Chapter 638: Why are there Hibari Misora fans everywhere?

As the "National Singer of the Showa Era," Hibari Misora belonged to the Kobe Geino Agency... formerly the Yamaguchi-gumi's performance department.

The Kobe Geino Agency controlled many of Japan's top singers, including Michiya Mihashi, Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, Izumi Yukimura, Hachiro Kasuga, and Toshiro Omi.

They were even capable of confronting the industry association of all private radio stations in Japan (the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association) and forcing this national organization to bow down.

Since her debut, Hibari Misora had maintained a close relationship with the third-generation leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi. She was the Kobe Geino Agency's first artist and also its most profitable Enka singer. Her two younger brothers were even mid-to-high-level members of the Yamaguchi-gumi...

In short, this national singer held great influence within the Yamaguchi-gumi, and could even have a say in the succession of the fourth-generation leader.

"Brother Kaede, do you know Hibari Misora?" Naoki Nagayama asked.

"Of course! Hibari Misora is a singer I've listened to since I was a child! Grandfather likes her too!" Kaede Nagayama nodded immediately. "Why do you ask?"

"If Hibari Misora could put in a good word for Grandfather, then surely the fourth-generation leader would take it into consideration~"

Naoki Nagayama was confident about getting Hibari Misora to speak up. After all, for an Enka singer of her age and stature, the only things left to desire were fame during her lifetime and her legacy afterward. And the song "Kawa no Nagare no You ni," which could elevate her singing career, was right in his hands!

"Naoki-san, you actually have a connection with Hibari Misora-san?!" Kaede Nagayama's eyes widened instantly.

Naoki Nagayama shook his head: "Of course not... but, I will."

Naoki Nagayama didn't say too much about Hibari Misora. It was best to get everything done quietly and without anyone noticing, but he had to be fast.

By the way, wasn't the garden in Kyoto about to be inspected? He might as well take the opportunity to make a trip to Kobe!

Due to the sudden issue, Naoki Nagayama didn't stay at the KTV for long, but instead drove back to the Tree Friend studio.

"Otomo-san! I've come to find you again!" Naoki Nagayama rushed into the office and called out directly to Otomo Yoshimura.

"What is it this time? Didn't you get in touch with Tamori-san?" Otomo Yoshimura looked at his company president with some curiosity.

"No, I've already communicated with Tamori-san once, and I don't think he'll refuse," Naoki Nagayama said. "I came back for another matter."

"Otomo-san, do you have Hibari Misora's contact information?"

"..."

Otomo Yoshimura was already used to being treated like a phone book, but this time, the person in question left him extremely surprised.

"Hibari Misora? Naoki-san, what do you want with her?"

People of a certain age certainly knew of Hibari Misora. When Otomo Yoshimura had just graduated, Hibari Misora was the goddess of all teenagers!

"I have some business... Otomo-san, you don't happen to have it?"

"... I wish I did..."

Everyone knew the phone number for the Kobe Geino Agency, but Hibari Misora's private contact information? That, they really didn't have! After all, Hibari Misora already belonged to the category of legendary vocalists.

"That's a problem... I'm actually in a bit of a hurry to see her~ I think there's a song that would be perfect for her..."

"This..." Otomo Yoshimura put down his work and began to ponder. After a while:

"Naoki-san... perhaps we can contact the Kobe Geino Agency directly," Otomo Yoshimura said. "Naoki-san is already a famous music creator. If we invite her in the form of a collaboration, the Kobe Geino Agency should agree."

"Can we? But I want to meet Hibari Misora in person."

"Then we'll submit a request, stating that the creator wishes to have a face-to-face meeting with Hibari Misora."

Naoki Nagayama nodded: "Let's try that first. If it doesn't work, I'll find another way."

The entertainment industry was a circle; there were always people who knew each other. For example, Hibari Misora's first film was with Shochiku Films; surely Masaki Kobayashi would know the director of that film. Or take Haruki Kadokawa, as the boss of Kadokawa Films, he should also have Hibari Misora's contact information...

"Hai!" Otomo Yoshimura nodded. "But when Naoki-san goes to meet her, you must take me with you!"

"... Alright~" He hadn't expected Otomo Yoshimura to be a fanboy too!

While Otomo Yoshimura went to check for the number and make contact, Naoki Nagayama, having nothing urgent to do, wandered over to the editing room.

Pushing open the door, the tiny editing room was actually hiding five or six people; it felt crowded even just to turn around.

"Shuichi-san? Masataka-kun! How is the editing coming along?" Naoki Nagayama stood at the doorway and asked the two people in the very back.

"Naoki-san?" Masataka Komori turned his head. The moment he saw Naoki Nagayama, his eyes seemed to light up. "Naoki-san, are you here to help with the editing too?"

"Of course not!"

Naoki Nagayama's cruel words instantly left Masataka Komori's eyes filled with nothing but desolation. However, Naoki Nagayama continued:

"I'm just checking your progress, and looking for someone."

