Chapter 8
Agnes' comeback was a long-awaited good news for her fans. Her life in Canada was occasionally reported at the time by magazines and media. And it was reported that she was still thinking about her future plan. Those news made her fans in a fuss, although they believed that "She will return for sure."
As I stated in the previous chapter, Agnes was hesitating over her future plan very much. As a result of that, she chose the plan to comeback. But, did she really want to comeback?
It is because she herself had made a statement in later years that the comeback was "not a conclusion I had carefully thoughts." Course decision is one of important events in life. She could not help being conscious of this because she is very knowledgeable and intellectual. Nevertheless, she chose to comeback in some easy mood. What made her to do such a choice? In other words, what mislead her and rattled her? I'd like to think about this.
Here, I'd like again to take a look at her four options at the time as I mentioned in the previous chapter.
The option "lawyer" was a recommendation of her uncle in Hong Kong. He recommended this to her after her father's sudden passing. The option "psychologist" was recommended by her friends and her teacher. Of course this option must have been one of her desire. About the option "gift shop owner," I don't know what brought this idea to her. But I think this option too was a recommendation by someone. And the option "singer" was recommended by Watanabe Agency, which she had belonged before.
That is to say, it seems that all the four options she thought as her future plan at the point of her graduation were recommended by others and not her own desires. Her original desire should have been an activity in which she could commit herself to young people or children. It could be a counselor, or a teacher of elementary or nursery school. At least, she though so before going to Canada to study. This desire was not among the "options" she said.
Her original desire was to become a counselor or schoolteacher. But, it seems that she had already given up this idea on her own by the time of her graduation. Why did she do that?
It's easy to assume that Agnes' relatives had a meeting to discuss about the future of each of her family after 陳燧棠 her father's passing. It was no problem for her elder brother and two of her sisters, but there was problem for her mother, Agnes and her younger brothers. Her family had savings left, but of course they could not live only by that. Someone in the family had to do work.
Agnes' mother 彭端淑 seems to have no work experience, or to have only a little. It was hard to say that her characteristic was for work. And Agnes' two elder brothers were still students, so to find work was out of question for them.
Therefore, it was beyond any question that to the duty of maintaining her family was fell upon only on Agnes. I guess the reason why her uncle recommended her to become lawyer was for such circumstance. It's because of the economic reason. How much would she earn if she became a counselor or schoolteacher? I think she did not obtain her relatives' approval for this reason for her choosing those options as her business to support her family member.
And I think that therefore she herself had no choice but to agree with the opinion.
Before the Watanabe Agency offered Agnes her comeback, her remaining three options were all unknown business for her. Seen in this light, those had equal weight for her. To stretch a point, the priorities of the option are:
First of all, “being a lawyer" must have been high from the standpoint of her circumstance.
There, she was suddenly offered to come back, which she never expected. Being a professional singer is obviously a familiar one for Agnes. She knew what it likes to be one. And this was an attractive profession; she would also fulfill one of her dreams. She had confidence to do. But, the only and biggest problem was whether she would be accepted or not. She had learnt to some extent about the situation of the show business in Japan through mails from her fans and magazines. But her absence for two years was not small. “What if I fail to debut again in Japan..." She could not put away her anxiety.
When Agnes was offered to comeback, images of her good old friends went through her head. Enjoyable stage, shout of cheers, applause, and colorful paper tapes. Above all, an image of herself, who was singing songs with all her loyal fans? Even daily events which have made her down in the past now become a "good old memories."
"If I can go with song again..." She realized how much she was starved for singing. But she thought her relatives were not being happy for her comeback to the show business. It's because they thought that being in show business was up and down, and unstable. For this reason, it's risky to choose the option as a professional singer for her family, her relatives and even herself.
Therefore she had consulted with Mr. Ogi and Mr. Nagai. But there is no doubt that her mind was quickly moved closer to the option “professional singer" at the point of her consulting.
Both Mr. Ogi and Mr. Nagai agreed with her comeback. Mr. Ogi agreed with it as a result of admitting her highly musical sense, and Mr. Nagai did it as a result of seeing the situation of Japan as a show business world at the time. I don't think those two were wrong. But, however high her musical sense was, no one would be able to tell the result if the direction she was going to take did not meet the needs of the times. The true reason why "Singers like you never debuted." might be this, though I can never be sure of her plan.
