I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 14 Faction Struggle
At the same time, in another spacious and bright office in the Tokyo TV building, Masao Iwata hung up the phone with a smile on his face.

"I knew it, how could I not pass!?"

He excitedly slapped the table, and the expensive solid wood desk made a dull sound. Several of his followers immediately surrounded him, and flattering congratulations continued to fill his ears.

"Congratulations, Section Chief! 'Kibo Samurai' is sure to be a huge success!"

"Yes, how could it be rejected when Deputy Director Takada personally took care of the project?"

Masao Iwata leaned back in his leather boss chair with a smug look on his face, enjoying the flattery from his subordinates.

He seemed to have already seen the scene where the ratings of "Ghost House Samurai" would explode after it was broadcast, and he would be promoted to a second-level director and call the shots in the station.

He thought about it and signaled all his followers to leave.

Then he picked up the phone and dialed a number skillfully.

"Hello? Deputy Director Takada, it's me, Masao." His voice instantly became humble and respectful, with just the right amount of gratitude: "I just received a notification that 'Ghost House Samurai' has passed the review! Thank you so much for your support and care! I'll make some arrangements in Ginza tonight, and we must have a good chat!"

A calm, middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone. It was Toshihide Takada, the deputy director of the production department of Tokyo TV.

"Well, it's good that you passed. You deserve it." Takada Shunying's voice was emotionless. "But there's one more thing I need to tell you."

"Please give me your instructions!" Masao Iwata immediately sat up straight.

"Suzuki Seito's 'Anzhiju' was also approved."

"What?" Iwata Masao's smile froze on his face. He almost thought he had misheard. "That piece of junk... also passed? Is that woman Takeshita Ai blind?"

"Watch your words." Takada Shunei's voice turned a bit colder. "But I'm surprised too. So, are you confident? Don't let yourself be outdone by a little-known production."

"Hahaha, how is that possible!"

Iwata Masao laughed exaggeratedly, as if he'd just heard a ridiculous joke. "Deputy Director, you don't know, but I've found out everything! That animation by Suzuki and the others can't even be called animation! It's just a few scraps of paper, played back and forth like a slideshow. I heard the colors are blurry and crude! The fact that something like that even made it through the review process is a disgrace to the TV station! Compared to 'Kibo Samurai,' which I invested two million per episode in, how can it even be worthy?"

Masao Iwata's tone was full of disdain and contempt.

In his opinion, the fact that "Anshiji" was able to pass the review was a miracle in itself. Perhaps Takeshita Ai wanted to do that old stubborn Suzuki a favor, but in terms of real market competitiveness, that thing is not even worthy of carrying the shoes of "Kimi no Samurai".

However, Takada Toshihide on the other end of the phone did not smile.

He was silent for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "Zhengnan, don't take it lightly. This matter may not be that simple."

Masao Iwata's laughter stopped abruptly. He put away his frivolous expression and listened attentively.

"I know Takeshita Ai. She has a sharp eye and never does anything meaningless." Takada Shunying said slowly, "I just checked. She and another deputy director, Asumi, were college classmates."

"Deputy Director Asumi?" Masao Iwata frowned.

Asumi, another powerful figure in the TV station, has never been in the same faction as Takada Toshihide, and the two have been competing openly and secretly on many projects.

"Besides, Suzuki Seito and that Asumi are both veterans who were promoted from Kanto TV when the station acquired it." Takada Shunei's voice deepened. "I wonder if they're trying to unite and take a bite out of the late-night horror show business."

Takada Toshihide's words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting the fog in Iwata Masao's mind.

He pursed his lips, feeling he understood. This was no longer a simple project competition; behind it lay a power struggle among factions within the television station's upper echelons. The approval of "Yamishibai" was very likely a pawn used by Asumi's faction to check and balance Deputy Director Takada!

"Your goal is to be promoted to Level 2 Director and then secure that S-ranked live-action horror project for the second half of the year." Takada Shunei's voice carried a hint of warning. "That's the most important thing. You can't let a trivial obstacle trip you up at this critical juncture. Do you understand?"

"Yes! I understand, Deputy Director!" A layer of cold sweat broke out on Masao Iwata's back.

After hanging up the phone, the smug look on Masao Iwata's face had long since disappeared, replaced by a gloomy look.

On the other side, Takada Toshihide put down the phone and tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers.

Asumi and Seito Suzuki...

He narrowed his eyes, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

If I remember correctly, before Asumi came to Tokyo TV Headquarters Production Department as deputy director, he was the deputy director of the production department of the acquired Kanto TV.

Seito Suzuki is also a third-level director of Kanto TV, and is deeply appreciated by Asumi, the deputy director of the production department.

It was Asumi who promoted him to the production department of Tokyo TV.

"After all these years of silence, have you finally been unable to hold back?" Takada Toshihide's eyes narrowed slightly, then he picked up another internal phone on the desk and dialed Yamamoto in the projection department directly.

"Yamamoto? I'm Takada."

"Hello, Deputy Director Takada!"

"Just now, the review department approved an animation called 'Anzhiju', you know that?"

"Yes, I just received the notice."

"Very good." Takada Shunying curled his lips into a cold smile. "If I remember correctly, the station will give up a horror show scheduled for late night next Monday, right? Make room for me and let Suzuki Seito's program be arranged for me!

Yamamoto on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment: "Next Monday? But Deputy Director, it's so hasty..."

"It's precisely because of the rush that a program's true quality is tested." Takada Shunei's tone left no room for argument: "Let's schedule it for Monday morning at 12:20."

"But..." Yamamoto's voice was a little trembling.

But then, before he could say anything else, Takada Shunying interrupted him directly: "No buts, remember, Yamamoto, it was me who spoke well of you in front of the director last time. If it weren't for me, do you think you would still be the director of the projection department now?!"

"...Yes, Deputy Director Takada, I will always remember your kindness. I understand." Yamamoto responded slowly.

At this time, Takada Toshihide didn't say anything, just made a slight "hmm" sound from his nose and hung up the phone.

Then he leaned back in his leather boss chair with a mocking smile on his face.

He wanted to make Suzuki Seito and his "An Shibaju" debut at the worst time, in the most embarrassing manner, and then have the ratings dropped to the dust, completely nailing them to the pillar of shame!

And tell everyone.

Tokyo TV refers to the people from Tokyo TV headquarters, their own station!

It has little to do with the defeated subordinates of Kanto TV who were taken in after the acquisition!
(End of this chapter)