I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 69 The Kanto faction was shocked!

In Nakano Ward, there is a women's single apartment with mottled walls and a corridor that is always filled with a damp and moldy smell.

Xiao Xunhua curled up on the small tatami, wrapped in a thin blanket that was washed to a pale color. Her face, which should have been as beautiful as a spring flower, was now shrouded in a dark cloud called "confusion".

She stared blankly at the sky outside the window, which was shattered by countless electric wires. She felt like a butterfly trapped in a spider web. No matter how hard she struggled, she could not escape the cold and sticky web called "reality".

This made her desperate and sad.

Her name is Xiaoxunhua, a country girl from a small coastal town in Chiba Prefecture in the Kanto region.

She was once the pride of everyone in the town.

With her beautiful face and excellent acting skills honed at the art academy, she overcame many obstacles and successfully interviewed for a job at Kanto TV, becoming a field reporter. Occasionally, she could also guest-star in small roles in some late-night dramas. Her future seemed bright.

When Kanto TV was acquired by Tokyo TV, she was so excited that she couldn't sleep well all night.

That’s Tokyo!

It is a holy place for all young people who dream of becoming stars!

She thought that she would finally have the opportunity to spread her wings and fly high under the wider sky.

But reality gave her the loudest slap in the face.

The reason is——

Kanto faction.

Because of this label, she became an object of exclusion.

All the good roles and announcements that allowed her to show her face were out of her reach.

The roles she gets are always those left over by others, with background parts that don't even have a few lines.

What made her feel even more disgusted were the undisguised hints and eyes full of greasy desire that some of the petty leaders of the "Tokyo faction" gave her at the dinner table, which made her tremble inwardly.

"Xiao Xunhua, you have great potential, but... you don't know how to seize opportunities."

"Tonight, a friend of mine is having a party in Ginza. It's full of big names in the industry. Would you like to come with me? I'll introduce you to them."

Time and again she used lame excuses like 'not feeling well' and 'family emergency' to get away with it.

What he got in return was a more thorough hiding.

She even thought about giving up and returning to that small town which was isolated but warm enough, marrying an ordinary man, raising children and living an ordinary life.

It’s actually quite nice and warm.

But just when her young heart was about to be completely drowned by despair, the vibration of her cell phone was like a life-saving straw, pulling her out of the icy sea.

She is a senior sister who is also from the 'Kanto faction' and has always taken good care of her. She works in the artist management department.

"Xiao Xunhua, don't sleep! This is great news!"

The voice on the other end of the line was filled with uncontrollable joy: "The casting for Mr. Nohara's S-rank project has begun! Deputy Director Asumi has personally ordered that our own artists from the Kanto faction be given priority! I've submitted your resume for you. Director Yamamoto has personally reviewed it and asked you to go for an interview tomorrow!"

"Teacher...Nohara?" Xiao Xunhua was a little confused. She seemed to have an impression of this name, but didn't pay much attention to it.

The sister on the other end of the phone suddenly became angry and reminded her, "He's the genius who created 'An Zhi Ju'! Now the entire production department, no, the entire Kanto faction, is counting on him! This is our only chance to turn things around! You must seize it!"

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Xunhua sat there blankly, her face looking confused.

She didn't know what to do.

Because after experiencing many failures and many times of being scrutinized with malice and desire.

Xiao Xunhua didn't know whether she could trust the other party.

for a long time.

She slowly raised her hand and clenched her fist.

There was now a hint of determination in those eyes that always showed a bit of stubbornness and unwillingness.

She plans to go and see!

……

The same story is happening simultaneously in countless corners of Tokyo.

The kitchen of a 24-hour ramen restaurant in Suginami Ward.

Fujii Itsuki brought the last bowl of steaming hot tonkotsu ramen to the customer, then leaned tiredly against the wall and lit a cigarette.

Smoke billows.

He looked down at his hands, which were slightly swollen from being soaked in hot water for a long time, and a hint of self-mockery flashed in his eyes.

