I Became a Producer Who Rewrites Idols

82 – Entering Japan (4)

Today, for the first time in a long time, we rented the Lucky Seven Entertainment conference room and sang Cursed Dolls, Berries, Afternoon Sweets, and Yeomseonjeong.

First, let’s tell Cursed Dolls to focus on Japanese activities rather than domestic activities for the next two months.

“I don’t like it!”

… Suddenly, Cursed Dolls member Gong Shi-on stood up and shouted.

“I will follow you too.”

“Oh really? “Then it’s okay.”

He immediately sat down again at my words.

The Berries members and Afternoon Sweets members stared at Gong Si-on’s face for a while at his blatant attitude.

Yeom Seon-jeong looked at my face and said,

He was drooling.

[Name: Yeomseonjeong]

[Current thought: Should I buy Jongro chicken for Rose Day?]

… Perhaps my face looks like Jongno chicken to Yeom Seon-jeong?

He seemed quite happy when I bought him two Jongro chickens on White Day.

Well, since Jongno chicken is cheaper than the rose flower basket, there is nothing wrong with me, but I also had the odd idea that it would feel a bit like Rose Day if we sprinkled rose petals on top of the chicken to decorate it.

“Berries, Afternoon Sweets, and Seonjeon will begin producing Japanese versions of their albums.”

The Berries members, Afternoon Sweets members, and Yeom Seon-jeong’s eyes were round.

Actually, among the girl groups I produced, Cursed Dolls was the best.

Afternoon sweets, followed by berries.

Yeomseonjeong has only recently started, so it is difficult to compare.

Actually, Cursed Dolls is said to be the best, but if Afternoon Sweets and Berries were other small and medium-sized agencies,

No, even if it was Lucky Seven Entertainment, if it weren’t for Cursed Dolls, it would have been at the level of a leading celebrity.

These days, Korean media is also saying that the second golden age of Lucky Seven Entertainment has arrived, especially after the Cursed Dolls song reached the top of the Deneb chart.

“Mr. But, isn’t it difficult because we have to keep going to school?”

Afternoon Sweets is designed to encourage children to go to school, if only because of its concept.

Furthermore, since I am a senior in high school this year, I was given a tutor to help me prepare for college entrance, albeit little by little.

The plan was to send her to university and upgrade her from a female high school student to a female college student.

“Uh, so you guys won’t go to the local area and do any activities. “I’m going to release an album and, if the response is really good, I’m going to partner with a travel agency.”

“A travel agency?”

It was still just an idea and vague, but in short, it was a plan to combine a Korean tour with an afternoon sweets concert.

Of course, this package is only possible if there are that many Japanese fans who like afternoon sweets.

“Actually, that’s why afternoon sweets aren’t that popular in Japan.”

Idols who grow up while going to school are a relatively common type in Japan, according to what I heard from a local distributor.

The difference is that it depicts Korean school life, but it remains to be seen whether this will appeal to Japan as well.

The concept itself is common in Berries.

Moreover, Berryz made a name for himself because the incident itself had such a big impact.

Since we don’t have anything like that at the moment of entering Japan, we had no choice but to compete strictly through singing.

“Does anyone have any more questions or opinions?”

When I looked around at the idols, there seemed to be no rejection even in the status window.

In any case, it seemed like advancing overseas as a celebrity was good news.

“Then today’s meeting will end here.”

“”Yes!””

*

First, I flew to Japan.

Even though it is formally a business of Lucky Seven Entertainment’s Japanese branch, in any case, I am currently affiliated with GI Production, so in order to establish the GI Production Japanese branch.

… I didn’t know the details of whether it was an expatriate office or a Japanese sales office, so I left it to a local agent.

I happened to become the representative of the Japanese branch.

“Mr. President, the person in charge of Chuo Records would like to say hello.”

GI Production Japan branch temporary office.

It was a simple office with only three desks, three computers, a multi-function printer, and a telephone.

There were three of us, myself, secretary Jeong Song-i, and the newly hired Japanese interpreter.

“Really? “Then tell him I’ll be heading there right away.”

“They say they will arrive within 5 minutes.”

I didn’t even consent, but you’re almost there already….

Just as I was about to say that I understood,

“Hello!”

The door opened wide with a voice saying.

No, they said it would take less than 5 minutes, but it took less than 10 seconds.

What is this woman who blindly opens the door and comes in without even answering in the first place?

This is Japanese business etiquette… ?

“Yes, hello.”

But since this person was the one who made the offer to us first, we smiled and greeted him as best we could.

But the sofa I ordered hadn’t arrived yet, so there wasn’t anywhere I could tell them to sit down.

Secretary Jeong Song-i spoke to the interpreter.

“Please tell me that there are no chairs here, so let’s go to a cafe outside.”

“Yes.”

The interpreter relayed the message in Japanese to the person in charge of Chuo Records.

Then, the Chuo Records representative answered in Japanese, and the interpreter told us in Korean.

“He said it was okay to just stand and talk since he was the one who suddenly visited.”

“Then what….”

But the person in charge of Chuo Records was sweating profusely.

It’s not particularly hot weather, but just the perfect spring temperature.

“Song, give this person a cool drink.”

“Yes.”

