Chapter 669

The production press conference for the movie 'Kikujiro's Summer' was scheduled in the banquet hall of the Tokyo Imperial Hotel.

Booking this hotel, which had nearly a hundred years of history, within two days, Eiichiro Watanabe saying he had some connections was really not a lie... However, holding a press conference in such a hotel, Tree Friend's funds were indeed sufficient...

The doorman at the main entrance had already received instructions and enthusiastically guided reporters and guests to the banquet hall. When Naoki Nagayama arrived at the hotel, he helped park the car with great discernment and led Naoki Nagayama toward the venue.

"Mr. Nagayama, it's right here~" the doorman in a formal suit said, "This door leads to the banquet hall, and the lounge is at the end of the corridor."

"Arigato~"

Naoki Nagayama didn't go directly to the banquet hall, just opened the door and took a look, finding that Eiichiro Watanabe was already inside maintaining order among the reporters.

Originally, it was just a movie production press conference. What people didn't expect was that besides movie reporters, many other entertainment reporters and TV station photographers and cameramen also rushed over upon hearing the news. The entire venue was gathered with long guns and short cannons, and there were also tall microphones, making the originally spacious small banquet hall a bit crowded.

"Why are there so many people?"

Naoki Nagayama walked toward the lounge and saw Kieda Ochiai there, as well as the lead actors Yuko Tanaka and Takeshi Kitano...

"Kitano-san... how come you..."

Takeshi Kitano at this time was much thinner than when he was seen before, his skin was two shades darker, and even the wrinkles on his face were much deeper... The whole person looked ten years older in an instant.

"Ah, went to the beach to sunbathe for a few days." Takeshi Kitano waved his hand, "Just didn't use sunscreen..."

"Didn't I say before that I wanted to get closer to the character? I even dyed a few white hairs... felt like I got much closer..."

Naoki Nagayama also had to nod: "Indeed... aged a lot..."

"Kitano-san really put a lot into this role!" Yuko Tanaka said from the side, "This is a good actor!"

"Haha, actually, during these days of studying the script, I increasingly found that this movie has a deep connection with my life. The character of Kikujiro is very similar to my father... Oh, by the way, my father's name was Kikujiro... although he was a painter that no one knew..."

Takeshi Kitano seemed to be in a very talkative mood, "Various behaviors of Kikujiro in the script, I can feel very familiar. Among them, there are shadows of when Master Senzaburo Fukami taught us, and there is the comedy of Manzai, and even the beach scene is like my childhood memory..."

"If I didn't know Naoki-san before, I would have thought this movie was based on my life!"

Naoki Nagayama, who heard all this, felt a bit guilty in his heart...

In his previous life, there were movie analyses saying that this 'Kikujiro's Summer' was Takeshi Kitano's reconciliation with his own life's regrets... He gave himself a memory of a beautiful childhood in the movie...

"That's really a coincidence~" Naoki Nagayama could only try his best to keep his face calm, "The core of the movie is family affection and childhood... Perhaps everyone has similar regrets in their childhood..."

"That's also true~" Takeshi Kitano laughed, "Anyway, thank you Naoki-san for inviting me to star this time~ I will definitely go all out!"

"Hehe, I believe you..."

Naoki Nagayama opened his mouth slightly and smiled a bit awkwardly. Stealing someone's movie and being thanked to his face... his skin is still not thick enough!

After saying that, he hurriedly changed the subject and asked Kieda Ochiai:

"Kieda-chan, why are there so many media at today's press conference? I see the banquet hall is almost full~"

Kieda Ochiai also looked a bit caught off guard:

"Originally, we only invited a few movie reporters, but after the reporters knew it was Naoki-san's movie, the number of people who came suddenly increased a lot. Plus there are Ms. Yuko Tanaka and Mr. Takeshi Kitano..."

"So, you're saying, they came for me?"

Naoki Nagayama recalled, he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary this week?!

Yuko Tanaka smiled: "Naoki-san, haven't you accepted any interviews since Ms. Akina Nakamori's birthday?"

"Eh?! That was an event from over a week ago, the heat should have passed long ago!" Naoki Nagayama was a bit surprised. Who in the entertainment industry can still remember last week's hot topic?

"Who knows~" Yuko Tanaka smiled without saying anything.

Naoki Nagayama immediately fell into distress... If the reporters still take that question to ask, how should he answer!