"Our progress is about the same as planned!" Shuichi Ido turned his head, looking at Naoki Nagayama with a firm tone. "We will definitely be able to release it on time at the end of July!"

"That's good! Ganbatte!" Seeing that the atmosphere in the editing room seemed a bit off, Naoki Nagayama chose to retreat for the moment. "Kijima-kun, please come out for a moment..."

Kijima Xu, who was in the corner, stood up and walked out without a word.

A stranger, a junior student who had been sitting next to him, suddenly shuddered. When had someone been sitting next to him?!

And after the small door was closed, Shuichi Ido was also a bit puzzled:

"Has Kijima-kun been editing with us the whole time?"

Masataka Komori nodded; he had just received the screened footage from Kijima Xu: "Of course, it seems like he's always been there!"

"... I have no impression of it," Shuichi Ido shook his head. "No wonder I felt like the work efficiency of the four of us was higher than I remembered..."

Masataka Komori made a bitter face:

"Shuichi-san... the work efficiency does feel quite high, but it can't compare to when Naoki-san is here! And our current editing work seems to have hit a bottleneck... are we really not going to ask Naoki-san for help?"

"Absolutely not!" Shuichi Ido's tone was firm. "Masataka-kun, do you want Naoki-san to help with all the future films? Do we need him for 'Crows Zero 2' as well? Then what are we directors for?... We need to decouple from Naoki-san!"

"... But the editing..."

"Don't worry, this time we have two months for editing! I have confidence that after breaking through the bottleneck, we will definitely be able to release it at the end of July!"

"Alright then..."

On the other side, Kijima Xu followed Naoki Nagayama into the hallway.

"Kijima-kun, how many people have you found for the 'Kikujiro' filming team?" Naoki Nagayama asked about the team formation. He had asked Kijima Xu to start recruiting while "Koi wa Ameagari no You ni" was still filming.

"..." Kijima Xu was silent for a moment. "Naoki-san, I only managed to invite Komyo Sakata and Komyo Obara, who often work with me..."

"Why only two?" Naoki Nagayama was puzzled. "What about the others?"

Kijima Xu was silent for a moment, his tone very complex: "Except for those two who can remember, the others clearly promised the day before, but when I asked the next day, they couldn't remember..."

Naoki Nagayama looked at the tearful expression on Kijima Xu's face and understood what was going on. Kijima Xu's lack of presence was truly becoming a superpower...

Fortunately, there were still people like Masataka Komori, Komyo Sakata, Komyo Obara, and himself who were "special" and could remember him. Otherwise, how lonely he must be in this world!

He patted Kijima Xu on the shoulder: "Kijima-kun, actually there's something I've wanted to ask for a long time... did your mom and dad ignore you?"

Kijima Xu's face became even more miserable: "I heard that after I was born, I was forgotten in the nursery... I was only remembered by the nurse because I cried loudly from hunger..."

"This..."

Sigh... forget it, this guy is just too miserable.

"Kijima-kun! Work hard! I will definitely make a movie about you in the future! I'll make sure everyone remembers you!"

"Arigato..."

After sending Kijima Xu back to the editing room, Naoki Nagayama began to calculate.

"Kikujiro" was expected to start filming in June or July. Naoki Nagayama decided to assemble the filming team himself.

In addition, now that the lead actor, Takeshi Kitano, had agreed, he could start looking for some supporting actors... especially that little boy. Who should he find to play him?

When he returned to the office, Otomo Yoshimura said:

"I've already made contact with the people at the Kobe Geino Agency, but Hibari Misora is currently performing. It's expected that I won't be able to reach her until the evening. So there might not be any news until tomorrow."

"Ha, it's not too urgent."

The discussions on the Yamaguchi-gumi side would take some time. Before the fourth-generation leader officially took the name, there would be opportunities.

"But Otomo-san... which agency should I generally look at for child actors in the entertainment industry?"

"Child actors?" Otomo Yoshimura responded. "Generally, it would be the Central Children's Theater Agency in Japan... but other agencies also cultivate them in small numbers."

"Is Naoki-san looking for a young actor?"

"Yes, for 'Kikujiro'. Looking at it now, there are no children around me who can act..." Naoki Nagayama said. "It's a pity that Regarding Jia Yi Ido is a girl..."

Last time, for "Ring", he had Regarding Jia Yi Ido make a cameo.

"Then we can communicate with the Central Children's Theater Agency in Japan, get the materials, and then hold an audition," Otomo Yoshimura said.

"Good~ It would be best to finish before the end of this month," Naoki Nagayama said. "By the way, Otomo-san, for the other supporting roles in 'Kikujiro', see if there's anyone in our agency who can play them. If not, let's hold another audition..."

"Hai! I understand!"

Later that evening, Hibari Misora received a call from her manager.

"Naoki Nagayama?"

