Chapter 493

In the NHK reception room, Naoki Nagayama and Ukon Yanagida sat on opposite sides of the coffee table. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they began to taste the tea NHK used to entertain guests.

It was much worse than the Gyokuro at Sanmaikyo.

"I have heard of Nagayama-san's great name for a long time, and I personally really want to get to know a genius like Nagayama-san."

"Yanagida-san, you flatter me. It is my good fortune to get to know you."

"Hahaha~" Ukon Yanagida laughed and said slowly, "You must have heard of a program like 'NHK Golden Throat', right?"

"Ah, yes. It's a super long-running program."

"Yes, a long-running program. NHK also has the Red and White Song Battle, morning dramas, Taiga dramas, educational programs, disaster prevention programs, documentaries..."

Ukon Yanagida sighed.

"Our television station's goal is 'based on public welfare, to provide rich and high-quality content to the people of Japan.' However, in recent years, we haven't made any progress with variety shows, which is very worrying."

Communicating with these guys is always troublesome; they go in circles one after another, just refusing to state their true purpose.

"Yanagida-san, why don't we get straight to the point~"

Naoki Nagayama put down his teacup, not wanting to play Tai Chi with this shrewd middle-aged man anymore, "What exactly do you want to talk about by inviting me here?"

"Haha, Nagayama-san is truly straightforward." Ukon Yanagida smiled, put down his teacup, and his expression became more serious.

"I understand that the very popular 'Evening Meow Meow' on Fuji TV recently was planned under your leadership, right?"

Was it actually because of this? Naoki Nagayama didn't feel there was any need to hide it:

"Hi, but this program was an idea that Yasushi Akimoto from TBS and I came up with together."

Anyone with eyes can see that you are the main force! Otherwise, would someone from Fuji TV and someone from TBS let an outsider like you take the credit?

However, Ukon Yanagida kept a smile on his face and didn't say much: "Haha, I have also heard a little about Yasushi Akimoto's talent. Only the joint efforts of you two could create such a program."

"Nagayama-san, I also heard that Tree Friend Films and Fuji TV have signed a five-year framework cooperation agreement, right?"

Naoki Nagayama was a bit surprised: "Yanagida-san is truly well-informed; this is a non-public agreement."

"Hahaha, after working at a television station for a long time, one always gets to know quite a few people." Ukon Yanagida brushed it off lightly.

"The previous late-night program 'Tales of the Unusual', as well as the youth drama 'Boys Over Flowers', and the fantasy drama 'Cat's Eye'... they are all completely different styles. Besides your extraordinary talent in film, Nagayama-san, you also have special talent in television program planning and dramas!"

"Yanagida-san, you flatter me." Naoki Nagayama had to be humble again.

"Nagayama-san, although meeting you by chance today was an accident, perhaps it is also an opportunity." Ukon Yanagida stopped going in circles, "At NHK, in the new year, we also want to create some more novel and attractive programs. But considering NHK's positioning, we cannot move towards vulgarity or sensationalism, and we still need to have the nature of popularizing knowledge, or introducing the country..."

"Nagayama-san's talent and creativity make people feel that if this matter were handed to you, it would very likely yield surprising results."

Uh... this.

Naoki Nagayama was a bit speechless. Suddenly talking about planning a new program, we just met!

"Yanagida-san, isn't something like this a bit too casual?"

Ukon Yanagida also understood Naoki Nagayama's concerns: "Nagayama-san, don't worry, this is just a preliminary idea. In fact, we have been looking among young program producers for a long time."

"However, the popularity of 'Evening Meow Meow' recently has been too great, making your name appear very frequently in everyone's conversations, which is why I had this presumptuous talk."

"Uh, in other words, this program is currently only in a conceptual stage?"

"Hi, I happened to run into you today, so I just told you~" Ukon Yanagida laughed as he said this, "If you have any good ideas, Nagayama-san, you can communicate with me at any time... If I could produce a program with you, that would be even better!"

So, this is a semi-public bounty? Everyone is bidding with program planning ideas, and NHK will choose the best one...

As expected of the official NHK, it is inherently a level higher than commercial television stations!

"Ah, I see." Naoki Nagayama nodded, "I understand, Yanagida-san. I will think carefully about the relevant program direction. If I have a good creative idea, I will definitely communicate with you immediately!"

