Chapter 1172: I hope the *Yomiuri Shimbun* can do me a favor!!

These past few days, Naoki Nagayama has felt a long-lost sense of busyness.

Momoe Yamaguchi's comeback, the preparations for *Departures*, the business screening for Shu-You Capital, and the initial work for the Tokyo Film Association... each item demands a significant amount of time.

Although he is the final decision-maker most of the time, there are still some matters that require his personal attention.

"The apartment project around the subway in Kawasaki City? Sell, sell, sell!"

Arriving at Shu-You Capital once again, Naoki Nagayama saw the project details for the commercial real estate investments under his banner, especially the subway apartment project in Kawasaki City, located right next to an office building in which Recruit Cosmos held a stake.

"Use the excuse of raising funds to sell off all the shares we hold! Besides, the Shu-You Support Fund for the Tokyo Film Association has just been established and is in need of capital... a perfect excuse!"

"Yes!"

Genta Nakai did not dig for the root cause and directly took back the project documents. Real estate projects near subways are very popular; once the news is released, buyers can be found, and they can be completely offloaded in a few months.

"Naoki-san... regarding the Shu-You Support Fund, the Diet's budget proposal for this year has been passed for some time, but the money for the support fund still hasn't hit the account..."

"......"

*Sigh*~~

Naoki Nagayama let out a deep sigh. Anyone with experience knows how difficult it is to get money from government departments...

"Alright... I will have a good talk with Yasuko Ikenobo."

*Sigh*~~

Sighing again, Naoki Nagayama felt that he might have to sell his charms once more.

After continuing to screen some real estate investment projects and reviewing the monthly reports, Naoki Nagayama's work at Shu-You Capital finally came to a temporary end.

"For the subsequent investments of the support fund, focus mainly on medium-to-long-term U. S. Treasury bonds," Naoki Nagayama said. "This fund does not seek to make too much money; it seeks stability and a steady, long-term flow."

Medium-to-long-term U. S. Treasury bonds, guaranteed by the strength of the United States, are safe for at least the next fifty years... Even if the U. S. later gets a 'stable genius' who understands economics very well, they won't be able to ruin a few hundred years of family fortune in the short term.

"Yes~"

Genta Nakai nodded and asked while sitting on the sofa,

"Naoki-san... since last year, we have been shifting our investment areas toward U. S. stocks... Many peers have come to inquire, asking if Shu-You Capital is planning to move to the United States!"

Shu-You Capital is no longer a small player in Japan; a capital pool of over 100 billion yen can already cause a significant impact on the stock market.

Although the transfer has been like ants moving house over the past six months, it has still attracted quite a bit of attention.

"Haha, the United States is an international financial center; all ambitious investment banks dream of venturing into Wall Street... It's no big deal to say we're moving there..."

Naoki Nagayama laughed,

"Just leave some steady investments in Japan."

Thinking about it, in the thirty years after the Japanese bubble burst and disappeared, there are still a few types of stocks that can perform well and weather the cycles.

"Nakai-san, take note... high-end luxury goods, health drinks, and medical care are all worth buying."

"Later... when the stock market trends downward, you can pick up some stocks in the anime industry and high-cost-performance consumer stocks..."

Genta Nakai wrote these down in his pocket notebook and then sighed:

"Naoki-san is truly not optimistic about the Japanese economy... even though it currently looks like flowers in brocade..."

Currently, the Bank of Japan has just finished its fifth interest rate cut, and the central bank's discount rate is now as low as 2.5%, reaching a historical low...

This means the central bank has lent a large amount of funds to banks, significantly increasing liquidity in the financial market, and naturally, most of it has been speculated into the real estate and stock markets... it's equivalent to pouring a large ladle of oil onto an already hot market...

The current real estate and stock markets have already begun to go crazy!

"Ha~" Naoki Nagayama laughed, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful... this is the way of investment~"

"In short, everyone knows that there can't be stocks that always rise; it's just that no one thinks they will be the one to fall."

Genta Nakai also nodded with a smile. Nowadays, Shu-You Capital no longer needs to take risks. Once assets reach a certain level, steady profit-making is the best investment.

After spending the morning at Shu-You Capital, Naoki Nagayama returned to the Shu-You Building in the afternoon to continue handling work, and then had to go to an appointment with Kuniharu Morikawa in the evening.

