I mean, the book was written based on interviews with her. I don't think she was lying in those interviews in order to give Max a better image, but who knows?

As for the drama, I had fun with it though it is one of the cheesiest things I've ever seen. It's not "good", but fun to watch anyway. What I don't like is them not using the original songs or names of the other artists (Like what's the point of ELT becoming OTF, et cetera? Especially when you are keeping the songs the same). All of the cover versions of the songs just sound cheap and pale in comparison to the originals which is a bad move since it seems Avex wants to use this drama to promote it's younger talent - all it is doing is reminding people how much better the original stuff sounded IMO. At least the M performance was lip synched to Ayu's original; hopefully that continues for all of the Ayu songs.

Most of this cover songs were already released 2 years ago...

I think the book was made with some clear intentions in mind: reviving interest in her catalogue and whitewashing Max Matsuura's image + putting to bed some rumors regarding them. It wasn't made with the intent of actually telling the truth and a bunch of details were embellished (the book's promotion said so. It's a mix of "fiction" with real life details). Plus, if some of the things we heard about Matsuura are true then.... well, there's no way a lot of those details could be published in a mainstream book by a mainstream publishing house with AVEX permission lol.

But I personally don't believe in the "true love story" narrative or anything like that lol. It's just a marketing stunt. I mean, a true story about a love affair between a young girl right out of her teens with a the head of a huge record label in his mid-30s would be full of conflict of interests and would raise questions about abuse of power, ethics, etc. Max Matsuura himself is a figure that is rumored to be involved with drugs, the water trade and with some sketchy figures. So I have a hard time believing a romance between him and Ayu would not be a wishy washy romance fit for a broadcast TV drama or very marketing friendly lol.

That said, I am curious to check out the drama. Sometimes some cheesy fun is good. As I said, repercussion in Japan is very very high so I do think it'll benefit Ayu too (I mean, not her new material but...).

came here to read comments and im surprised by the positivity..will be catching it this weekend XD

Oh, I totally agree about the shady aspects of it, particularly from Max. However, both things can be true. Their relationship can be shady and dark and it can still be a love story as well (I do believe that Ayu was truly in love with him).

You're right, I don't disagree at all. It's not that she was in love with him that I doubt, it's just how the love story per se is told and how it evolved according to the book that I actually don't think is true lol.

I read a few years ago that avex STILL has to pay royalties to her former agency, because they definitely want to profit off her starpower she gained after getting out of the contract, moving on to better things. Any truth to that? seems unbelievable, after all these years.

Looking for softsubs! I want to translate properly to another language for my friends, but I need the timing, any help?

^^
Yes I remember this article !!
Imo it's not that impossible !! Music industry work strangely especially in Japan you can't leave your agency easily without consequences, in a lot of case the people who does that are blacklisted.

Here:
https://blitzfansub.com/m-ai-subeki-...ite-episode-1/

But you need a "Softsub Subscription" at Patreon.

New pic of Kalen Anzai and Shohei Miura.
https://i.imgur.com/unrzodE.jpg

can someone upload episodes with subs here? I don't know why this site don't work for me

Try this
https://ok.ru/video/1414182472347

^thanks! it works

thank you for this! I actually enjoyed this and I have never watched any japanese tv-shows before, yeah it was kinda hilarious and over the top but it was really entertaining! acting was bad but in a entertaining way so I'm looking forward to this from now on.

Max looks so hot in here :love I might be in love

I just finished watching and it is just as cringe as I thought it would be in the best way.

Max's friend is super duper irritating.
Eyepatch is gearing up to be the best villain since Star Trek's Kai Winn.
Kalen seemed pretty good in the grand scheme of the rest of the show.

I'm not sure why they changed some of the stuff... it would have made more sense to either have told a story about Ayu and kept everything the same with dramatic licence or told a story about Ayu and changed everything.

But, eh. I'll be looking forward to the next episode.

^Yep, I really liked that.

Thanks for this!!

Wow this is so bad it's good. I can't wait for more!

I thinks it was really fun, actually.

I was really surprised about how much charisma Kalen had on camera...So far the text didn't give Ayu much of a personality, but I really liked having Kalen on screen, lol. She also wasn't bad acting and unlike the show promo, she didn't give me the same feeling her PVs