He was once a well-known drama actor in the Kanto region, known for his delicate and explosive acting skills.

But when he arrived in Tokyo, his talent, which he was so proud of, became as fragile as a piece of paper in front of the strict factional barriers.

He couldn't get any decent roles.

In order to make a living, he can only do odd jobs in this ramen restaurant with no end in sight.

Just when he was about to be worn away by the day-to-day fumes and fatigue, a phone call, like a thunderclap, exploded a huge wave in his long-silent heart.

It was his mentor, Yamamoto Takeshi, who is now the executive director of Nohara Productions.

"Teacher Yamamoto." Fujii Itsuki answered the phone.

"Ashu, don't waste your talent in a ramen shop!" The voice on the other end of the phone appeared with a long-lost high spirit and passion: "Come to my place tomorrow. There's a role that I think... is for you!"

……

The next morning, the office of [Nohara Hiroshi·Special Production Team] was crowded with people, as lively as the backstage of a small award ceremony.

Those Kanto artists who were once marginalized, forgotten, and even humiliated are now gathered here.

They were dressed respectably, with a look of nervousness and anticipation on their faces.

They looked at this brand new office and saw their predecessors, who were also from the Kanto faction, enthusiastically discussing storyboards and scripts. A warm feeling of belonging quietly surged in their hearts.

These are people you all know or are familiar with.

We are all family!
In the private room at the innermost part of the office, Hiroshi Nohara did not participate in the interview.

He delegated all casting rights to Yamamoto Takeshi and Sato Kenji.

"Two seniors, you are more familiar with these people than I am."

Nohara Hiroshi simply said calmly at the time, "I only have one requirement: attitude first, acting skills second. As for fame and background, they are not within my consideration. And as I said, people from the Kanto faction will be given priority under the same conditions."

These words deepened the already strong gratitude in the hearts of veterans like Yamamoto Takeshi and Sato Kenji.

"Hey! Please don't worry, Section Chief Nohara!" They lowered their heads and answered in a deep voice.

Their attitude was extremely solemn.

Then Nohara Hiroshi immersed himself in his own world.

He needs to finish the drawing as soon as possible.

"Season 39 of Shiqi" has a total of episodes. In order to achieve successful production, maintain stable ratings, and become a hit.

Then he can't let down his guard!
The tip of the pen moved across the paper, making a rustling sound, like a spring silkworm tirelessly gnawing on mulberry leaves.

He painted quickly but steadily.

The smooth lines, precise composition, and visually impactful storyboards seemed not to have been created by him, but to have already existed in his mind. All he had to do was to "write them out".

Of course this is indeed the case.

The elites of Tokyo TV in Japan's previous life put a lot of effort into producing "Wonderful Stories of the World".

Now it is convenient for Nohara Hiroshi, who is a plagiarist.

"Jingle Bell--"

Just when he was drawing the crucial frame where the heroine touched the murder weapon for the first time and her inner world was shocked by the cold malice, the landline on the table suddenly rang.

"Hello, this is the Nohara production team."

Nohara Hiroshi frowned and picked up the microphone with some displeasure.

He didn't like to be disturbed.

"Nohara-kun? This is Kurosawa Eiji." An old voice, a little hoarse but still full of energy, came from the other end of the phone.

"Huh!?" Nohara Hiroshi's hand holding the pen suddenly stopped.

Kurosawa Eiji?

The former legend of Kanto TV, the first-class director who made "The Samurai"?
Why would he...call himself?
Countless thoughts flashed through Nohara Hiroshi's mind, but his voice remained calm and respectful. "Director Kurosawa, hello. I am the junior Nohara Hiroshi. What can I do for you?"

"Commands are out of the question."

Kurosawa Eiji on the other end of the line chuckled with a hint of self-mockery: "As an old fellow, how can I be qualified to give orders to you young people now?"

He paused, his voice becoming more serious. "I heard that Ming Ri Hai handed that S-level project to you?"

