Chapter 563: The Blue Ribbon Awards... aren't clean anymore~~~

The Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony was held in a banquet hall at the Tokyo Prince Hotel.

When Naoki Nagayama arrived, a large number of reporters had already gathered at the entrance. The film awards, hosted by the Tokyo Film Journalists Association, were naturally highly sought after by the media circle.

"Naoki-san... am I supposed to hold your arm later?" Akina Nakamori, sitting in the back row with Naoki Nagayama, seemed a bit nervous. This was her first time attending a film awards ceremony.

"There are no rules~ Just walk in a dignified and elegant manner~ Just like taking magazine photos~"

Watching the car about to arrive at the venue, Naoki Nagayama had already seen the long guns and short cannons at the entrance. However, the Blue Ribbon Awards actually didn't have a red carpet ceremony, which was really not very sociable~

"Naoki-san, we've arrived." Wuharu Kawahara, who was driving, said. "According to the entry process, all shuttle cars must stop here."

"Alright then~"

After Wuharu Kawahara parked the car, Naoki Nagayama opened the door and got out, then waited for Akina Nakamori on the side.

The *click-click-click* sound of photography kept ringing, and from time to time, bursts of white light lit up, making it hard to see the road underfoot.

Although Akina Nakamori had experienced many media interviews, there were few opportunities to be shot directly in the face as soon as she got out of the car, and in the past, there were agents and staff to help block a distance.

With some nervousness, after Akina stood firm, she subconsciously leaned closer to her boyfriend, and then her hand unconsciously reached out to hold his arm~

The photographers who had been waiting for a long time saw another car stop and knew that another star had arrived, so they prepared their flashes.

"That's Naoki Nagayama!" a reporter exclaimed, then immediately focused. "Mr. Naoki Nagayama, look over here!"

"......."

His peers were shocked by his shamelessness. In the past, when filming entrance photos of stars at this kind of awards ceremony, everyone just shot silently. Even if that person was a hot topic, so what? Even if they could bring traffic, it still depended on us reporters!

However, as a girl in a white dress stepped out of the car door again, many reporters were stunned.

"Naoki Nagayama brought a female companion?" "Playboy Naoki brings a female companion to the awards ceremony!" "Who is that... Akina Nakamori?!" "She's the female lead of *Love Letter*, of course she can come..."

But when Akina Nakamori held Naoki Nagayama's arm, the reporters paused slightly, and then began to clamor in unison:

"She's holding on!" "Shoot, shoot!" "Expose it, expose it!" "Naoki Nagayama, Akina Nakamori, look over here!" "Are you dating?!"

The noisy inquiries and the *click-click* sound of cameras intertwined, and with the suddenly bright continuous flashes, the short distance from the car door to the main entrance of the venue seemed very long...

However, Akina Nakamori felt the solid strength coming from her hand, so she didn't panic, but walked over calmly.

The combination of the light blue suit and the white gown made the two look like a perfect couple.

The reporters' lenses all followed these two hot topics of the entertainment industry, and no one paid attention to the well-known director Ito Shuichi Itō who arrived shortly after!

Once inside the venue, it became much quieter. Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori walked towards the seats marked on the seating chart. As the main creators of the film *Love Letter*, which was nominated for multiple awards, they were seated very close to the front, and there were many familiar stars.

Almost everyone in the circle around them was from a nominated film team. Seeing people who hoped to win awards, Naoki Nagayama saw Sayuri Yoshinaga and Ken Takakura, whom he wasn't very familiar with, as well as Keiko Matsuzaka and Mieko Harada, whom he considered acquaintances.

In addition, there was Yuko Tanaka sitting next to Naoki Nagayama...

"Yuko-san!" Naoki Nagayama greeted happily. "Long time no see."

"Naoki-san, can't you just make a phone call to go out for a meal?" Yuko Tanaka teased familiarly. "Ah... so it turns out you have a new love!"

Akina Nakamori on the side felt a bit embarrassed. She was from the idol circle and didn't know many artists in the film circle... after all, they were people on different tracks.