The banquet was for Tsuneo Watanabe, the Managing Director, Chief Editor, and Director of the Commentary Department of the Yomiuri Shimbun Group—a core figure of the *Yomiuri Shimbun* and Nippon Television (NTV).

These past few days, Naoki Nagayama and Kuniharu Morikawa had been visiting the heads and power brokers of several large media groups intensively, asking them to exercise control over subsequent reports regarding Momoe Yamaguchi.

Among them, the *Sankei Shimbun* behind Fuji TV, the *Asahi Shimbun* behind TV Asahi, the *Mainichi Shimbun* behind TBS, and the *Tokyo Shimbun* behind TV Tokyo had already reached a consensus due to their relatively good relationship with the Shu-You Group.

By comparison, the *Yomiuri Shimbun* behind Nippon Television (NTV) was the last one Naoki Nagayama had to personally host a banquet for.

However, he wasn't too worried; after all, they had just collaborated on the hit program *Voice of Japan* last year, so helping out with such a small matter shouldn't be a problem~

This shows the benefit of the Shu-You Group's strategy of spreading favor equally among the five major television stations... being able to talk to the news media and newspaper groups behind every single one!

The banquet location was a traditional members-only Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. Come to think of it, Eastern cultures are all quite similar; for casual meals, one might go to French, Italian, or other Western-style establishments, but when it comes to formal banquets, one must go to traditional cultural dining venues...

When Naoki Nagayama arrived, there was already someone in the private room: the veteran program producer Kazuhisa Fujiwara... He had a good relationship with both the television station and Shu-You, and happened to be the intermediary acting as a companion...

"Naoki-san! Morikawa-san!"

"Fujiwara-san..." Naoki Nagayama nodded at him, "Have the others not arrived yet?"

"They should be coming together..." Kazuhisa Fujiwara said, "It just happens to be the end of the month, so they..."

"Oh? That's even better~ I'll have something to eat first~"

Kuniharu Morikawa nodded with a smile and quickly asked the server to bring small portions of yogurt and tofu, starting to eat in advance... After all, he was getting older and knew that he would definitely have to drink in the evening, so he took some measures to protect his stomach.

"Morikawa-san is indeed experienced~"

Kazuhisa Fujiwara looked at Kuniharu Morikawa eating tofu and drinking yogurt in large mouthfuls, and a sense of admiration rose in his heart... This is the little drinking trick that only an old socialite would have!

Just like how the hostesses in business karaoke bars always put some fruit in their glasses~

"Naoki-san, aren't you going to drink a little?"

Kazuhisa Fujiwara, who had joined in himself, turned to look at Naoki Nagayama and asked.

"Ha..." Kuniharu Morikawa answered for him, "Naoki-san doesn't need to; he doesn't get drunk... It might even be up to him to send us home when it's over!"

"Eh?!"

Naoki Nagayama smiled and opened a cup of yogurt:

"If I have to drink, I will drink; after all, one is the primary person responsible for one's own health~"

After filling his stomach a little, he called the server to take these things away, and the group waited for the guests to arrive while chatting.

Ten minutes later... the sliding door of the private room opened, and three middle-aged men in suits walked in...

Two were people Naoki Nagayama had met: Norinori Kasahara, Director of the Production Bureau at Nippon Television, and Ryuta Koga, the station manager; there was also a strange middle-aged man wearing glasses...

"Director Kasahara! Station Manager Koga..."

Kuniharu Morikawa stood up to greet them,

"Long time no see..."

"Ah, this must be Chief Editor Watanabe!"

"Yes, this is the soul of our Yomiuri Group newspapers, Tsuneo Watanabe!"

Norinori Kasahara helped introduce him and then also presented the others to Tsuneo Watanabe,

"Watanabe-san, these are veteran program producer Kazuhisa Fujiwara, President Kuniharu Morikawa of the Shu-You Group, and the most handsome one, whose fame resonates throughout Japan, Naoki Nagayama!"

"Haha, not at all... Director Kasahara is exaggerating! I just happen to have a little fame..."

Naoki Nagayama said with a smile, then bowed slightly to Tsuneo Watanabe,

"I am Naoki Nagayama. It's our first time meeting; please treat me well!"

"I am Tsuneo Watanabe... Please treat me well."

