Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 170, Hirate Sarana and Miyawaki Sakura
The Japanese entertainment industry, like those in other countries, has a well-known contempt chain, which generally goes like this: actors > comedians > singers > idols > gravure stars.

At the top of the pyramid are the actors. Although this group is subdivided into movie actors and TV actors, they are largely one and the same. This is also the group with the highest income and status. Big-name male and female actors generally earn more than 3 million yen for one episode of a TV series. The best of them have an annual income of tens of millions of yen, and some even make over 100 million. This group has the best benefits and the most comfortable work, but the threshold is also very high, and they pay great attention to acting skills and talent. The bulk of their income comes from film pay and various endorsements. These people generally work on a cycle of one movie or one TV series, and often have relatively considerable vacations before two cycles.

The next level is comedians. They appear in various variety shows on major TV stations and frequently appear in other programs or TV dramas. A small number of them also perform in some theaters. The main source of income for these people is almost entirely dependent on the TV stations. However, unlike what everyone imagines, it is not them who beg the TV stations, but the TV stations that demand these people. For example, the "BIG3" among comedians, and the backbone downtown and Tunnel duo. The TV stations have to use prime-time variety show slots to retain them. Not only do they have to use prime time, but they also have to promise various benefits. In terms of income alone, comedians as a whole even earn more than actors.

However, comedians are under great pressure to gain ratings and their work intensity is extremely high. In order to be funny, they have to act stupid and ugly, offend others, and be pranked. After all, their status is lower than that of actors.

The next level is singers. The bulk of singers' income comes from record sales, karaoke dividends, concert dividends and performance fees from major music shows. Their income is not as good as that of actors, and their work is harder than that of actors. They usually carry out activities in a cycle of one record. Popular singers could easily earn hundreds of millions of yuan a year in the 90s (such as Ayumi Hamasaki). Although the sales of physical stores have declined today, their income is still good thanks to the strong consumption power of the Japanese music circle. Singers barely rank behind comedians, but their actual status is far inferior to that of comedians, and they are dispensable on TV stations.

Finally, there are idols.

Idols are different from the first three. Actors sell their acting skills and roles, comedians sell their image and eloquence, and singers sell their voices and songs. What they sell are their works.

What idols sell is themselves.

In short, if a person has no acting skills, no variety show ability, and is not good at singing, then he can only be an idol and attract fans by selling his or her own personality.

This is no longer the era of super idols such as Yamaguchi Momoe, Matsuda Seiko, and Nakamori Akina. Today's idols are at the bottom of the entertainment industry, and they will only consider becoming idols when other options are really blocked.

But even though the idol is a stinky bottom, he is still barely considered a human being.

For the above four types, as long as they can reach the top national level, the gap between them will not be particularly large. Takuya Kimura started out as an idol and became an Asian superstar after acting. Utada Hikaru and Ayumi Hamasaki are singers, but they are also divas based on their sales. Mr. Takeshi Kitano, who started out as a comedian, became a national director and big producer.

So is there anything lower than idols?
Yes, photo star.

These people are no longer human.

Photo stars don't even need to sing or dance, as long as they have a good figure and good looks, they can send their photos to magazines and strive for the opportunity to shoot the cover of the magazine. Amateur photos are only paid two to three thousand yen for each photo to be accepted. If the scale is more exposed, they are called "swimming actresses", which means that except for the three points exposed in the photo, the actual shooting process is basically naked.

At this point, we are already close to asking for a serial number, and everyone must understand this.

Miyawaki Sakura is such a bottom. She is 16 years old this year and is from Kagoshima, Kyushu. She went to Tokyo with the dream of becoming a star shortly after graduating from elementary school at the age of 13. She went through countless hardships and participated in countless idol auditions, and finally got a front row seat in the super large girl idol group YKC48.

Seeing the national actress Mai Shirakawa at this time, Miyawaki Sakura's face turned red with excitement. She opened her mouth wide, her little leather shoes clattered, and regardless of her agent's screams and attempts to stop her, she stood in front of Mai and excitedly introduced herself: "My name is Miyawaki Sakura, I have always been your fan. My favorite work of Mai is Gu Shu Tang..."

"Oh, you're from YKC48. I saw you at the Red and White Song Contest before." Shirakawa Mai gave a standard business smile and waved at Miyawaki Sakura: "Then..."

"Um! Can I take a photo with Ms. Mai Yang, please?" Miyawaki Sakura, who exuded the innocence of the pure sky of Kagoshima, Kyushu, opened her cute big watery eyes and carefully made her request.

The tight-fitting JK-like stage costume shows off the slightly developed graceful figure and elegant lines of the Kagoshima girl. The pleated skirt decorated with ribbons flutters slightly with Miyawaki Sakura's movements. The European-style white silk long gloves are matched with black over-the-knee socks to form a unique "absolute domain of black and white". The tender black silk jade feet step in small leather shoes with light and lively steps, and the double ponytails have a hint of delicate waves. Coupled with her sweet, delicate and refreshing facial features, and slightly tiptoed feet, she is as lively and cute as a deer with pointed horns on its head.

"Hey! Miyawaki!!!" In the distance, Miyawaki Sakura's agent's head was about to explode.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, although Senior Mai kept a straight face, her body language showed her resistance. She looked away and pressed one hand down.

"Wow, Senior Mai, I didn't expect your fans to be so enthusiastic. Take a photo with her." Uesugi Sosetsu suddenly said.

The two parties agreed to go to the senior's house one day a week to increase mutual trust, but for some reason Uesugi Sosetsu felt that he was still being led by this woman. Although he was not unwilling, he still wanted to take a small revenge on the senior.

