Toshihiko Karasawa, a producer at major music company Key Time, approaches the band AZALEA. He bluntly labels them washed-up and unpopular, then offers a two-year transformation plan into a popular band. His proposal requires AZALEA to perform songs he provides and undergo significant changes to their appearance and musical style for maximum commercial appeal. He prioritizes profit and industry influence over artistic individuality, viewing performers as instruments for commercial success. This philosophy drives strict control over AZALEA's activities: he prohibits vocalist Nanami Kuon from busking and restricts her interactions with artists like Eiko Tsukimi to preserve the band's marketable image, enforcing compliance through direct orders. Karasawa leverages financial incentives to boost visibility, exemplified by organizing a concert where attendees could enter a ¥1,000,000 prize draw by liking AZALEA's social media post. This tactic aimed for rapid achievement of 100,000 likes, drawing criticism for prioritizing artificial metrics over genuine engagement. His influence initially strains AZALEA's artistic integrity, causing Nanami's disillusionment until interactions with Eiko and Kabetaijin rekindle her passion for authentic expression. After AZALEA defies his commercial directives by performing independently during a pivotal truck-stage battle against Eiko and Kabetaijin, Karasawa's relationship with the band evolves. He resumes his producer role under renegotiated terms acknowledging the members' creative autonomy, signaling a shift toward collaboration. His surname "Karasawa" combines "T'ang, China" (唐) and "marsh" (澤), while "Toshihiko" means "longevity" (壽) and "lad, boy" (彦), following the series' naming conventions. As a narrative counterpart to Zhuge Kongming, Karasawa embodies an exploitative approach to talent management, contrasting Kongming's supportive mentorship and underscoring themes of artistic integrity versus commercial pressure.