America: My Time

Chapter 194 Beautiful Public Relations Girl
Chapter 194 Beautiful Public Relations Girl

Investing in real estate is good, but from a profit perspective, the stock market is better. Currently, the Japanese stock market is on an upward trend due to its continued strong economy. Barring unforeseen events, a market downturn is unlikely. With a reliable stockbroker, losing money is virtually impossible; it's just a matter of how much you earn. Unfortunately, these idols don't dare to step into the stock market.

Rational people instinctively fear investments like the stock market, which carry high risks. This is because they lack the professional knowledge to grasp market fluctuations and cannot react appropriately in a timely manner. Therefore, for these idols, it is almost a forbidden zone, something they cannot touch, otherwise they might easily get caught up in it.

Stocks are not suitable for long-term investment, especially for those unfamiliar with the market who can easily get trapped and lose everything. Particularly during periods of significant price increases, it's crucial to liquidate your holdings at the end of the year. If the market continues to rise and you hold onto your stocks long-term, you'll be completely trapped when the market crashes. This level of expertise is clearly lacking in these so-called idols.

Of course, even if you find a good stockbroker, they might not proactively tell you all this. So, rushing into this market is not a good thing for these idols.

Although the Japanese stock market has been rising, holding stocks for the long term is not suitable. Even John has not considered making any big moves in the Japanese stock market, but has chosen real estate as his investment direction in a more prudent way.

During this period, quite a few people in Japanese society were already buying stocks. Although it hadn't reached its peak yet, the frenzy of stock trading had already begun, and very few people could remain rational. John didn't believe that these idols could do that and resist the enormous temptation from the stock market!

"What kind of investment should I make if I want to make money steadily in the long term?" Nakamori Akina was very tempted, but she didn't have enough funds at the moment. Real estate investment requires a lot of capital as capital, and she couldn't come up with such a huge sum of money right now. In comparison, Riko and Kashiwabara Yoshie were much better off.

"For an idol like you, the best way to make money in the long run is to have songs that are widely sung, such as hit songs that sell over a million copies. As long as you have such resources, you will be able to live a life of ease and become a top idol. As long as you manage your finances properly, you will never lack money!"

In countries like Japan with robust copyright protection, a million-selling hit song with widespread popularity can generate substantial income; possessing such copyright ensures a steady stream of revenue! Nakamori Akina's subsequent financial crisis stemmed from several factors. Firstly, she was burdened with substantial loans after the real estate bubble burst. Secondly, her life savings were swindled away by the shameless Masahiko Kondo. Thirdly, she lost the copyrights to her songs when she left her agency. This series of losses ultimately led to Nakamori Akina's financial woes.

John's final suggestion applies to all idols; it's a reminder to focus their energy on their careers, not to have so many other ideas, and to do what they do best. Whether these idols will heed this advice is beyond John's control. He only said so much out of his own good intentions!

While John was talking to these idols, some people had already started to take action. These people were not the people from the First Dai-ichi Kangyo Bank, but Sanwa, who had always been invisible. As the local bigwigs in Osaka, they had been eyeing the Universal Studios in Osaka ever since it was announced that the studio would be located there. They just hadn't had the chance until now.

Naoko's Osaka background was a natural excuse, and past events provided them with an opportunity. One of the parties involved, Hitomi Kuroki, was considered a promising public relations candidate. While Miwa didn't possess the same foresight as Akio Morita, Naoko's success offered them valuable insights. Why was Naoko able to win John's favor? Was it merely because she was pretty and cute? No, that wasn't the main reason. At least, these people wouldn't have such a foolish view. There are many beautiful people in the world, and for John, with his status and position, finding a beautiful woman would be a piece of cake. Naoko's ability to gain their approval clearly indicated she possessed exceptional qualities!
"Opportunity knocks but once. Although this reason is a bit far-fetched, this is our only chance. And I believe others share the same thought. Sony's acquisition has tempted everyone. If we don't act quickly, once someone else makes the first move, we will never have another chance. Moreover, we need to have more opportunities than others. Not everyone has the same advantages as Takarazuka!"

