Mitsuo Terada's family runs a dry goods store, selling various dried goods such as dried shiitake mushrooms, dried plums, and dried fish. The business in the store is good and there is no financial pressure.
Parents who are diligent in business, a simple and pragmatic family.
However, this kind of simple and pragmatic family has simple and pragmatic expectations for their children. It doesn’t matter that my son played in a band during his school days to enrich his spare time——
Although in the eyes of conservative parents, playing in a band is a bit like gangsters. Moreover, Mitsuo Terada plays glam rock, which requires wearing fancy clothes and elaborate makeup.
It's okay to enrich your spare time life, but if you have to give up the university you worked so hard to study for and treat the band that is not doing business as a serious job, it will attract considerable opposition.
…
After lunch, three of the five young men said goodbye to him on the spot. The ones who stayed were Mitsuo Terada and the guitarist named Hatakeyama. They were almost the ones responsible for speaking during the dinner just now.
After Iwahashi Shinichi explained the purpose of his trip to contact the band and the conditions he gave, the band had almost no objections to the conditions.
For Mitsuo Terada, a production company in Tokyo is willing to sign a contract with him. Although, as Shinichi Iwahashi said, the salary of this contract is small and unstable, at least it seems closer to "professional".
If I can sign a contract with Shinichi Iwahashi's production company, my parents won't have nothing to say.
Iwahashi Shinichi promised these young people that after lunch, he would follow Mitsuo Terada back to meet his parents - he would just explain the situation truthfully to prove that there was indeed a producer dealing with them, and would not give any guarantees.
.
If a band wants to stand out, it must have considerable talent. The cost of launching a singer is extremely high, and record companies cannot buy a bunch of cheap lottery tickets and scratch them one by one like they can with models and actors.
Unless a company is an upstart with deep pockets, it must be cautious about launching new companies.
Looking back at the band Sheran Q, it can only be regarded as a flower. It is unknown what kind of flowers they will bloom and what kind of fruits they will bear. Iwahashi Shinichi is not so arrogant as to have a monopoly on their future.
Moreover--
"It's better to fight for the big things in your life yourself."
It was not far from the barbecue restaurant where we ate to the dry goods store run by Mitsuo Terada's family. It only took ten minutes to walk. The three of us didn't need to call a taxi and chatted while walking.
Looking at this arrangement, I am 100% certain that these young men have already planned it and will take him there as long as Iwahashi Shin nods.
Iwahashi Shinichi did not want to expose this layer of scheming. When he said this, he first said: "It sounds weird and frivolous, and it tastes like it has nothing to do with you." Then he straightened up and said, "But it is also true."
Mitsuo Terada and Hatakeyama were one step behind him.
Hearing this, Hatakeyama remained silent, and Mitsuo Terada said "I'm really sorry."
"Instead of apologizing to me..."
Iwahashi Shinichi said, "I decided to sign you to the production company. Of course I hope you can meet the standards for debut. However, I am not arrogant enough to say to your parents, 'please leave Terada-kun to me.'"
.”
If you sign a contract with an underage idol or actor and say otherwise, a young man in his twenties cannot say "he is still a child".
Even if he said "Leave Terada-kun to me", what really determines whether the band has a future is whether the members have that kind of talent.
For a child who is tone-deaf, even if a big shot in the industry like Tsutsumi Kyohei says that it is a pity that he is such a genius and did not debut as a singer, the child's parents will never believe it.
"After all, Terada-kun."
Iwahashi Shinichi made it clear, "The key to deciding whether your parents agree with you to become a full-time musician is yourself, not the vague affirmation given by someone who appears out of nowhere."
Blindly shirk yourself to the so-called "authority" is an irresponsible approach to yourself.
Similarly, if you relied on "authority" to convince your parents in the first place, if one day, in the hearts of Mitsuo Terada's parents, Iwahashi Shinichi is no longer "authoritative", then all the things that were originally built based on belief in authority will be overturned.
.
At that time, we will have to face another round of more violent swings.
Mitsuo Terada was stunned for a moment by what he said and didn't reply all the way.
Hatakeyama naturally took on the responsibility of communicating with Iwahashi Shinichi. The two people worked together tacitly. Iwahashi Shinichi thought they had worked together for a long time, but when he asked, he found out that Hatakeyama and Terada Mitsuo only became familiar with each other after the three bands merged last year.
.