"Yes, the station does have this arrangement," replied Hiroshi Nohara.

"very good."

Kurosawa Eiji's voice was filled with genuine approval: "I've read your 'Anzhiju' and your business plan. To be honest, even an old man like me is scared by you. Not by the ghosts, but by the ideas in your head."

"I've spent my entire life filming warriors and telling stories of loyalty. But in the end, I found that in this era, no one wants to listen to my old-fashioned stories anymore."

There was a sense of desolation in his voice, a voice of a hero in his twilight years, which made Nohara Hiroshi sigh in his heart.

"So..." Kurosawa Eiji took a deep breath and said in a tone that was almost pleading, "Nohara-kun, I... I want to go to your place and take a look. See how you young people really work. See how those so-called 'urban legends' really... capture people's hearts."

"Even though I'm an old man with outdated ways, I still want to... learn from you."

If this sentence came from someone else, it might just be a courtesy.

But coming from the mouth of industry leader Eiji Kurosawa, the weight of this statement is enough to make any young director feel terrified.

Of course, Nohara Hiroshi was also a little surprised.

An experienced senior came to learn from me. If I told everyone about this, it would shock everyone!

Purse your lips slightly.

Nohara Hiroshi still replied, "Director Kurosawa, you're too kind." His voice was gentle but firm. "It would be an honor for our entire production team if you were willing to come. You're here to guide us. I'm the one who needs to learn from you."

"Hahaha, you're quite the talker, boy." Kurosawa Ze on the other end of the line laughed heartily. "Okay! It's settled! I'll be there after work this afternoon!"

Nohara Hiroshi replied respectfully, "Welcome, Kurosawa-senpai."

……

Nohara Hiroshi did not deliberately avoid people on this phone call.

So when he hung up the phone, the entire office was already plunged into deathly silence.

Everyone seemed to be under a spell, staring at him blankly, as if they were looking at a superman who had just exploded an atomic bomb with his bare hands.

Director Kurosawa... is coming here to study... with them?
This news is more shocking than any ratings myth!

Because Kurosawa Eiji is the spiritual pillar in the hearts of all the "Kanto faction" TV people. He is their flag that has long been beaten by rain and wind, but still stands tall!

And now, this flag had to come to their small production team in person, to a "section chief" who was younger than all of them...

consult?

Everyone's eyes changed when they looked at Hiroshi Nohara.

There, it is no longer just admiration and conviction.

It's a kind of... fanaticism that is almost like admiration!
Even Kenji Sato, the third-level director sent for 'coordination', was completely shocked at this moment.

He looked at the young man who was still sitting there calmly, as if he had just answered an ordinary greeting call. The pride of a senior in his heart was completely shattered at this moment.

He seemed to have thought of something and handed the interview to someone else. He immediately picked up the storyboard of "The Touch of Horror" on the table, which he had read countless times, and walked out of the office quickly as if he was holding a rare treasure.

He is going to meet Deputy Director Ming Rihai.

He wanted to tell him that this time, their Kanto faction might really have...discovered a genius who was capable of changing the entire era.

……

The sun is shining brightly in Ming Hai's office.

After listening to Kenji Sato's somewhat excited and incoherent report, he personally read the storyboard carefully from beginning to end.

After a long time, he finally let out a long breath, and in that breath, there was an irrepressible emotion and relief.

"I never expected that even Director Kurosawa was impressed by him."

Asumi looked at Kenji Sato, his always elegant and calm face blooming with an unprecedentedly brilliant smile. "This Nohara Hiroshi, his talent has already exceeded my imagination. But the most terrifying thing about him is his indifference to praise or criticism."

"That old fellow Suzuki has made an incredible contribution to our Kanto faction this time."

Asumi stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Looking down at the bustling city below, the flame of desire burned for the first time in those eyes that were always as deep as an ancient well.

Asumi knew that with Nohara Hiroshi as his sharpest sword, he had endured the situation in this TV station for several years.

Finally it can be opened!
(End of this chapter)