Chapter 53: Going to Japan (First Update Seeking Recommendations)

  There isn't much of a Japanese plot, mainly because it's impossible to let the main character stay in Korea all the time. The plot requires this part, so I'll try to keep it brief and finish it within a few chapters since I'm not familiar with Japan's entertainment circle.

  Besides, the second one might be later, this week is really busy...

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  "What's the good news?" Looking at his expression that couldn't hide his excitement, An Junhe also cooperated with him and asked curiously.

  Quan Baogen smiled brightly and raised one finger, "First... Tokyo TV has invited you to go to Japan for publicity and hold a fan meeting for 'Sorry, I Love You'."

  He then eagerly anticipated Ahn Jun-hee to show an excited expression, but reality disappointed him. Ahn Jun-hee merely lazily turned his chair and asked indifferently: "Am I the only one invited?"

  "Good grief, what's wrong with your heart? Can't you control your emotions?" He muttered a complaint and Kwak Bong-soo replied dejectedly: "There are also Lim Soo-jung, Joo Ji-hoon, Jang Keun-suk and the director and screenwriter. Tokyo TV has invited all the main staff."

  When he heard Lin Xiujing's name, An Junhe swept the floor, and the tip of his chair's foot paused slightly, "Are they all going?"

  "It's unclear." Guan Gen shook his head, "I heard from that side that Lin Xiujing hasn't responded yet... Never mind whether they go or not, we must go. This is a great opportunity to open up the Japanese market. As long as your popularity is strong enough, it's possible that the company can help you negotiate a simultaneous release of the imported version of the album."

  Imported version of the album, as the name suggests, is a concept similar to TV dramas and movies exported overseas. The domestically released album is called the original version, while the imported version is when the domestic issuing company signs an authorization contract with the issuing companies in other countries, allowing the album to be issued in that country. Compared to the original version, the imported version actually has no difference, at most it will add a few foreign language characters on the back of the album, such as "Only for sale in XX area".

  However, being able to release a synchronized imported version usually represents the beginning of a singer's brilliance. If a song can achieve this at its debut, it will undoubtedly add points to the album with strong publicity.

  An Junhe didn't refuse, although he knew that getting mixed up in Japan wasn't a good thing, but at least for now it was okay, so he agreed: "You and the company arrange it, actually I'd rather go take a look at China."

  "China?" Lee Soo-man furrowed his brow, somewhat perplexed by the idea. As Korea's top entertainment agency, SM had never actually given up on the Chinese market; it was just that it was really tough to make a dent there. First and foremost, the severe piracy problem was a major obstacle, and then there were issues with musical style and image packaging not being well-received. To date, only Kangta had managed to gain traction in China within the company, and even looking at the entire Korean entertainment industry, it was really only Rain and Jang Na-ra who had succeeded.

  However, he also understood that An Junhe had always been very opinionated and there was no way to influence him. He vaguely said "Don't think about such distant issues for now" to brush it off, then somewhat dejectedly said: "Sigh, playing suspense with you is pointless, there's no surprise at all. The second piece of good news is that your album production is complete!"

  He said, pulling out two DVDs with completely different covers, "A sample disc and a promotional disc. Try them out for yourself in a bit to see how they work!"

  He originally thought it was another lukewarm ending, but as soon as the DVD came out, An Junhe took it with great interest, completely unlike his calm and lazy demeanor just now.

  "Ah, so you're not a blockhead after all?"

  "When will it be ready?" An Junhe ignored his teasing and asked casually while flipping through the two discs in his hand.

  The cover of a disc, with gray and black as the keynote, he on the cover, wearing a gray hat shirt, lounging lazily on an old, worn-out, colorful sofa, his eyes slightly looking up at the top, where a rusty clock is hanging upside down, surrounded by weathered walls, with a sense of decay and rot, a faint sadness seeps out, like a yellowed photo, heavy and oppressive. But from the waist down, the color gradually transitions to jet black, black straight-leg pants, black shoes, black wet ground, a few wisps of steam swirling around the slightly parted feet, the heel lifted, in the midst of the haze, as if dancing a crazy dance step.

  The different colors, the style of expression is also completely different, dynamic and static, perfectly matching the two main songs. The only similarity is that it is similar to the two main songs, in the dark picture, whether gray or black, there is an indelible sense of sadness and oppression.

  This is a template disc, which is the template for the album to be officially released in the market later. After the production team checks and finds no problem, the officially released album will follow this format.

  In comparison to the album cover's profound use of color and metaphor, another promotional disc is much simpler, only printing a side profile of him wearing a hat and leaning against a window. Because the promotional disc is not for sale but only for promotional purposes, when the company releases his first title track and MV, they will send this disc to major radio stations and music charts, so for now it only includes one song "1 Minute 1 Second". When the second wave of promotions comes around, the company will make another version of the promotional disc.

  It's finally done!