"Nice to meet you, I am Akina Nakamori... please take care of me." Akina's very formal greeting surprised Yuko Tanaka.

"Nice to meet you, I am Yuko Tanaka..." Yuko Tanaka replied and laughed. "Haha, Akina-chan, don't be so serious; the awards ceremony is very relaxed~"

After all, most of the awards had already been decided~

Taking advantage of Yuko Tanaka and Akina Nakamori chatting, Naoki Nagayama greeted everyone he knew around him. He even saw Masaki Kobayashi and Masahiro Shinoda in the distance. Sure enough, for film circle awards, directors still had to give face!

Unlike the Japan Academy Film Prize, the Blue Ribbon Awards only had seven major awards.

The emcees were customarily hosted by the Best Actor and Best Actress of the previous Blue Ribbon Awards, so after the awards ceremony officially began, the previous Best Actor Kiyoshi Atsumi and Best Actress Masako Natsume walked onto the stage.

"Welcome to this year's Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony..."

As a veteran actor, Kiyoshi Atsumi was not nervous at all about hosting the awards ceremony and spoke very smoothly. Masako Natsume, on the side, although she didn't speak much, also cooperated well.

"Speaking of which, there were too many excellent works in Showa 58... so many that one can't count them!" Kiyoshi Atsumi teased. "Natsume-san, which films left a deep impression on you?"

"Ah... there are too many, *The Ballad of Narayama*, *Antarctica*, *The Makioka Sisters*, *Love Letter*..." Masako Natsume said fluently.

"Hahaha, it seems Natsume-san has said all the nominated films for Best Film this year!"

"Eh? Is that so?"

Although the two playing dumb on stage was a bit cliché, the awards ceremony proceeded very smoothly. The big screen began to play clips of several films and the corresponding selection reasons.

The VCR ended with a voiceover. When the lights focused on the host, Kiyoshi Atsumi announced the winner of Best Film:

"The winner of this year's Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film is—*The Ballad of Narayama*! Let us congratulate Director Shohei Imamura..."

Naoki Nagayama was not surprised. Sure enough, it was *The Ballad of Narayama*. This film had already won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival abroad, so it was highly likely that both the Blue Ribbon and the Academy Awards this year would be his.

Listening to the director's acceptance speech was actually quite boring. After all, what was said here were actually just polite words, and not many people liked to watch them.

However, if the Best Director award was his own, it would be different.

"*Love Letter*... with incomparable lens language, it takes the audience back to the green years of youth. The secret love of a teenager, bitter yet sweet, is a beautiful memory cherished for a lifetime..."

Masako Natsume's soft voice seemed to pull people into the film *Love Letter*. "The winner of the Best Director award—Naoki Nagayama, *Love Letter*."

Naoki Nagayama walked onto the stage amidst the applause of the crowd and took the award certificate handed over by the presenter in a somewhat dazed manner... Yes, it was also called an award certificate...

"Director Naoki Nagayama, as the youngest winner of the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director, is there anything you would like to say?" Kiyoshi Atsumi left the microphone to Naoki Nagayama.

"Thank you to the Blue Ribbon Awards Selection Committee for the opportunity..." A very ordinary opening. "When shooting *Love Letter*, I never thought I would win an award..."

"The film was shot in less than a month, rushing to finish shooting before it snowed in Tokyo..."

Masako Natsume was very curious: "Eh? Less than a month?!"

"Yes, it was very compact. The actors' schedules were all squeezed out, and the shooting process was divided into several times..." Naoki Nagayama made this film sound like a low-budget film crudely made by a small workshop.

This made the faces of the many directors in the audience look very bad... especially Kinji Fukasaku, who had insisted on coming.

A film you shot casually can actually win the Best Director award?! Then what are the directors below who spent one or two years shooting a film? Fools?!

The buzzing discussion attracted attention on stage, and Kiyoshi Atsumi and Masako Natsume hurriedly made a few jokes to ease the atmosphere.

Although Kinji Fukasaku's body was weak, his spirit was still excited. Having divorced his wife, he whispered to Keiko Matsuzaka beside him:

"This Naoki Nagayama, fishing for fame... pretending to be indifferent, but actually, who knows how happy he is inside!"