When secretary Jeong Song-i took out a drink from the refrigerator and handed it to the person in charge of Chuo Records,

“Kamsahamni.” She

Spoke in broken Korean. She said something in Japanese to the interpreter.

“They say it’s because I came here riding a bicycle.”

“… ….”

Why bicycle?

Do you have a corporate car? ?

We just bought a car for a long-term rental.

I heard that Chuo Records is a fairly small record label in Japan, but it was a bit absurd.

The person in charge of Chuo Records spoke quickly in Japanese to the interpreter.

The interpreter interpreted in almost real time.

“Originally, this person was the last performer in the company, but thanks to Cursed Dolls, he received praise from the manager…. Anyway, thank you to the CEO.”

It seemed like he was overflowing with motivation, so that must have been the case.

It seemed like our idol decided it was an opportunity.

For me, there was nothing bad about the person in charge working so hard.

Moreover, unlike in Korea, in Japan, record labels were in charge of promotions, so their direct influence was stronger.

“Please ask what the afternoon sweets and Berries are like and the view of Yeomseonjeong.”

“It is difficult to say anything about Afternoon Sweets as it is difficult for them to directly promote in Japan.”

Well, the part of me that thought the same thought nodded.

“In the case of Berries, they say it would be better to emphasize a quasi-romantic relationship with a familiar girlfriend feel. “Have a handshake event or something.”

Oh, come to think of it, I heard that Japan raises money through such events.

I thought I would have to discuss that with the Berryz members.

As it is a culture where you interact directly with fans while shaking hands, rather than just shaking hands, it seemed like a lot of practice was needed in advance.

“Yeom Seon-jeon says it would be better to focus on her artistry. “She participates in dramas and animation OSTs.”

That was the same strategy used in Korea as well.

In that case, it seemed to Yeom Seon-jeon that she just had to focus on singing like she did in Korea.

“Would it be better for Cursed Dolls to have a handshake event later?”

“Currently, the Cursed Dolls have a higher preference among the general class than traditional male fans, so it doesn’t seem a bad idea to spread Korean-style idol culture.”

“Oh, like a random fan signing event?”

The person in charge of Chuo Records nodded.

Berries holds an event in the Japanese idol style, while Cursed Dolls tries the Korean style.

It seemed like a good strategy.

If the Japanese style is still more well-received than the Korean style, the direction of the event can be changed at any time.

After thanking him for coming in person, I was about to send the Chuo Records representative out of the office.

When I think about it, how did I know about GI production? ?

“Ask me how I got here.”

“I told you earlier that you came by bicycle….”

“No, not transportation. How did you know the address of this office?”

“Ah, yes yes.”

After talking a few times with the Chuo Records representative, the interpreter turned his head towards me again.

“When I first went to Lucky Seven Entertainment’s Japanese branch office, they said they gave me this address.”

“… ….”

No, it was a bit annoying to handle each task through Lucky Seven Entertainment,

Still, I wondered if it was okay to hide the existence of the GI production company.

“Please ask me not to tell anyone about this company.”

“I understand.”

“Song.”

“Yes, I will tell Lucky Seven Entertainment’s Japanese branch to be careful about what they say.”

I just came to Japan, so I guess I can take care of it from now on.

In Korea, Lucky Seven Entertainment was already number one in the industry, but in Japan, it was in the position of a challenger.

From noble mtl dot com

Furthermore, [Idol Producing] Game-related knowledge does not have much use here.

… The management once said that if Hanseop did well, they would open Ilseop, so I thought that if Ilseop had been opened, Japanese content would have been included as well.

That’s how you manage things well.

So I can use it too.

***

Reporter Hikosaka and his junior reporters from Weekly Issue visited Lucky Seven Entertainment’s Japanese branch office in person.

The justification is to request an interview with the members of the recently popular Cursed Dolls.

‘There aren’t many people and it’s almost like a corner store in the neighborhood….’

Reporter Hikosaka only noticed employees who were doing their work and not doing anything.

It had a strong feel of a typical unpopular entertainment office.

Korean idols have never been a big hit in the Japanese market so far, so in a way, it was natural.

Because it really only had an office assortment.

“Ah, so you’re saying you’re not in charge of the Cursed Dolls here?”

A junior reporter had a conversation with the staff member in charge.

… Reporter Hikosaka carried a camera bag and played almost the role of an assistant.

Reporter Hikosaka was filled with dissatisfaction as to why this junior had to carry a heavy full-frame DSLR instead of a lightweight mirrorless camera.

“On paper, we are in charge, but the actual producing is done by another company. So, it’s a subcontract.”

“Subcontract…. Then, we’ll have to go to the subcontractor to get permission for the interview. Where is the subcontractor?”

“GI Production. The person in charge of Chuo Records came by a little while ago, so it looks like Cursed Dolls are really popular.”

A junior reporter wrote in his notebook: [Lucky Seven Entertainment → GI Production Subcontract].

Lucky Seven Entertainment representative kindly provided the address of the newly established GI production office in Japan.

“Thank you.”

“Yes, good work.”

Reporter Hiko Saka and her junior reporter left the Japanese branch office of Lucky Seven Enter and got into the car.

Of course, the driving was Reporter Hikosaka’s responsibility.

“Are you going to GI Productions over there?”

“Yes. But I’m not going in yet.”

“To observe?”

The junior reporter nodded.