Tsuneo Watanabe also returned the courtesy very graciously, and after exchanging greetings with the other two, it took a good while before everyone was seated according to their status~

Tsuneo Watanabe, wearing thick black-rimmed glasses, had a gentle face. Perhaps because he was an editor by trade, he carried a scholarly air... The first thing he asked after sitting down was actually about Naoki Nagayama's writing:

"Nagayama-san, I have read your past books... but perhaps because I am older, I only flipped through the romance novels; my favorites are *Garden of Summer* and *Lost Paradise*... I didn't expect Nagayama-san to be so young and yet write such profound works!"

"Is that so?" Naoki Nagayama laughed, "I am honored to receive your praise... Thank you for your affirmation, Chief Editor Watanabe..."

"Haha, Nagayama-san... has this year's new book started yet?"

"......"

*Wait, wait, wait*... Is this a reader urging for an update?!

"I'm sorry, due to miscellaneous matters... I don't have any ideas for a new book yet~"

"Is that so... what a pity... Nagayama-san is at the best age for creativity; you shouldn't slack off in writing!"

"....... Yes....."

The others watched this scene happily, feeling it was even a bit strange.

In their eyes, Naoki Nagayama is a famous director, the Chairman of the Shu-You Group, and a multi-millionaire... but they didn't expect that in the eyes of others, what is most valued is still his identity as a famous writer~

Sure enough, "Of all things, reading is the highest" is something that circulates in Eastern culture~

After chatting for a while, the dishes and drinks in the private room were served, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

They were all upper-class people in Japan; talking about the economy, chatting about major events, cursing the U. S. and the Soviet Union, and by the way, making jokes about gossip that only a small portion of people knew—didn't the distance between people just close up like that~

"Come, come, come... have another drink!"

"Station Manager Koga, I toast you~"

"Director Kasahara, you can't dodge the drink... Cheers!"

"Fujiwara-san, let's play a drinking game..."

"......"

With two social experts like Kazuhisa Fujiwara and Kuniharu Morikawa, plus a few cups of alcohol down, the place soon became lively.

When the drinking was halfway through and the food was tasted, whatever needed to be said could be brought up under the influence of alcohol...

Ryuta Koga was already red-faced, and his speech became much more relaxed:

"I heard that Shu-You's Nagayama-san never attends social banquets, but these past few days, it seems he has been interacting with people from various television stations quite frequently... What's wrong? Are you planning to do something big?!"

"Hahaha, Koga-san is indeed well-informed!" Kuniharu Morikawa took over the conversation, "Shu-You is preparing to produce a movie this year called *Departures*... We want to ask everyone for help with this matter..."

"Oh?" Ryuta Koga said in surprise, "A movie? Everyone is fighting to promote Nagayama-san's movies! Why do you need to specially invite people to drink for this?!"

For things like advertising and promotion, the most it comes down to is the price. Could it be that Shu-You is out of money and needs them to give a discount?!

That's impossible; the money Shu-You has made in the past few years makes people jealous~

"It is indeed related to the movie *Departures*!" Naoki Nagayama said, "Koga-san, Kasahara-san, Watanabe-san, you have probably all heard that the lead actor for this movie has not been confirmed yet..."

"Isn't the male lead Tomokazu Miura..." Tsuneo Watanabe put down his glass, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "So, is it a problem with the female lead?!"

"Yes..." Naoki Nagayama did not hide it, "For this female lead, I spent a lot of effort to persuade Tomokazu Miura's wife... Momoe Miura to star in it!"

"Momoe Miura..." Tsuneo Watanabe was stunned for a moment before he understood, "You mean Momoe Yamaguchi?!"

"Yes..."

This admission made the others all gasp!

"Is it really Momoe Yamaguchi?" "Didn't she retire completely?!" "You were actually able to get her to come back?!" "......"

"Yes... it was not easy for us to get her to agree to come back..." Kuniharu Morikawa chimed in, "Shu-You, no, Nagayama-san values the movie *Departures* very much; it is a work intended to challenge for the Oscars... so we must pick the best for the lead role!"

Tsuneo Watanabe and the others looked at each other. The casting call for *Departures* had been very high-profile, and they had naturally heard the requirements... It was said to be the image of a virtuous wife...

And if the male lead is Tomokazu Miura, then as a virtuous wife, one couldn't think of a second candidate besides Momoe Yamaguchi!

"Nagayama-san... so, why did you specially invite us to drink today?"