On the contrary, it was the member named Matsui in the band who was the bassist in two bands of Hatakeyama and Mitsuo Terada at the same time.
"Then you two get along quite well," Shinichi Iwahashi said.
Hatakeyama admitted, "Indeed, Terada-kun and I get along very well, and the other members of the band also like him very much. As you can see, our standards are still far apart. So I have to give up my job after graduating from college and work in the band for two years."
, this kind of thing is actually very risky, and everyone knows it.”
"Because I know I am taking an adventure, I feel that since it is an adventure, I should partner up with the person I get along with the most," Hatakeyama said.
This made Shinichi Iwahashi understand why the other four young people in the band would team up with a lead singer who was somewhere between quitting and not quitting.
Maybe it would be safer to take risks with someone who is more "safe". However, taking risks is inherently full of uncertainty.
In this case, instead of losing the resonance of like-minded souls in pursuit of "insurance", it is better to regard having a lead singer who has not yet made up his mind as part of this adventure.
Such thoughts were silly, naive, and a little foolishly optimistic. For a moment, Shinichi Iwahashi was reminded of their elaborately dressed-up style of telling jokes to the audience when they performed at Joten.
A subtle "sense of commonality" appeared in his heart.
Furthermore, Shinichi Iwahashi recalled the time when he angrily said, "I will never trust those charlatans again!" and then chose Miwa-chan, an inexperienced layman, as his manager.
The two of them resigned from Odyssey one after another and were looking for performance opportunities everywhere. Whether it was Miwa-chan who entrusted herself to Shinichi Iwahashi, or Shinichi Iwahashi who believed that Miwa-chan would become popular, outsiders would probably think so if they looked at it from the side.
Quite silly.
Because of this association, Shinichi Iwahashi has a better impression of this band.
Shinichi Iwahashi chatted with Hatakeyama.
Mitsuo Terada followed behind in silence, listening to their chat while recalling what Shinichi Iwahashi said just now in his mind.
…
The Terada family's dry goods store is much larger than expected. It has a complete range of categories, including seafood dry goods, mainland dry goods, various dried fruits, and seasonings.
...it also tastes a bit strong.
At this time, there was no business in the store. Mitsuo Terada's parents had just had lunch in a four-tatami-sized living room at the back of the store.
Their son and his bandmates suddenly brought a stranger over. Mitsuo Terada's parents couldn't guess the number. However, they didn't look at Shinichi Iwahashi, but directly looked at their son with doubts.
Mitsuo Terada and his parents introduced, "This is the producer Iwabashi."
"Producer?"
Iwahashi Shinichi took out his business card and handed it over, "My last name is Iwahashi."
Mitsuo Terada's father took the business card and muttered: "Sang, the president of the record company?" Then he picked up the business card box on the low table and handed over his business card.
"Iwahashi-san is the producer of zard." Mitsuo Terada introduced.
His mother leaned over to look at the business card her husband took over, and said "Oh", "I know, I know, I saw the Genzo mark on Zard's single."
He raised his head, looked at Shinichi Iwahashi, and smiled, "Hello, producer-san, I like zard very much."
"Thank you for your support." Shinichi Iwahashi said politely.
After the necessary pleasantries were done, Mitsuo Terada's parents also knew his origins. Shinichi Iwahashi did not show off, cut to the chase, and explained the situation to Mitsuo Terada's parents.
The son has always wanted to join a band without finding a job after graduation. The Terada family had argued about this matter several times. Now a producer suddenly came and said that he wanted to sign them to a production company. The development of things was a bit beyond the expectations of Mitsuo Terada's parents.
However, in addition to explaining the treatment he could provide, Shinichi Iwahashi also made a detailed analysis of the band's current status to these two laymen, laying out their possibilities and existing shortcomings here.
In front of parents.
"In short, although I have the intention to sign a contract, the final outcome of the band depends on how far they can go in the future." Shin Iwahashi has been speaking out and has not made any promises in front of his parents.
Rather than just talking about "trust me" in vain and making people's blood boil with no results, it's better to talk about everything in detail.
Let Mitsuo Terada's parents know exactly what the job their son longs for is doing and what the possibilities are.
He felt that what he could do was not to rely on his status as a professional to do everything in front of laymen who knew nothing about it, but to use his profession to give due due treatment to Mitsuo Terada's parents with his professional part.
explain.