Sure enough, when Shirakawa Mai heard what Uesugi Sosetsu said, her expression changed slightly, and the smile on her face became even brighter. She immediately turned around and gave Uesugi Sosetsu a look that said, "You kid! You are not a good boy!" But considering the supreme status of this man in her heart, she still agreed: "Well, then okay!"

"Thank you so much!" Miyawaki Sakura was so excited that she almost fainted.

It worked, it actually worked!
"Thank you very much!" Miyawaki Sakura bowed to Uesugi Sosetsu again: "Mr. Uesugi! I wish you good luck in martial arts!"

"Hahaha~" Uesugi Sosetsu was amused and signaled that you could start.

Shirakawa Mai reluctantly took a photo with Miyawaki Sakura. After the photo was taken, the agent came over and pulled Miyawaki Sakura down to apologize on the spot.

Senior Mai smiled and indicated that it was not necessary, and then indicated that she was really leaving: "Well, goodbye, Miss Miyawaki!"

"Please, Mai-sama and Uesugi-san, just call me Sakura!" Miyawaki Sakura seized the last chance.

"Okay, goodbye, Sakura." Sakura stood there, bowed 90 degrees, paused for five seconds, and waited for the two to pass by with their backs to her before standing up. She watched Shirakawa Mai and Uesugi Sosetsu leave, the light in her eyes brighter than the sun on Mount Paektu.

Young sisters should be like this!
Finally getting rid of this crazy little fan girl, Shirakawa Mai gave Uesugi Sosetsu a cold look, but before she could say anything, someone else came!
It's Akazaka!

Maybe it was because she saw that senior Mai was in a particularly good mood today. She, who used to rarely respond to requests for photos and autographs, actually agreed to a request from a small idol today. The agent from Akasaka immediately went all out and brought Akasaka's "immovable C", a girl named Hirate Sarana, to stop Shirakawa Mai.

If we can establish a good relationship with the head of the Kanto Shrine Alliance, we will benefit greatly in the future!

"Hello, Shirakawa-san, please allow us to introduce ourselves. This child is Hirate Sarana from Akashizaka. She has always loved you. Please continue to take care of us as usual."

The agent said this very humbly, but he showed his brooch to Shirakawa Mai, which had a special badge pattern on it.

"No, no, I'm the one who has always been taken care of by President Akimoto. Are you Hirate Sarana? Wow, what a cute child. It's amazing that you're participating in the Red and White Song Festival in your first year. Nice to meet you!" Sure enough, when Shirakawa Mai saw the brooch, she gave her a little face.

"Please give me your advice." Hirate Sarana was wearing a heavy sky-blue buttoned dress and a typical mushroom-haired look. Her appearance was only slightly inferior to Miyawaki Sakura's. Her facial features were relatively neutral. She did not have any jewelry on her body. She wore JK mid-calf socks and small leather shoes. Seeing Shirakawa Mai taking the initiative to greet her, Hirate waited for two seconds, then bowed slightly no more than fifteen degrees, and said a simple sentence. Then she glanced at Uesugi Soyuki and turned her eyes away, pretending not to see it.

He is just a poor Chinese. There is not even a high-ranking official at the level of minister or county councilor in his family. He is not worth mentioning.

Is this little girl quite proud? Uesugi Sosetsu didn't take it seriously, but Shirakawa Mai saw this scene.

"Um, can Miss Shirakawa also take a photo with Ping Shou?" The agent was still trying to get ahead of himself.

But this time he was greeted by Mai Shirakawa's rebuff: "Sorry, I have other things to do next. Let's do it next time."

After saying that, Senior Mai took Uesugi Sosetsu away.

"Hey!" Seeing that Shirakawa Mai refused to take a photo, the agent sighed in annoyance. He stared at Hirate Sarana and asked her, "Don't you mean, can't you be as enthusiastic as Miyawaki Sakura?"

Hirate Sarana simply looked at her agent calmly and raised her chin proudly.

Can she compare with me?
The agent was helpless and was about to curse, but had to swallow his words back.

If I really scold her, I will be fired!

The girl looked at Mai-senpai's back calmly, her mind slightly moved.

He can be replaced!

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

"Such a proud girl." After leaving the Odaiba building, Uesugi Sosetsu commented on Hirate Sarana: "She is so rare in the entertainment industry."

"She has the capital." Shirakawa Mai said casually: "Do you know Yuasa Masamichi?"

"I don't know him." Uesugi Sosetsu shook his head.

"He's a member of parliament and the secretary-general of the party's three main positions. That badge must be right. No wonder this girl, who could only be an idol after her debut, ended up appearing on all major TV programs, occupying the center position in idol groups, guest-starring in various prime-time dramas, and appearing on the covers of many first-class magazines." Shirakawa Mai said casually, "Behind Akasaka is President Akimoto, and behind President Akimoto are the Yuasa father and son. Now that this agent has taken the initiative to bid, it means that Hirasawa is the person that the Yuasa father and son focus on."

"Why would a member of the Diet and the third-ranking party leader pay so much attention to a little idol? And even devote resources to her?" Uesugi Sosetsu didn't understand.

"You don't need to know this!" Senior Mai said with a smile, "But I can give you a clue. Why didn't this Ping Shou kid even bother to say hello to you? It's not like she didn't see you. She just looked down on you."

"Huh?!" Uesugi Souji suddenly understood something: "You mean???"

"It's almost as you imagined." Shirakawa Mai smiled and said, "You should know about the bizarre accident in which Mitsui Takamatsu, the heir of the Mitsui Sumitomo Group, was hit and killed on the highway by a Dongfeng truck with no driver, no license plate, and no highway entrance record, right?"

"I did it!"

(End of this chapter)