If Agnes had been discreet about the decision of her plan, she would have thought like this about it too. But she didn't. So, I think the reason why she was going to choose the option "singer" would be that she felt she wanted to go back to her good old home, rather than she objectively and coolly thought that the option "singer" was suitable for her future. But she could not accept the offer of her comeback without much resistance.
There was also another problem that made her hesitate to comeback. It was none other than the Watanabe Agency itself. Agnes felt an obligation to the president of her agency, Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe; however she did not trust the Watanabe Agency as an organization. Especially, she could not get along for a long time with Mr. Haruo Matsushita, a head of the production department. When she announced her retirement, it was Mr.Matsushita, who strongly pressed and caused suffering to 陳燧棠 to ask him withdrawal of her announcement. And it was said that, Mr. and Mrs.Watanabe attended 陳燧棠 funeral but not Mr. Matsushita. This incident has upset her.
However, there was only one person she always trusted in the Watanabe Agency. It is Mr. Ogi. But He had left the Agency to start out on his own. So, the Agency became an organization she could not return without anxiety because Mr. Ogi was not there. It was understandable that she had strongly insisted that she must have Mr. Ogi as a staff, as a condition for her comeback. However, it was not easy for Watanabe Agency to bring back Mr. Ogi immediately, who had once left the Agency. It was hard for them to arrive at an agreement.
However, as Agnes received a direct telephone call from Misa Watanabe in May, the situation changed. Misa promised with her by the telephone call that she would work related with Mr. Ogi as a staff.
On the following day, May 21st, her sister Irene's wedding was held, it was postponed because of 陳燧棠 's passing away 彭端淑 came to Canada from Hong Kong to attend the wedding. She consulted 彭端淑 about her comeback. 彭端淑 agreed with it bec ause she had conceived a longing for show business since she was young.
The wedding was over without a hitch.
At her sister, Irene's wedding
Agnes had to make a decision. What bothered her until the last minutes was whether she should have gone to a graduate school to pursue the psychology or not. Even she considered once to continue the musical activities while attending a graduate school. But she also thought she would repeat the troubles of the past if she did so.
Agnes wrote in her book that she encouraged herself to be honest to her own self against her hesitating to comeback. Her desire to go as a singer was genuine one, and, at the same time, her hope to aim the pursuit of psychology as a psychologist was also genuine. The choice of the option "psychology" could have opened the way for becoming a counselor or
Schoolteacher, which were her original dreams. But it was just a possibility. Similarly, the choice of the option "singer" did not promise the success and stable income like before her retirement, of course.
Anyway, both choices did not provide her with a promising outlook for the future. The same can be said for other options. And those options were unknown for her, so those made her anxious about the future. Therefore, it seems that she already lost her motivation to choose those options at the time.
"Singer" or "psychology." Agnes did not have a card to make decision. Time ticked away and, curious to say, she was being driven into a dead-end street of ambivalence. But a mail from her fan put an end to her ambivalence.
Reading the mail, she thought, "No one knows what will happen. So, there is no point worrying about it now. Now is the time to be honest with myself." And she asked herself, "What do you want to do now? Agnes, what on earth do you want to do?" And she found the answer. "I will go back to my "friends." My mother wants it too. And I want to sing again. I make a choice which makes everyone be happy."
After all, is it too much to say that Agnes did not determine her future on her own, but chose the way of "singer" by being lost to emotion?
Anyway, she made up her mind, but there is somewhat a doubt to assert that she was not overwhelmed by emotion when she made a decision.
It was June 15th, 1978. Agnes attended the graduation ceremony. Her obtained degree was "Bachelor of Science." At the ceremony, Japan's TV crew came to take a video of her. And master of ceremony for the graduation ceremony said that, "We're very proud of Agnes Chan. She's also a famous singer in Japan and has graduated with an honor from this university." Some friends of hers were surprised with it and others were angry because they had known that they had been cheated. "My Canadian friend wouldn't speak to me for a week. I couldn't get her to understand why I hadn't wanted anyone to know my past." She said at an interview.
Thus, Agnes version of the "Roman Holiday" came to an end.
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At the graduation
ceremony. With her mother and brothers.
On July 10th, a month later, she started her new recording at a studio in Toronto. Aside from this, she was also offered a contract with a Canadian record company. But she turned it down, because she believed that it would be too risky for her in the long run.