The rest is for Mitsuo Terada himself to consider how to achieve this balance with his parents.
Shinichi Iwahashi had already made this plan in his mind when he promised the band to visit Terada's house.
You can't just endorse Mitsuo Terada's parents casually, but you must do your best to help Mitsuo Terada and this adventurous band in your own way.
When entering the industry, you need to sell excellence and promote your dreams. Then, when facing people who pursue their dreams, even if others think they are stupid, Iwahashi Shinichi cannot think so. On the contrary, he must do something for this stupidity.
"so……"
After listening to his analysis, Mitsuo Terada's father thought for a while, "You mean to say that if Mitsuo joins a band, it is possible that Mitsuo will make his debut and become a real musician?"
"But there is also a half chance that you will accomplish nothing in the end and you will still be an ordinary person."
Shinichi Iwahashi poured cold water on his lips, but in his heart, he realized what it was like to be a father from the fact that Mitsuo Terada's father first focused on "the possibility of his son succeeding" after listening to his analysis.
Mitsuo Terada was listening and wanted to interrupt, but he knew it was not the right time and was a little anxious.
"Thank you for making a special trip and telling us the matter in such detail." Mitsuo Terada's father had no intention of continuing the discussion.
It seems that we have to wait until the outsiders have left and close the door before talking.
"I've taken the liberty of visiting, sorry to disturb you." Shinichi Iwahashi greeted him skillfully again and prepared to leave.
He had to go to Kansai TV to record a program in the afternoon and had to go back to the hotel at one o'clock. He didn't have much time to chat.
But when she was about to stand up and say goodbye, Mitsuo Terada's mother spoke again, but it was not about her son, "Iwahashi-san, I have something to trouble you."
"When you return to Tokyo, can you help convey to everyone in zard that I like them very much?"
Iwahashi Shinichi smiled and agreed, "Zard's people will be very happy to hear it... By the way, the band's new single is already in production. Before it is released, can I send you a copy?"
Mitsuo Terada's mother had a star-struck smile on her face, "I'll trouble you then."
The interlude was over, and Shinichi Iwahashi stood up to say goodbye.
When you came out of the living room, you had to pass through the shelves filled with various dry goods. As a result, Mitsuo Terada's mother suddenly spoke and said to Shinichi Iwahashi: "Iwahashi-san, there are many specialties from Kansai in the store.
oh."
Why?
Shinichi Iwahashi reacted.
Terada Mitsuo's mother smiled and said, "Can I give you some to take back?"
…
After seeing off Iwahashi Shinichi, Hatakeyama also left with him. Only Terada and his family were left in the dry goods store.
Mitsuo Terada's mother told her husband, "That Iwahashi-san is quite cheerful and doesn't look like a stingy Tokyoite." She speculated, "However, he doesn't have an accent. I don't know where he is from."
A true Osaka native wants to shoot at Tokyoites anytime and anywhere.
"He looks quite young, but speaks and acts very maturely." As a father, I also have a good impression of this producer.
Mitsuo Terada followed his parents back to the living room and knelt down in front of them.
"Father, mother." He showed his cards, "I trust Iwahashi-san. This opportunity is also rare. I want to seize it."
Mitsuo Terada lowered his head, mustered up his energy, and said in one breath what he wanted to say just now, "After graduation next year, I will give up my job and work as a musician first. If I still can't get ahead after working hard, I will give up and stop doing it...
…It’s really unacceptable to give up before you’ve even done it.”
"After that, if I fail, please let me come back and inherit the family store." He gritted his teeth and said.
The parents sitting opposite me all showed surprise when they heard this sentence.
Mitsuo Terada hated the smell of dry goods stores, so he went to study and get into college so that he would not inherit his family's store. But now, in order to make the music he longed for most, he would rather make such a choice.
Knowing how much he disliked the family business, Mitsuo Terada's parents understood their son's determination at this moment.
The small living room fell into silence for a moment.
After a while, my mother's voice came out, "Didn't that Iwahashi-san say that the possibility of a band is not small?"
"It's possible that I can make a debut, if I work hard." It was my father who spoke next. "However, he also said that he might not be able to make a debut in the end."
"But at least, after listening to what he said, this job is not so unprofessional. I believe this kind of cheerful person... and he is also the producer of zard." This is the mother.
Mitsuo Terada's heart was pounding.
Finally, his father looked at him and said, "If you want to do it, just do it."