"Haha, that would be truly great!"

The subsequent chat was more relaxed, talking about Naoki Nagayama's recent projects, domestic and international development trends, etc. However, when Naoki Nagayama expressed interest in the Red and White Song Battle, Ukon Yanagida enthusiastically gave him a guest spot for the live broadcast.

"Nagayama-san, the invitation letter will be sent to you in a week!"

"Thank you so much~"

"This is just a small matter~"

Before he knew it, they had actually been chatting for over an hour.

Finally, after ending the conversation with Ukon Yanagida, Naoki Nagayama still felt a bit strange; someone had actually come to him "by reputation" to produce a program.

"Cannot be vulgar... positive and educational, yet novel and attractive... such a program is indeed very difficult!"

Naoki Nagayama, pacing in the hallway, rubbed his chin, "Should I use 'Japan on the Tip of the Tongue' or 'The Solitary Gourmet'? It's hard to choose!"

Just at this moment, his shoulder was suddenly tapped. Naoki Nagayama turned his head to look, but there was no one there, yet he heard laughter coming from the other side.

So he turned around and caught the little girl hiding behind his back:

"Akina, you actually dare to scare me?!"

"Hahaha, who told Naoki-san to look so distracted? I called you twice and you didn't react." Akina Nakamori rested her hand on her boyfriend's arm and said coquettishly, "What were you thinking about?"

"Of course I was thinking about Akina!" Cheesy words came easily.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

A series of coughs came from the side. Noriyuki Misako had an expression of "I can't bear to look," turned his head, and used the coughs to remind the two to pay attention to the occasion.

Naoki Nagayama had to lower his arm: "Has Akina's rehearsal ended?"

"Yes, an hour has already passed~" Akina stood to the side and said, "What has Naoki-san been doing during this time? Have you been waiting the whole time?"

"I just met an interesting guy and chatted about variety show matters."

Naoki Nagayama took Akina and Noriyuki Misako towards the parking lot together, "Akina, you don't have any plans after this, right?"

"Hmm~" The little girlfriend's eyes turned into small crescents again with happiness.

Looking at the brilliant sunshine outside, Naoki Nagayama's heart stirred, and he said: "Since it's still so early, why don't we go to Disneyland to play? We always said we would go before, but we never had the time."

"Disneyland in Chiba Prefecture? Okay, okay!" Hearing this, Akina felt the fatigue of the rehearsal swept away, and her whole person was full of vitality again, "I've been looking forward to it for a long time!"

After arriving at the parking space in the underground parking lot, Akina naturally sat in the passenger seat of the Toyota Century. Noriyuki Misako was completely expressionless.

"Misako-san, I'll leave Akina to me from here on! I'll be responsible for sending her home!"

Naoki Nagayama gave the manager a guarantee; after all, for the underage Akina Nakamori, Noriyuki Misako, as her manager, actually had a certain custodial responsibility.

"..." Sighing deeply in his heart, Noriyuki Misako seemed to see the rebellion of his own daughter when she grew up, "Then I'll leave it to you, Naoki-san!"

Under the cover of Noriyuki Misako driving, Naoki Nagayama took Akina and left quickly through another exit. When the TV station parking lot was built, this situation had been considered, and there were several exits.

After finally being left with just the two of them, Akina began to chatter in the passenger seat about her recent life.

"Naoki-san, the new song recorded recently is very interesting, it's related to the North Wing of Tokyo International Airport... the singing style is also very special..."

"Work has been really busy lately, I haven't even gone back to Kiyose town... I haven't seen my mother for a long time."

"If I have a holiday at the end of the year, I want to take my grandmother on vacation too!"

Naoki Nagayama listened to his girlfriend's chatter, replying with "uh-huh" and "ah" from time to time, feeling that this atmosphere was very warm.

Suddenly, he couldn't hear any sound. He turned his head and found Akina staring at him: "How come it's always me talking? Doesn't Naoki-san have anything to say?"

"Me?" Naoki Nagayama was stunned for a moment, "Besides editing the movie recently... oh, right, does Akina remember that black and white cat-ear hair accessory we designed?"

"Cat ears, is that the one I drew with Akiho?"

"Yes, they said because the Kitten Club is popular, manufacturers have come to buy the patent to expand production." Naoki Nagayama laughed, "Hahaha, I wonder if I should give Akina and Akiho a cut?"