  This is my album!

  Stroking the cover with a comfortable texture, An Junhe felt a slight sense of emotion. Although it was already certain that he would debut as a singer, and the song had been recorded and the MV had been filmed, there wasn't much real feeling about it until now. Only at this moment, when he personally held in his hands the fruits of his labor from those sleepless nights, did his heart feel heavy with a sense of reality that had previously felt empty.

  After playing with it for a while, he put the disc on the table, preparing to try listening to it for a while, and then asked: "When is the company going to start issuing?"

  "After the Lantern Festival!" Quan Baogen took a puff of his cigarette and explained, "In two days, you'll be starting your trip to Japan. Although it's only for two or three days at most, but the style of this album isn't suitable for release before the festival, so the company has decided to postpone it until the end of the month. No objections, right?"

  "Uh-huh!" An Junhe nodded.

  "Let's not think about the album for now. You prepare for the next two days, and once the invitation from Tokyo arrives, we'll set off immediately. You don't know how hard it is to get this opportunity - Tokyo TV station is willing to invite the main creator over, which means the TV drama's ratings must be very good. I heard from the Tokyo office that this time, Tokyo TV's main invitation target is you. Make sure to grasp this opportunity well, if we can solidify the fan base on that side... Japan has Asia's number one music market, and if half of those fans can become your music fans, then we..."

  As he spoke, Quan Baogen began to indulge in his own daydreams.

  An Junhe wasn't very interested in these things. The Dokdo issue between South Korea and Japan hasn't reached an irreconcilable level of conflict yet, but it's only a matter of time - at most 5 years. When the conflicts escalate, the drawbacks of leaning towards the Japanese market will also begin to emerge. As for Japan, he just has an attitude of being able to make some money is better than nothing, but doesn't have much expectation.

  The company, however, was clearly on a different wavelength from him when it came to his upcoming trip to Japan. It showed great enthusiasm and had already prepared his visa well in advance. As soon as the invitation letter from Tokyo TV arrived, they immediately sent him off on a flight bound for Narita Airport in Japan.

  In addition to Kwon Boa, the five members of TVXQ and their manager and assistant team also went together. Bora was there too.

  According to the company's plan, Dongfang Shengqi will officially release a Japanese single in April this year. In fact, since the end of last year, they have been frequently active in Japan and often travel between the two countries. As for Bao'er, she has already released her first Japanese selection album at the beginning of this month, and recently she has also been busy with her schedule, shuttling back and forth. Although "X File" made her image slightly damaged domestically, her popularity in Japan is still at its peak.

  On the day of departure, An Junhe only found out that he was going to travel with them after picking up his boarding pass and running into Bao'er in the passage.

  Inside the passage, people came and went, and even if two people met, they didn't talk much. It wasn't until after they got on the plane that Bao'er snuck over and swapped seats with Quan Baogen, quietly talking to An Junhe:

  "Junhe Ge, it's been a while since I noticed, you've also become an international superstar!"

  As she said this, her tone couldn't help but be somewhat bitter. Mainly because in the "X File" incident, two people who were also on the list received completely different treatment - one was heavily trampled by netizens, while the other was almost lifted to the sky. Thinking of such a difference made her feel uncomfortable all over.

  Today's her, still like the first time they met, wearing a casual outfit that wasn't too eye-catching, her plain face looked less radiant than on stage, but had a lot more warmth. Being younger than Ahn Jun-hee by just one year, when she called him "oppa" with a slightly sour tone, she seemed just like a little sister next door.

  "What international superstar can compare to you, Japan's songstress little heavenly queen." An Junhe chuckled and patted her head. After that brief "escape" and subsequent collaboration, the two now had a very close relationship, with jokes like this not uncommon. Bao'er merely protested by bumping his head with hers before turning around to call out in a low voice to those in the back seat: "Hey, what are you two hiding in the back for? Trying to scare us?"

  An Junhe turned his head to look, sitting in the back row of his seat, were Zheng Yunhao and Kim Jaejoong. The two men who had been silent all along were called by Bao'er, and when they saw him turn around, their expressions became somewhat awkward.

  Their reaction, Ahn Jun-hee understood a bit, mainly because of the last Mid-Autumn Festival evening party, he and Bao-er collaborated on a song, which stole their thunder that night. Although it was a small matter, everyone was not familiar with each other before, and apart from his relationship with Kim Joon-soo, who had Lee Hyeok-jae as a connection, he had a gap with the other four people, and that small matter also made the gap grow into a grudge.

  The two were obviously reluctant to meet awkwardly and hid behind without making a sound, but didn't expect Bao'er had already noticed them.

  The atmosphere was momentarily silent, and then the air began to vibrate slightly. The plane broadcast several announcements in a row, and soon the faint hum of the engines came from outside the porthole window, followed by a slight feeling of weightlessness that crept in quietly.

  The plane took off!

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