"Momoe-san originally didn't want to return to the entertainment industry... because the industry is full of turmoil, and she is already a mother..." Naoki Nagayama also put down his glass and explained sincerely, "The reason she agreed to come back is also because I promised some conditions..."

"One of them is... I won't let the media spread all kinds of exposés about Momoe Yamaguchi like before... having no bottom line just to grab eyeballs..."

What Naoki Nagayama was talking about were some newspapers that talked nonsense about Momoe Yamaguchi's private life, saying things like she had pillow-service with various big shots, and some would even implicate her mother... There were also reporters who would run to interview her biological father and fabricate black material...

"I promised her that if any media makes such reports, Shu-You will protect her and fight back... even at the cost of a lawsuit..."

Listening to Naoki Nagayama's words, Tsuneo Watanabe's expression looked a bit unpleasant. He was an editor by trade and believed firmly in freedom of the press, so naturally, he felt very uncomfortable with such talk of fighting back and lawsuits.

Moreover, with Naoki Nagayama making such a guarantee in the name of Shu-You, he would definitely use his connections and resources, so the effectiveness of this guarantee was very high...

Previously, in the defamation case against Naoki Nagayama by *Tokyo Sports*, he insisted on litigation without settlement, leaving a large entertainment media outlet like *Tokyo Sports* looking disgraced, paying 5 million in compensation, and apologizing in public...

It even caused the editor-in-chief involved to faint... It once made *Tokyo Sports* a laughingstock!

From this, it can be seen that if Naoki Nagayama wants to get serious, he really strikes hard and mercilessly against media newspapers!

"So Momoe-san was finally moved by our sincerity, and that is why she agreed to star in *Departures*."

After Naoki Nagayama finished speaking, he raised his glass and said to the three people under the Yomiuri Newspaper Group,

"I invited everyone here today because I hope the *Yomiuri Shimbun* can do me a favor!

... Resist those bad and untrue reports... reject rumors, promote positive energy, and build a good media environment!"

This was already the fifth time the "Face-Face Fruit" had been activated. Besides speaking with great dominance, Naoki Nagayama also spoke very fluently... and before Tsuneo Watanabe and the others could speak, he continued:

"Of course, I also know that Momoe Yamaguchi's comeback is definitely a hot topic... so I also promise to grant the *Yomiuri Shimbun* exclusive interview rights, allowing you to come inside Shu-You for interviews.

Later, when there is the latest news, the news materials will be leaked to the *Yomiuri Shimbun* first, and you can also enter the set for interviews when *Departures* is filming..."

Momoe Yamaguchi's comeback will definitely attract media attention. Blocking is not as good as diverting; granting interview rights to a few large media outlets in exchange for their compromise in other areas is very cost-effective~

Tsuneo Watanabe listened to Naoki Nagayama's words, touched his glass, and pondered for a while before raising his head and laughing:

"Nagayama-san is still a very formidable negotiator!"

"Not at all, it's just that the seniors are not haggling with a young junior like me~" Naoki Nagayama toasted with a smile, "Watanabe-san, come, I toast you a cup!"

"Haha, good, cheers!"

The two reached a consensus, and the atmosphere at the drinking table naturally returned to being lively... Tsuneo Watanabe also drank until his face was red:

"I really didn't expect it... Nagayama-san was actually able to get Momoe Yamaguchi to come back!"

Ryuta Koga also laughed:

"I thought I would never see Momoe Yamaguchi on screen again in this lifetime!"

Norinori Kasahara joked:

"Haha, the first time I saw Nagayama-san, I knew that few women could resist his charm!"

"Hahaha, that's true~"

Everyone looked at Naoki Nagayama's handsome appearance and nodded with a smile.

Naoki Nagayama wouldn't spoil the mood at a drinking table with only men... he just drank desperately!

Later, when the few were muddled, he even got them to agree to warn the paparazzi not to buy those photos of Momoe Yamaguchi taken by paparazzi, and so on.

It wasn't until after ten o'clock that he sent the few drunken people into the cars home~

Blowing in the wind at the entrance of the restaurant, Naoki Nagayama, whose head also felt dizzy, finally felt relieved:

"I've greeted all five major media groups... There shouldn't be any problems on the righteous path. Next... I have to ask Big Brother Feng to warn the paparazzi... Two-pronged approach, that's the only way to ensure nothing goes wrong..."

?? The Face-Face Fruit ability user is online!

? (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1173 =====