After finishing the recording, she returned to Hong Kong at night on July 22nd. She visited her father's grave at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley, reported her graduation without accident and returned to the show business as a singer.
On August 14th, she returned to Japan by Air India and arrived to Narita International Airport at. 0:45 p.m. Thirty minutes press conference for her visit to Japan was held and about 100 reporters were presented at the fifth floor of Yakult Honsha Building, Shimbashi.
The following is a transcript of her press conference. It was also aired on TV Asahi's program "アフターヌーンショー Afternoon Show", on August 15th as a clip for about over five minutes. (the full conference was longer). During this conference she talked about her future career, as I previously mentioned in the chapter 6.
Hello. Well, it's been a while. First of all, I would like to thank everyone; I've graduated from the University of Toronto in June. It was thank you to everyone. And, the reason why I chose the direction of songs is to keep the promise with my fans with gratitude. As was expected, I was unable to make a quick decision, but listened to many people advises and have decided. So, I've returned. And from now, I'd like to work hard only at singing, not both singing and study.
When you were in Canada, did you receive many fan letters from Tokyo?
Yes! And they sent me many things, in addition to the letters. For the letters…let's see, it was about 200 letters a week.
How was your Canadian life? Did you enjoy it?
Oh, yes. I’ve enjoyed it very much.
For example, do you have very memorable things?
Well, I have made many friends, after all and I lived on my own. No one called me when I walked down the street, because nobody knows me. And I could go around with hot pants. I enjoyed that very much.
Did you have a boyfriend?
I have many friends, but no boyfriend.
But, we've heard a story from Canada, that you drove with a boyfriend to Niagara Falls while you were there.
I didn't drive with a boyfriend. I went with friends. Nobody really get a ride when I drive since I am not very good in driving. So, most of the time, I got a ride on my friend's car. But, well, I have both male and female friends.
And, you've returned (to Japan) after all, but we heard many stories, for example, you would be a lawyer or you would become a gift shop owner in Canada or Hong Kong. As for yourself, what do you want to do when you were a student? Did you consider in becoming, for example, a lawyer?
I did actually. Several options also came out, like to be a lawyer, open a gift shop, be a singer again or continue my psychology study. At the end, I wanted to choose some thing that would make everyone pleased. As for being a lawyer, I lost a little confidence after hearing other's people advice. I could be one I supposed when I am getting older.
There is another view that the reason why you comes back is if you don’t work, you would become financially strapped, because your father passed away. Didn't you choose to come back especially for this reason?
No, I don't need a lot of money. There are not many members in my family now. They are only my two younger brothers and my mother. My elder brother and sisters have already got married and worked.
By the way, when did you start to prepare your new song over there?
Well, it's about two months before the recording and it was a very difficult, especially (the song) "Again". This song is very melodic unlike the other songs I did before, and the melody is very Japanese. So, I took a lot of time to rehearsal and I had to record it three takes.
Finally, I have one question to ask you. You came with your mother today. What does she think about your comeback?
Well, she is very excited about it
After the press conference, Agnes appeared at the fan gathering held at Yakult Hall, and sang five songs including her new song. There were about 600 fans, some came as far as Hokkaido or Kyushu. 25 of them had a vigil the night before and stayed at the entrance hall. Some fans from Nagoya came to the Hall by charter bus. From 10:00pm on the same day, she appeared on the live TV program " 夜のヒットスタジオ." It was the beginning of her tight schedule. And the happy comeback concert was held at Budo-kan on 31st of the same month, and then continued at 9 cities across Japan.
It was reported that her contract with the Watanabe Agency at the time, was $60,000, which was the same as her previous contract. And the period of the contract with her record company Warner Pioneer was only half year (normally one year), and the next song was not yet determined. It's because the Watanabe Agency separated with the Warner Pioneer though the Watanabe had acquired capital in the Warner for many years, and was going to establish a new company, Sound Marketing System (SMS) in September in the year with トリオ Trio and 西武 Seibu.
Its capital fund was 300,000,000 yen. And its president was Susumu Watanabe and its auditor was Misa Watanabe. This meant the SMS was a record company perfect for Watanabe Agency. SMS was the second record company of the Watanabe Agency, after the Apolon Music Industry (the president: Misa Watanabe) established in 1956. The Watanabe Agency intended to make Rumiko Koyanagi and Agnes transfer to this new label. But Agnes was not informed in advance about the transfer. At any rate, the curtain finally went up for her second act.