[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-257":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Literary Master of Tokyo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2355106,4607,"Chapter 257: The Surprising Actor","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-257",257,"\u003Cp>The most impressive aspect of the movie *Memories of Murder* is the two police officers in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the leads is Song Kang-ho.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this film, the small-town policeman he portrays fully expresses that sense of helplessness and anxiety in his desperate search for the killer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a mesmerizing performance also deeply captivated the audience, allowing them to experience a feeling where tension and horror coexist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Kang-ho himself also won Best Actor at the 40th Grand Bell Awards in South Korea for this film, and went on to star in blockbuster hits like *The Host* and *Parasite*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, in Akiwara Yuto’s view, the success of *Memories of Murder* was half due to its proximity to realistic plotlines, and the other half due to the performances of Song Kang-ho and the other actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, among these auditions, he didn't find a single person who could reach the same level as Song Kang-ho; even the closest one had a significant gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he didn't have to be the one to reject them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utsumi Takuto, serving as both producer and director, had also been shaking his head the whole time; it was clear he was very dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After half a day of auditions, Utsumi Takuto called for a break, then turned to Akiwara Yuto and said, \"Akiwara-sensei, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utsumi Takuto had originally thought that with so many actors coming, there would surely be one who was suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn't expected that more than half of those who auditioned couldn't perform the feeling he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto shook his head, indicating that he didn't have any suitable candidates either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his own circle was still quite far from the entertainment industry, and he had no interest in getting to know any celebrities or actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the two were considering whether to hold another round of auditions, the room door was suddenly pushed open, and a slightly chubby 40-year-old man burst in, panting, \"Sorry, I'm late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he couldn't find anyone, Utsumi Takuto was already in a bad mood and scolded, \"We don't need actors who can't even keep time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon hearing this reprimand, the middle-aged man immediately knelt down and used a \"dogeza\" to plead, \"I hope you can give me a chance! I had unavoidable reasons for being late!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his actions, the five people sitting in the judges' seats were all surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"dogeza\" posture is usually something one wouldn't do unless absolutely forced, and it is generally considered a great humiliation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they hadn't expected this unknown actor to actually perform this act here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had to know that even if they agreed to let him audition, it didn't mean they would hire him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utsumi Takuto also calmed down, turned his head, and asked for Akiwara Yuto’s opinion, \"Akiwara-sensei, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto saw that he wanted to agree, so he went along with it and said, \"Let's go with your decision, Director Utsumi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a director, one must maintain supreme authority on set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even if he was a major investor, it was best to give the other party this face; otherwise, it might affect his prestige within the crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this would cause many disadvantages to the filming work!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indirectly, it would mean a loss of his own investment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utsumi Takuto accepted Akiwara Yuto’s favor, then turned to look at the middle-aged man and said, \"Don't waste our time, stand up and start your performance immediately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man understood the meaning in his words, showed a look of gratitude, and immediately scrambled up from the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that, he bowed politely and introduced himself, \"Hello, five teachers, I am Hiraoka Kotaro, please treat me well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please begin,\" Akiwara Yuto waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiraoka Kotaro lowered his head, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly raised his head; his entire temperament changed, turning into a \"small-town policeman\" exuding a slovenly air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said in a tone containing a hint of conviction, \"Let's talk like men. You saw that pretty girl, you wanted her. When I was your age, I would go out with friends, I understand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned his body forward, as if there were truly someone sitting opposite him undergoing his interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first, you never wanted to kill her, you just wanted to touch her body, right? So that's why you killed her? Kill her, and you could touch her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff member acting as his partner said, \"No, I didn't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiraoka Kotaro clicked his tongue, as if he didn't believe his words, and then changed his tone, \"That guy who walked down, he also had a hard life just like you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed bit by bit, and soon he finished performing this segment, then performed several other important scenes at Utsumi Takuto’s request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was performing, whether it was his eyes or his expressions, everything was very on point; on that seemingly ordinary face, one could fully see his emotional changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst these changes, a weary small-town policeman was brought to life by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the performance ended, both Utsumi Takuto and Akiwara Yuto were astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they had already prepared for the next round of auditions, and hadn't expected another quite excellent backup candidate to pop up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This person's performance was very infectious and had great depth, as if it truly made one feel as though they were there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a period of silence, everyone looked at each other, having more or less made a decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Hiraoka Kotaro, having finished his performance, returned to his timid self, standing to the side waiting for the result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Utsumi Takuto coughed, \"Please wait outside for a moment, we need to discuss things here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this notice, although Hiraoka Kotaro was still nervous, he bowed politely and walked out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After he left, Utsumi Takuto asked a few questions \"for show,\" and Akiwara Yuto had already seen through his intentions, so naturally, he couldn't express any opposition to this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, he was also very satisfied in his heart; although this person's performance was slightly different from the Song Kang-ho of his past life, it undoubtedly met his internal requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the lead, the progress for the other lead and the rest of the main cast also went very smoothly, and a cast list was soon drawn up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the contracts, that was handled by the production team, who also coordinated the schedules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, it didn't take much effort; after all, most of the people involved were only third or fourth-tier actors who didn't have many opportunities to perform, so they cherished this chance very much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Akiwara Yuto was a bit puzzled: why were they all third or fourth-tier? Why hadn't a single second-tier or higher actor come over?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that someone at Toei Film was sabotaging things? Or was his work of no interest to anyone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn't expected that when faced with this question, Utsumi Takuto instead showed an awkward smile. \"Akiwara-sensei, the reason is mainly like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through his explanation, Akiwara Yuto understood the deeper reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the first and second-tier male actors suitable for filming were quite protective of their reputations and hoped that their films would be big hits after release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this work, *Memories of Murder*, was produced by independent producers pooling funds; there was no large or medium-sized film company behind it, and they couldn't even guarantee the number of screens in theater chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides that, Utsumi Takuto himself was not a well-known director in the industry, and the films he had shot were only 18+ movies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these considerations, these first and second-tier male actors did not look favorably upon the future of this film and naturally declined the corresponding invitations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Utsumi Takuto could only search for a needle in a haystack, digging out suitable candidates from third and fourth-tier actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto heard the \"apology\" in Utsumi Takuto’s words, but he had no intention of blaming Utsumi Takuto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if it weren't for Utsumi Takuto, he would probably still be haggling with those large film companies right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the worst case, he would have been forced to sell the film rights cheaply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto thought for a moment, then patted Utsumi Takuto on the shoulder: \"Director Utsumi, film this work well, I believe in you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he added a promise: \"If needed, I can invest more capital!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, he had too much money to burn right now, and it didn't earn much interest in the bank, so it was better to put it to good use and let money make more money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon hearing his \"comfort\" and \"encouragement,\" the gratitude in Utsumi Takuto’s eyes grew even heavier...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they were working, Akiwara Yuto’s *Rashomon* was submitted directly to the *Yuno* editorial department of Keihan-sha through a familiar contact...\u003C\u002Fp>",1486,"2026-06-21T03:58:02.196Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","fdf6618bd7add10553119ca222c99fb4fb5949dc3ec9ab70861208eb1123b78a","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-258","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-256",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]