Inside the banquet hall, numerous reporters were waiting in full battle array, waiting for the appearance of Naoki Nagayama, Yuko Tanaka, and Takeshi Kitano.

These three people, one is a gold-medal director entangled in scandals, one is a national actor with a rising reputation, and one is a famous comedian with a poisonous tongue. Any interview with any one of them can be taken as a headline for news, not to mention the three appearing together.

Especially Naoki Nagayama, this guy can't even be captured by paparazzi... The reporters have a belly full of questions they want to get answers to!

While waiting, the speakers in the banquet hall suddenly rang, and the brisk musical melody attracted the ears of the crowd present.

Eiichiro Watanabe's expression tightened upon hearing it, and he immediately took the microphone and said:

"Minasan, this piece of music is exactly the theme song of this movie, 'Summer'. After the music ends, the 'Kikujiro's Summer' movie production press conference is about to officially begin, please everyone quiet down..."

The brisk piano music surrounded the venue, as if every note was jumping and cheering for the arrival of summer... Just this pure music alone left a deep impression.

And there were already movie reporters whispering...

"The movie hasn't been filmed yet, and the theme song is already finished?"

"So brisk, is it a comedy? Isn't Naoki-san focused on filming horror and romance movies?"

"......."

Originally, after Yuko Tanaka filmed 'Ring' with Naoki Nagayama, everyone thought this time it would be a horror movie. Inviting Takeshi Kitano to join, everyone thought it was more because of Takeshi Kitano's fierce image...

After a piano piece ended, the three of Naoki Nagayama had already appeared on the built background stage.

"Minasan, our press conference has officially begun!" Because it was not a particularly formal stage, Eiichiro Watanabe directly acted as the host, "Very welcome to the arrival of all media reporter friends. Tree Friend Film's third movie this year, 'Kikujiro's Summer', is about to start production. This is a..."

The opening remarks always have to be a bit official. After a round of official talk promoting the movie, it was the turn for the main topic.

"Next, let's invite the director of 'Kikujiro's Summer', Naoki Nagayama, to introduce the movie to everyone!"

Naoki Nagayama walked up and took the microphone, and the flashlights flashed rapidly in an instant... even more frequently than at the opening.

He glanced at the reporters who were ready to go, and revealed a smile:

"Summer is here, everyone has become more enthusiastic~"

"I know everyone has many questions you want to ask... However, today I will only answer questions related to the movie!"

Yes, Naoki Nagayama directly cut off the thoughts of the entertainment reporters. Want him to answer other questions? Impossible!

Once these words were spoken, a portion of the reporters at the scene immediately protested:

"Naoki-san! How can you do this!" "Reporters have the right to free interviews!" "You know what we want to know is not just the movie!"

However, Naoki Nagayama on the stage ignored them at all, and instead introduced the plot of the movie and the invited actors...

"I have collaborated with Yuko-san once before, and this time I am very honored to be able to invite Yuko-san again... and Kitano-san, we met at the Blue Ribbon Award ceremony..."

"... The lead actor of the movie is a child actor, so he didn't come today, but everyone will be able to see him when you visit the filming set later... Alright, if everyone has any questions, you can raise your hands to ask..."

"But still the same words, only answer questions related to the movie!"

Naoki Nagayama finally started to accept interviews~

Among them, the real movie reporters raised their hands to ask questions very enthusiastically:

"Director Nagayama, why do you want to film a comedy this time? This is not a genre you are good at!"

"......" Naoki Nagayama smiled, "I don't have any genre I am good at, any genre of movie is the first time I film~"

"The first movie you filmed could win the Blue Ribbon Award and the Film Academy Award..." the reporter continued to ask, "Is the goal this time the Oscars or the Palme d'Or?"

"Uh... this is thinking too early~" Naoki Nagayama laughed, "Hahaha, if I could decide, then of course I would want to win both awards~"

Thus, the reporters below wrote down the headline for today - 'Naoki Nagayama claims: New movie to win both the Oscars and the Palme d'Or!'

"Ms. Yuko Tanaka, collaborating with Director Nagayama again, what are your thoughts?" This was a plant...

"Naoki-san is a very talented director. I learned a lot during the last filming, so I am very happy to collaborate again this time..." the mature older sister answered with great presence.

"Happy mood, may I ask if it has anything to do with Director Nagayama being handsome?" Someone inserted a sentence from somewhere.

