Tokyo: My obsession with China led me to become the king of Japanese entertainment.

"Huh? Yamashita Tomohisa, Hollywood?" Sakurada Jun was taken aback, then decisively shook his head: "Having a meal with Yamashita-senpai is no problem, but Hollywood... I have absolutely no interest."

"What's the reason?" Taka asked curiously.

"Can I not serve Ryoumi?" Sakurada Jun rolled his eyes.

Are you kidding me? Is Hollywood some kind of wonderful place? Epstein didn't even commit suicide after being shot three times in the back!

He, Jun Sakurada, is making a good living in China and Japan, so why would he go to that cesspool that's even more stinking than Japanese entertainment?

If you're really envious of the awards and titles offered by the white team, then just make a few more games and claim the prizes from the TGA and Golden Joystick Awards. Wouldn't that be easier and more enjoyable than going to Hollywood?

At least the former is actually awarded to Japanese game companies and producers.

"But you've been doing so well in the Chinese market, haven't you? With a little adjustment, you should be able to thrive in the American market too, right?" Monkey Head asked, puzzled.

Sakurada Jun looked at him and suddenly gave a playful smile: "That's different."

"How is it different?" Today, driven by curiosity, the monkey was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Sakurada Jun paused for a second, seemingly weighing whether the monkey would be able to accept what he was about to say.

Only when Taka started to get anxious did he slowly speak, as if he had made up his mind: "Because you can achieve good relations with the Chinese without kneeling down."

The atmosphere suddenly froze, just like the curious smile on Malou's face.

He never expected that Jun Sakurada would utter such a shocking statement at this time.

"...Um, Run, are you kidding me? Dealing with Americans doesn't require kneeling—"

"Really?" He was interrupted halfway through his sentence. Sakurada Jun tilted his head, a hint of innocent teasing in his tone: "Then... how about 'American Girls'?"

With just one sentence, the monkey, who was still trying to defend himself, was choked and couldn't utter a single word. He felt as if he had been hit on the head with a stick.

"American Girls," written in 2017, is included on ONE OK ROCK's eighth album, "Ambitions," and is a catchy pop song that was forced into the album.

The OOR brothers, who had just signed with Warner Music and were planning to make a name for themselves in the European and American markets, suddenly received a request to create a "Radio Song".

They thought that by writing songs that were exciting and energetic, they could carve out a niche for themselves in the car radio market, just like before.

But Warner said no, that wouldn't be in line with the market.

So, after being forced to go through what was probably the most painful creative process of his life, a catchy pop song that Taka never wanted to sing even once at a concert was born.

The style is the most ordinary pop rock, the melody is unremarkable, the arrangement is monotonous and boring, and the theme is extremely vulgar, such as "a poor boy from Tokyo is infatuated with an American girl"—that kind of nonsense.

It's hard to imagine that a band that was screaming and fighting with ambition and drive on their last album could produce this mess in just one or two years.

For Taka, this song is a dark chapter in his history, a scar he doesn't want to talk about, and even a source of shame.

However, as the album "Ambitions" sold well in the United States and reached the top of the album charts, it helped them to initially gain a foothold in the market, and the sense of frustration was somewhat diluted by the profits.

Today, Jun Sakurada has reopened this wound.

"Don't blame me for being blunt, Gui-ge, I absolutely did not mean to target or look down on you." Sakurada Jun sighed softly.

"I know you started thinking about developing overseas because you were banned in Japan and had nowhere else to turn. This is the right path for you."

"But the objective fact is that in recent decades, the Japanese have hardly stood up straight in front of the United States."

"Japanese politicians are kneeling, Japanese artists are kneeling, and even ordinary Japanese people, when they see the soldiers at the base, and black and white tourists, few of them can stand up straight."

"The Japanese have been loyal dogs to the Americans for decades. The Japanese have gotten used to it, and the Americans have gotten used to it too. They've all taken it for granted."

He spread his hands: "Take ONE OK ROCK for example. How much have you sacrificed over the years to adapt to the European and American markets? Your new album hardly sounds like the style you had in 2010."

"But what was the result? In terms of influence in Europe and America, are you even considered a second-tier player? Or is third-tier about right?"

"What about Tomohisa Yamashita? He's supposedly the first Johnny's artist to break into the US, but I haven't seen him in any major Hollywood blockbusters for more than three minutes!"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Taka's face.

"That's why I don't go to Japan. In the past, if Japanese people kneeling down could be considered a kind of gesture or appeasement, and if they could please Japan in exchange for some benefits..."

"So now, instead of kneeling, the Japanese are the ones who are unhappy and even punished."

"I have mobility issues and a back problem, earning me the nickname 'Steelback Beast.' I simply can't kneel down anymore, so I'm not going to earn US dollars anymore," Jun Sakurada said calmly.

Actually, he lied about this part because Monster Survivor had already made initial inroads into the European and American markets. This simple, crude, yet addictive gameplay was just like in his previous life, and it was deeply loved and supported by Lao Mei.

During this period, tens of thousands of users in North America have been spending money every day. The speed at which he earns US dollars is probably unmatched by many in the entire Japanese entertainment industry.

However, there's no need to say such things aloud to annoy people.

Monkey remained silent for a long time, so long that even Sakurada Jun began to think about how to comfort him, when he suddenly asked, "Then, are the Chinese... different from Americans?"

"Let me analyze this for you from the perspective of its development history," Jun Sakurada said after thinking for two seconds.

"In fact, Chinese people and Americans are quite similar in some ways, namely the inherent magnanimity and confidence of a great power. There is a saying that Chinese people are just yellow-skinned Americans, and there is some truth to that."

"They have an inherent confidence stemming from their nation and civilization. They never feel that they should look up to anyone. When they are away from home, they always prioritize their own culture and customs."

He then changed the subject: "But there is one major difference between the people of these two countries."

"What is it?" Maloo exclaimed in surprise.

Growing up in Japan, a country with a severe lack of ideological and political education, and having not even finished high school, Taka naturally cannot be considered cultured.

However, having traveled between Japan and America over the years and written so many songs, it's impossible to say that he had no insights or experiences to share; it's just that it's difficult to express them in words.

Jun Sakurada smiled and said, "That is to say, over the past few decades, America has become accustomed to looking down on others, while China has become accustomed to catching up."