The name mentioned by the manager made her feel a bit strange. Being in the entertainment industry, she had naturally heard the name Naoki Nagayama: music creator, famous director, best-selling author, etc., especially since this period was the height of his scandals.

However, Hibari Misora hadn't thought she would have any connection with him. After all, in recent years, she had basically focused on her Enka career, and she didn't even participate in movies anymore.

"What does he want with me?"

"It is said that he has a song that he feels is very suitable for Hibari Misora, so he took the liberty of calling to see if he could meet with you," the manager said on the phone.

"A song? Doesn't Naoki Nagayama create pop songs? When did he start venturing into Enka?" Hibari Misora didn't think the manager was lying to her or that Naoki Nagayama was lying to her; she was just purely puzzled.

"Then, should we see him?"

"Let's meet then~ After all, he's a handsome guy, isn't he~" Hibari Misora was born in 1937 and was now 47 years old... She had a straightforward personality, dared to love and hate... She was at the age where she was interested in young, fresh meat...

"..." The manager on the other end of the phone was dumbfounded. "Hibari-ane-san, please don't destroy the image you have in the eyes of outsiders!"

"Hai hai, I'll be careful~"

"Then, I will arrange the time for the meeting!"

That night, Naoki Nagayama, who had returned to Shanying Yuan, was also on the phone with Akina Nakamori.

"Naoki-san, why did you suddenly go on 'Waratte Iitomo!' today?"

Akina Nakamori, who had been asked by her agency to keep a low profile recently, couldn't go directly to see her boyfriend after work and could only stay in her apartment, holding the phone and chatting.

"To save the show. I was originally there to invite Tamori-san to participate in 'Music Station', and I just happened to run into it," Naoki Nagayama explained slightly. "However, Akina, 'Music Station' can probably be confirmed. For the first show, how about we set Akina as the theme?"

"Me?"

Akina Nakamori sat cross-legged on the sofa, the phone placed entirely in the hollow of her legs. She had changed into loungewear and tied up her hair. If it weren't for her exquisite face, she would be no different from any other ordinary girl.

"But isn't 'Music Station' based on the charts?"

"I have confidence in my Akina!" Naoki Nagayama said. "The new song 'Jikkai' will definitely make the charts!"

"Eh~~~ Hehe~~" The voice in the receiver couldn't stop being happy.

"Besides, isn't there a small segment before the show? We have to go to the singer's hometown to film a short video," Naoki Nagayama said. "Akina, it's been a long time since you've been back to Kiyose, right? You can take the opportunity to take a look!"

This suggestion touched Akina Nakamori's heart. Due to her busy work, she had only been home a handful of times in the three years since her debut, and most of the time it was just to see her mother; she rarely even saw her siblings.

"Naoki-san, will you come to my house?"

"Definitely!" Naoki Nagayama thought of that small house. "We can go in to film, or we don't have to. Akina, you decide!"

"... Umm~" Akina Nakamori held the receiver, undecided. She didn't know if her mother, Chieko, would want to be on camera. However, another thought appeared in her mind:

"For this filming, will Naoki-san be coming along?"

Naoki Nagayama smiled: "Of course! The first filming, how could I miss it!"

"That means I can see Naoki-san all day long!" Akina Nakamori in the apartment suddenly became happy.

"Yeah, I also want to see the place where Akina grew up~"

"How cunning, I haven't even seen the place where Naoki-san grew up!"

"There will be a chance~"

The next hour turned into a couple's conversation that gave people goosebumps, but it sounded just right to a couple in the middle of a passionate love affair.

Until the very end, Naoki Nagayama mentioned his recent arrangements:

"Tomorrow I'm going to Kyoto to take a look at the garden there, and then I'll stop by to see Hibari Misora..."

"Hibari Misora?!" The voice in the receiver instantly became high-pitched. Akina Nakamori was a fan of Hibari Misora. "Naoki-san, are you going to see Hibari Misora? Why?"

"Umm, I created a song before, and I feel it's very suitable for her to sing." Naoki Nagayama didn't tell Akina about the Yamaguchi-gumi, just vaguely said, "And there are some other things..."

However, Akina Nakamori didn't notice at this time:

"I want to go too!!! I really want to see Hibari Misora!"

"... Akina, as a singer, you should have a chance, right?" Naoki Nagayama was curious. "Aren't there so many awards? And during the Kohaku Uta Gassen..."

"But... we've never spoken..."

At large award ceremonies, the various modules were separated very far apart. Enka and pop songs didn't even rehearse in the same building...

"Haha, we're all in the entertainment industry, there's always a chance." Naoki Nagayama comforted her.

"..."

Akina was still disappointed for a while, and then seemed to think of a good idea...

"Naoki-san, help me get an autographed record!"

"Eh?"

"No! One isn't enough, Mom likes Hibari Misora too! Let's get two!"

"Uh..."

"Wait, Grandma likes her too! Please help me get three!!!"

"..."

Why are there Hibari Misora fans everywhere! ===== CHAPTER 639 =====