"I also think we should take action. Even a flimsy reason is better than nothing, and taking action is always better than watching. Failure is not a big deal. Even if we can't complete the plan and send Kuroki Hitomi away, we can still take the opportunity to get closer to her and gain more opportunities. With the current real estate recovery, even Sony can't resist getting involved. We have no reason to give up. Shopping malls and commercial centers are a good target. If Tokyo is okay, there's no reason why Osaka can't be!"

“That’s right. Right now, only Sony is involved. If Mitsui Fudosan joins in, there’ll be nothing left for us. We need to act quickly. I’ll arrange for someone to bring those two from Takarazuka over right away!”

While they called it an invitation, it wasn't really like that at all. In the eyes of these big shots, women like Hitomi Kuroki and Mao Daichi were just pawns in their hands, objects to be used. They didn't care what the other party thought! Just like Naoko back then, Akio Morita didn't care what she thought or whether she was willing to accept his arrangements. As long as he had such thoughts, the other party had to obey.

Women in Japan have a very low social status. In this patriarchal country, they have virtually no equal rights. Actresses have an even lower status, and idols like Naoko Naoko are even more so. In contrast, Hitomi Kuroki, who came from Takarazuka Revue, is in a much better position. There's a huge gap in their social standing, which is why Sanwa and his team are so confident. They've chosen a much better candidate than Akio Morita, and naturally, they're much more sincere! Of course, this is just their wishful thinking, not John's opinion, and whether it will succeed remains to be seen!

Upon suddenly receiving an indirect 'invitation' from a powerful figure, especially at this moment, both Hitomi Kuroki and Mao Daichi felt a surge of tension. They weren't fools, nor were they ignorant of the secrets of the entertainment industry's upper echelons. Although they were both resentful and resistant, they had no choice but to silently accept.
Originally, Hitomi Kuroki wasn't invited to this party; only Mao Daichi accepted the invitation. Hitomi was only there because Mao Daichi brought her along, intending for her to relax. She hadn't expected to encounter such a situation. Despite Mao Daichi's extraordinary status in Takarazuka, she was still considered an 'ant' in the eyes of these powerful figures. Faced with their forceful invitation, she had no power to resist and could only accept!
Time was limited, and these bigwigs from Sanwa didn't have time to go into detail. They only briefly introduced their plans, completely disregarding Kuroki Hitomi's feelings, let alone Daichi Mao's. The reason Daichi Mao was 'invited' was simply to be used by these bigwigs as a tool to persuade Kuroki Hitomi!

Having been in the industry for many years, Mao Daichi has witnessed the darkness and deals within it, and naturally understands her current situation. She understands that Hitomi Kuroki has no choice. In these people's eyes, Hitomi Kuroki is merely a pawn to be used, devoid of any personality or freedom. Whether she likes it or not, she has to accept it.

Inviting them here wasn't about listening to their thoughts or choices, but simply informing them of the decision—nothing more! This is the madness of Japan, and the intimidation of conglomerates! Beautiful female PR staff are perfectly normal and commonplace in Japan, especially now that Japan's economy is developing rapidly, the number of such female PR staff is astonishing.

The beautiful women in the entertainment industry, whether actresses, idols, or singers, all face this situation. Those with powerful agencies have some ability to resist. Of course, this only applies to general harassment. They are powerless against powerful figures like Naoko Morita, who, under pressure from such a figure, could only submit and dared not resist in the slightest, otherwise the oppression she suffered would be even more terrifying.

Kuroki Hitomi is in the same boat now, utterly powerless to choose. Resistance only invites ruthless suppression and brutal repression! In the eyes of these powerful figures, they are merely pawns, tools to be used! Whether you agree or disagree, you must obey, you must accept!
In the dark world of Japanese entertainment, this is the norm. Japanese people are just that crazy. No matter how big a star an actress is, she has no power to resist capital and can only submit to power! If we're talking about the most famous honey trap in Japan, it has to be Setsuko Hara, the actress who was given to MacArthur as his mistress. Her appearance allowed Japan to escape many punishments. This is the true pinnacle of beauty PR, which can influence the interests of the country!

(End of this chapter)