影视
  The silent direction, the diamond image that cannot be left

…………

ビルが壊するまで事は経験の中で

Work on experience until the building collapses

Hand Tsuna's 1-headed horse and -headed horse are in the middle.

Ten thousand runaway horses were running in his mind...

…………

ビルが壊するまで30年働いた

Work like this for 30 years until the building collapses
  Hand Tsuna's 1-headed horse and -headed horse are in the middle.

Ten thousand runaway horses were running in his mind...

…………

ビルが壊するまで30年働いた

Work like this for 30 years until the building collapses
  云の奥の黑よ
  The darkness deep in the clouds
  The heart is sinking and the scenery is beautiful

The landscape that floods the bottom of my heart

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

Kazuo Hirai put down his headphones, took a deep breath, took out a pill box from the drawer of the desk cabinet, took two pills, and said slowly:

"Kanda Keiko, where did you find this monster?"

Keiko Kanda looked at Kazuo Hirai's state and knew that the matter was done.

Keiko Kanda: "Some time ago, he recorded the theme song "Miracle Reappearance" of Ultraman Tiga's overseas version."

Hirai Kazuo: "That...Takakura Bunta? That new singer who is very good at foreign languages."

He thought of the Chinese song "The Miracle Reappears", which showed superb foreign language proficiency. The representative of Dragon Kingdom Magic City TV was full of praise after listening to it.

Keiko Kanda: "Yes, the song is called "Kill That Tokyo Man."

Kazuo Hirai poured a cup of hot water and said:

"Kill That Tokyo Man? Great song title."

"The thirty-year economic miracle is over, and people are experiencing this transition from prosperity to decline firsthand."

"The Plaza Hotel agreement was signed, the stock market collapsed, the property market collapsed, the trade war failed miserably, video tapes became a pillar industry, and the huge bubble of RB being number one was completely disillusioned..."

"Everything you see today is money and desire worship."

"Born by ideals, died by desires."

"This song is the most authentic portrayal of this generation of Tokyoites."

Kanda Keiko couldn't wait to ask: "Boss Hirai, can we officially start a war with Johnny?!"

Kazuo Hirai put down the hot water cup and refused: "Baga! Of course not!"

(End of this chapter)