Chapter 17: The Great White Shark of Wall Street (2)

  Kuroki Hitomi, originally named Ikuchi Akiko, is a graduate of Takarazuka Music Academy. The Takarazuka Music Academy is the exclusive training school for members of the famous Japanese opera company, Takarazuka Revue, which has the reputation in Japan as "the East's Todai and the West's Takarazuka". All performers in this renowned opera company are unmarried women. The troupe's leader, Kobayashi Ichizō, was once an ardent right-wing activist who served as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the second Konoe Fumimaro cabinet during World War II, attempting to incorporate Indonesia into what he called "the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere", but failed. After the war, Kobayashi Ichizō was "purged".

  The reason for the creation of Takarazuka Revue is laughable, as this world-renowned opera company was created to increase passenger numbers on Hankyu Railway! Yes, it's true. Kobayashi Ichizō utilized advanced installment payment theory to build Hankyu Railway, and to increase passenger numbers, he came up with the idea of building entertainment facilities! Even he himself didn't expect that this all-female theater troupe would achieve such great success!

  Takarazuka Revue promotes the excavation of women's artistic talents on one hand, and on the other hand, it aims to cultivate all its members into perfect wives and mothers.

  Is she a good wife and mother? Jerry can't help but laugh! Having starred in "Tokyo Tower" and "Paradise Lost", Kuroki Yumi, who has the title of new era feminist spokesperson, is not exactly a good wife and mother!

  "Alright ~ Jerry-kun, if you want to keep laughing like that, I'll just continue eating my meatballs!"

  Jerry: "Sorry, sorry, I just thought of some more interesting things! Um, about 'Midnight Bell', the script will be sent to you by relevant staff. I think the specific shooting time should be scheduled for the second half of this year! If nothing unexpected happens, the person who will be acting with you should be Mr. Miura Tomoaki! The most critical issue now is your schedule!"

  Kuroki Hitomi: "As for the schedule, I can communicate with the agency about it! However, Jerry-kun, I don't get it, why did you suddenly look for me? You're not trying to tease me, are you?"

  Kuroki Hitomi's greatest wish is to appear on the big screen, but Japan's sluggish film market makes it difficult for her to get good roles.

  Jerry: "You shouldn't be asking me this, you should go ask the president of Robonica Films, Mr. Yorihiko Ida, or maybe ask the director Toshio Nakata, I'm just passing on a message!"

  Jerry put down his chopsticks and started staring at Kuroba's face, making him feel a bit embarrassed. He smiled and hit Jerry, "Hey, Jerry-kun, what are you doing?"

  Jerry: "Huh! Now I know why Nakata director specifically wanted you to play Asakura!"

  Kuroki Hitomi: "Why?"

  Jerry: "Because your face is more suitable for acting in horror movies!"

  Hei Mu's eyes widened in surprise, and when she came back to her senses, she raised her hand, ready to strike again!

  "Hey, Hei Mu Tong Miss, I'm actually praising you!"

  "Hmm, is this how you praise people? Are you saying that a person's face is suitable for acting in horror movies, or in other words, their face looks very much like a ghost, and that's a compliment? Hmm? Jerry, do you think this is a compliment?"

  Jerry hastily grabbed Hei Mu Tong's hand, "Alright, alright, I knew you'd misunderstand! When I said your face type is suitable for acting in horror movies, what I actually meant was that your face shape is relatively long and narrow. In comparison, the big eyes always seem to shine with a sense of determination, this is the key point, don't you know? This is the key point!"

  "That won't do either! How can you say something so ambiguous!"

  "Alright, alright, you're right, woman, always right!"

  The first episode of "Ryori no Tetsujin" has been broadcast, just as a massive earthquake hit Japan! The two beautiful female hosts' verbal sparring, exquisite ingredients, unparalleled culinary skills, the mysterious Eastern country, the guests' natural reactions to food different from those on screen, plus the explosive revelation of Mr. Angel's identity, all became TBS's selling points.

  "Do you want to attend a cooking party with celebrities? Do you want to shake hands and chat intimately with Baifu-san and Yoshinaga-san like I do? Do you want to get the autographs of Takao Kura, Hitomi Kuroki... Akira Toriyama? Do you want to sit together with these artists who are usually only seen on TV and movies, enjoying delicious mysterious cuisine? Don't hesitate, pick up your phone! You can be like me, next Saturday night, the god of luck might just smile upon you!" says Marukoshi Kazuki, our guest from the audience, an insurance salesman.

  For a time, Japan gradually set off a wave of culinary trends. The number of tourists in Yokohama Chinatown, Kobe Nankinmachi and Nagasaki Shinchi increased sharply, and the strange Urine Cow Ball series was sought after by many Japanese people!

  While Chinese cuisine is extremely popular, the sales of Japanese Sumo Hot Pot have also shown a straight upward trend. No wonder both Yomiuri and Asahi News gave it the title of "Gastronomic Wind Vane"!

  Of course, some people are happy, and naturally, others are worried. As competitors, other TV stations seize the opportunity to loudly proclaim that Japanese citizens should be patriotic and that not choosing sumo hot pot is treasonous nonsense! It's obvious where these remarks come from... TBS doesn't even need to counterattack, Japan Communist Party has already jumped out first!

  "This noble virtue of patriotism is not just something to be touted on the lips! What is patriotism? It's about defending one's country with all one's might during wartime, and in peacetime, not dragging one's own country and people into the depths of war, but rather using all one's might to create wealth for one's own country, to create a better standard of living for its people, so they won't be oppressed by foreign powers, so they can face their nation's history and future with dignity. That is what patriotism is! But what about you? You instigated war, incited the animosity of other nations, and in peacetime, you wave the flag of patriotism while causing trouble everywhere, creating chaos at home and currying favor abroad. When it was time to take responsibility for the war, where did you hide? When it was time to face the American soldiers who were wreaking havoc on Japanese women, where did you hide? When it was time to face history, where did you hide again? And now, you're jumping out from your hiding place like a clown, criticizing TBS's fair and impartial cooking show. You are Japan's shame..."

  "I love my country, but I know that if my country doesn't even have the courage to acknowledge failure, then this country definitely has no bright future! This is just a cooking show, and the result is very clear: the hot pot from China is better than our sumo hot pot. If you don't even have the courage to admit this, I can only say that you are a group of shallow, cowardly men who cannot be called Japanese men! Even if I had to choose again, I would still unhesitatingly choose Zhonghua Swan Hot Pot!" These were the words spoken by Takao Gohara, the representative of Japanese men and an acquaintance of the former leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi.

  Many writers, critics, authors, cartoonists, and celebrities have joined the big debate triggered by a food program, causing a stir in Japan's quiet media circle once again!

  Just as Japan was swept up in a food craze and a great debate over patriotism, our protagonist had already flown to the East Coast of America.