Keiko Matsuzaka could only nod slightly in agreement, but looking at the young and handsome Naoki Nagayama on stage, and then looking at the withered old man with gray hair beside her, she could only sigh in her heart:

"If only I could replace the person beside me with Naoki Nagayama!"

When he had said enough, looking at the masses below, especially the gaze Ito Shuichi Itō was staring at him with, Naoki Nagayama sighed. He had been fiercely begged by Ito Shuichi Itō before coming, who had even brought up Regarding Jia Yi-chan.

(Ito Shuichi Itō grabbed Naoki Nagayama's arm: Naoki-san, for the sake of Regarding Jia Yi-chan, just follow me this once! Just say one more sentence at the last moment!)

"In addition..."

Naoki Nagayama even closed his eyes: "Shu You Cinema will soon launch the latest film *After the Rain*, which is also a youth romance theme. I hope everyone will pay more attention!"

Hearing this, both hosts, Kiyoshi Atsumi and Masako Natsume, were stunned. This was the first time in history that a winner had advertised during an acceptance speech!!!

"*Buzz buzz buzz*..."

There was an even more heated discussion below the stage, mostly arguments. Some people were curious about the new film, some were thinking about joining, but more people were surprised and eating melons.

Among them, Kinji Fukasaku became even more excited: "Hahaha, Keiko-chan, look, fishing for fame! He actually started promoting a new film!"

Kiyoshi Atsumi on stage showed the skills of a veteran actor and hurriedly smiled:

"Hahaha, it seems Director Nagayama is very optimistic about the new film. Let us also congratulate the new film on its great success!"

"Hai, Arigatō~"

Naoki Nagayama walked off the stage amidst the strange gazes of the crowd... Welcoming him in his seat were Ito Shuichi Itō's approving gaze and Yuko Tanaka's approving look: "Quite capable, Naoki-san~"

Seeing that a small disturbance had subsided, hosts Kiyoshi Atsumi and Masako Natsume breathed a sigh of relief and continued to the next awards ceremony.

After playing a film clip, Kiyoshi Atsumi announced the winner of Best Actor:

"Best Actor—Ken Takakura, *Antarctica*! Now, please invite the Minister of TV Tokyo to present the award to him!"

Ken Takakura, who didn't smile easily, walked onto the stage, exuding a powerful aura without even needing to speak. The audience felt the feeling of a true Showa man coming towards them.

When presenting the award, it seemed that even the presenter didn't dare to be too casual and stood straight.

Kiyoshi Atsumi naturally knew Ken Takakura and guided his acceptance speech slightly: "Takakura-san, what was your biggest feeling about filming *Antarctica* this time?"

Ken Takakura was silent for a moment: "In the harsh environment of Antarctica, the sled dogs were still able to survive. There were penguins in Antarctica, and other animals... Under the vast snow, life still existed! This made me feel the power of life!"

A profound remark made everyone on and off the stage listen very carefully, and it seemed they had the same feeling as Ken Takakura.

Then Kiyoshi Atsumi guided some questions about acting and production, and Ken Takakura answered them one by one.

At the end: "Then, Takakura-san, is there anything else you would like to share with everyone?"

Kiyoshi Atsumi was very close, and he clearly saw a hesitant expression on Ken Takakura's rigid face, his eyes looking towards a certain place off-stage... and then, as if he had received instructions, he opened his mouth a bit reluctantly:

"*Cough cough*...

Finally, the drama film *Yasha*, starring Ken Takakura, Yuko Tanaka, and Beat Takeshi, is currently in production, telling the story of a yakuza retiree re-entering the path of Yasha... I hope everyone will pay more attention!"

"......"

The atmosphere at the scene was silent for a moment, and then a more intense discussion than before broke out below the stage. Everyone felt that something was wrong.

Ken Takakura, who are you? The representative of Showa men, actually playing this set on stage too?! Where is your integrity?! Where is your image?!

Even Kiyoshi Atsumi and Masako Natsume didn't know whether they should continue for a while!