"Eh? I remember signing a contract at the time that bought out the design fee!" Akina Nakamori had a very good memory, "And a big meal..."

"Is that so? That's a pity~ There's no share of the patent fee for Akina and Akiho!" Naoki Nagayama said with a smile.

"No way! With such a good thing, Naoki-san must at least treat me to another big meal!" Akina wrinkled her nose and said aggressively to Naoki Nagayama.

"How can that be! It was clearly paid in full at once!"

"That's how it is!"

The two happily bickered, and the half-hour journey from Shibuya to Chiba Prefecture passed quickly.

Chiba Prefecture is very close to Tokyo Bay; as soon as they got out of the car, they could smell the salty sea breeze.

Akina Nakamori, wearing no makeup and glasses, also wore a sun hat. If one didn't pay attention, one would definitely not recognize that this was the currently super-popular idol. And Naoki Nagayama also used a fisherman's hat to cover the upper half of his face. In Japan's culture of not disturbing others, people wouldn't notice unless they got close.

Tokyo Disneyland attracted many Japanese tourists as soon as it opened in the first half of this year. Even on a weekday like today, there was an endless stream of people inside.

Tokyo Disneyland was a replica of the American one, but it had made many localized improvements. Once entering the park, one felt like they had truly walked into a fairy tale world, and the atmosphere was even better than the one in Los Angeles.

In the World Bazaar, Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori began their journey of buying and playing.

"Naoki-san, the first Mickey Mouse!" Akina Nakamori found the first Mickey of the day like a child.

"Then we must take a picture to commemorate it!" Naoki Nagayama bought a Polaroid directly and began his work as a photographer.

"Naoki-san, let's go to the castle first!"

Starting from Central Park, the first place to go was naturally Cinderella Castle. Akina pulled Naoki Nagayama's arm and walked forward full of energy, completely letting go of her reserve as an idol, and had a great time playing in the castle's attractions.

"Does Akina want to change into Cinderella's costume?" Naoki Nagayama looked at some mothers with small children, and some girls, who had all changed into princess dresses to take pictures.

"..." Akina's eyes were full of longing, but she gave up anyway. However, she made a decision in her heart, "The next stage costume must be made into a princess dress!"

"Then forget it, let's go to Westernland next!" Naoki Nagayama hurriedly interrupted, remembering that Akina seemed to like exciting attractions like roller coasters very much, "The roller coaster there seems to be very famous."

"Okay~"

Walking in Tokyo Disneyland, one could find that the details here were done to the extreme: popcorn shops, snack stalls, seats for people to rest, trash cans...

Anime characters wearing doll costumes greeted and interacted with everyone from time to time, and floats of anime characters would randomly appear on the main road.

The food here was also very special, even the mochi was made into cute shapes, making people reluctant to take a bite.

Whether it was the staff or the tourists, their faces were full of smiles.

Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori played here until the evening. Even dinner was eaten in the park: smoked turkey legs and Mickey waffles—simple food was enough to fill their stomachs.

After watching the Broadway performance, Naoki Nagayama checked the time; it was already past nine o'clock:

"Akina, do you want to stay here tonight?"

Although she wasn't satisfied yet, Akina wasn't the type to indulge in amusement forever: "I have to go film a program tomorrow morning..."

"Then let's go back today~ We'll come again when we have time next time and finish experiencing the attractions we didn't get to!"

Akina Nakamori nodded in agreement: "Next time, I must bring my sister's son, Teruaki. He will definitely love this place!"

"Eh? Isn't it Akina and me together?"

"Then I'll bring Naoki-san along~"

"Why does it feel so reluctant..."

"Because Teruaki-kun and I are a pair!" Akina Nakamori said as if it were a matter of course~

Naoki Nagayama's gaze was fierce: "..." It looks like Teruaki-kun has become my rival! It seems I need to find a time to let him know how tough I am!"

Akina Nakamori rolled her eyes: "Teruaki-kun is only one year old! Is Naoki-san actually going to do something to a toddler?"

"So what? Anyone who dares to have designs on my Akina must get past me first!"

"Hahaha~" Akina laughed until she bent over.

The two chatted and laughed, walking towards the main gate, their figures slowly disappearing into the night~