Naoki Nagayama asked Yuko Tanaka beside him with some curiosity: "Yuko-san, is it true? Are you really going to film this *Yasha*?"

"Hai... but the film has just been established and hasn't started shooting yet... I didn't expect Ken Takakura-san to start promoting it at this time!" Yuko Tanaka was covering her mouth, full of surprise.

"Hahaha, that's right, it's surprising." Naoki Nagayama laughed. With someone to accompany him, the embarrassment just now seemed to be a little less.

Yuko Tanaka rolled her eyes at Naoki Nagayama: "I think it's all Naoki-san who started the bad trend!"

However, it seemed that Yuko Tanaka's words were prophetic, or perhaps everyone had reacted. The most influential annual awards ceremony in the film circle, as long as you put down a little bit of face, what a powerful promotional channel it is!

So, the next Best Actress—Sayuri Yoshinaga, *The Makioka Sisters*.

"Finally, *Heaven Station*, starring me and adapted from a true story, will be released in a few months. I hope everyone will support it..."

Best Supporting Actor—Duo Fu Kazama, *Life Theater*.

"Next, the film I participated in... please take care of it!"

Best Supporting Actress—Atsuko Asano, *Yōkirō*.

"Finally, the film I participated in... will be released soon, I hope everyone will support it..."

Kiyoshi Atsumi and Masako Natsume felt that this year's Blue Ribbon Awards... seemed to be unclean!!!

It was clearly a sacred award, but it actually carried the smell of copper and fame...

Kiyoshi Atsumi, who had been hanging around in the entertainment industry for so long, had a premonition: starting from this year, the Blue Ribbon Awards or any other film awards would likely have similar speeches!!!

Akina below the stage seemed a bit nervous. She held Naoki Nagayama's arm and asked in a low voice:

"Naoki-san, if I go on stage, do I have to promote a new film too?!"

"But I don't have a film! Do I have to promote a new record?!!"

It felt like she was about to cry on her little face~

Naoki Nagayama laughed: "Akina doesn't have to say it! In the past, you didn't have to say anything for the acceptance speech."

Just at this moment, Masako Natsume's voice rang out: "The winner of this year's Best Newcomer Award—Akina Nakamori! *Love Letter*!"

The little girl hurriedly stood up and walked towards the stage.

"Akina-chan, how does it feel to appear in a film for the first time?"

Akina Nakamori hesitated for a moment and said her universal reply:

"It feels like a dream~"

Which caused a burst of laughter from the audience.

Masako Natsume didn't want any more trouble at the last moment, so several questions were guided very normally, just wanting to finish this awards ceremony smoothly.

However, at the end, she still asked with some worry: "Does Akina-chan have any plans to film the next movie?"

"Not for the time being... the company hopes that I will focus on the new record album in the short term..."

"Is that so... that is indeed very important..." Masako Natsume breathed a sigh of relief. "Then is there anything else Akina-chan would like to share?"

Has it finally reached this moment?

Akina Nakamori's little brain turned rapidly. The previous winners had already set an example, but unfortunately, she didn't have a next movie.

However, letting go of this opportunity seemed too much of a pity... Could it be that she really only said words of thanks or gratitude?

The little girl's eyes drifted to her boyfriend off-stage. Naoki Nagayama was looking at her with encouraging eyes... She should also add bricks and tiles to her boyfriend's career!

Wait, what did Naoki-san say before, what was the name of his next movie?

Akina Nakamori suddenly recalled what they had said during their chat...

"Finally..."

"The new film *April Story*, directed by Naoki Nagayama, will be online soon. It is a film about youth and love. I hope everyone will pay more attention!"

"Ho ho ho~" "Hahaha~" "Is it true or fake?" "Isn't it called *After the Rain*?" "New film?"

The audience below the stage suddenly started discussing noisily. For the final surprise, everyone was very curious!

Especially some of the audience and guests who were eating melons were even more curious about the relationship between Akina Nakamori and Naoki Nagayama... Actually letting other winners help promote their own films?

Is this okay too? ===== CHAPTER 564 =====