However, this level of joke, for actors in the entertainment industry of this era, was just a small matter.

Yuko Tanaka answered very calmly:

"Of course it has to do with it! Seeing such a handsome guy every day, the mood will naturally be very good!"

Roar roar roar~~~ The reporters let out approving laughter.

"Mr. Takeshi Kitano, this is the second time filming a movie, right? May I ask if you are nervous about filming this movie?" Another movie reporter asked Takeshi Kitano.

"Of course nervous! Nervous to death!" Takeshi Kitano looked very serious, "I was so nervous I couldn't eat for several days, lost five kilograms! Look, white hairs have come out!"

"......."

Kitano-san, don't be like this. As a comedian, we can't tell if you are joking or serious now!

Although questions about the movie came one after another, there were still entertainment reporters who were very unwilling. They didn't come here for this point!!!

Finally, an entertainment reporter grabbed the opportunity to ask a question!

"Naoki-san, some time ago..."

"Stop! Next!" Naoki Nagayama didn't give a chance at all, directly designating the next person to ask a question.

"......."

Who knew the next one was also an entertainment reporter:

"Naoki-san, can you answer about Akina Nakamori..."

"Dame! Next!" Still interrupted halfway.

"Director Nagayama..." using director to ask, Naoki Nagayama thought it was a movie reporter, who knew, "May I ask when choosing the cast, why didn't you invite Akina Nakamori?!"

"......." Naoki Nagayama was just about to call the next one.

"This is a question related to the movie!" the questioner hurriedly added.

"Sigh... you are trying to exploit a bug..." Naoki Nagayama's words made everyone puzzled, but he still answered, "Because this movie, there is no role suitable for Ms. Akina..."

"Isn't it to avoid suspicion?"

"..... No....." Naoki Nagayama narrowed his eyes, "Reporter-san, don't push your luck..."

However, after this reporter started, various entertainment reporters seemed to have discovered this loophole and began to forcibly link it to the movie in questions about scandals~

"May I ask when promoting the movie, are you worried about scandals related to Akina Nakamori?"

"When filming the movie, will Ms. Akina go to visit the set?"

"Naoki-san, don't you consider collaborating with Ms. Akina on another movie?"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama wiped his face, having the urge to throw the microphone to the ground, and said a bit irritably:

"You guys, enough!!! Isn't it just about the airship, it's been so long... From now on, questions related to Akina Nakamori will not be answered!"

The programmer discovered the loophole... the programmer fixed the loophole~

Apart from the reporters' questioning about Naoki Nagayama's scandals, this press conference actually went very well.

There were many invited media, basically covering newspapers and magazines related to movies, and there was even more help from other entertainment media.

Don't think that entertainment reporters won't report if they don't get the scoop... Since the reporters have come out, the newspaper office won't waste this labor result in vain! Even without scandals, the three people Naoki Nagayama, Yuko Tanaka, and Takeshi Kitano could all support a report.

After the press conference ended and the reporters left, Naoki Nagayama, Yuko Tanaka, and Takeshi Kitano also said goodbye to each other in the hotel lounge.

"Next Monday is the opening ceremony, Yuko-san, Kitano-san, don't forget. After that, we will officially start filming." Naoki Nagayama smiled, "Rest well today and tomorrow, it will be very tiring next~"

"Rest assured, rest assured, I've done even more tiring work! Bye-bye~"

Takeshi Kitano waved his hand and walked out. He walked out from the bottom, and had done many tiring jobs before becoming famous.

"Naoki-san, then I'll go back too~" Yuko Tanaka smiled at Naoki Nagayama, "See you next Monday."

"Hmm, see you Monday~"

After the lead actors left, Eiichiro Watanabe and Kieda Ochiai stayed behind to deal with the venue issues, while Naoki Nagayama got back into the convertible driven by the doorman and rushed toward the studio.

He was called away by a phone call from Fuji TV earlier, to bring Shizuka Kudo under Tree Friend's banner, but it delayed another matter... going with Xu Mudao to invite the shaman for the opening ceremony!

So even though today was Saturday, he still had to keep busy.

After picking up Xu Mudao, they headed toward the shaman's residence. Naoki Nagayama was a bit curious:

"Mudao-kun, this ability of yours to have low presence, have you ever seen a priest, monk, or something like that before?"

"Of course! But it was useless... it's not like being possessed by an evil spirit..." Xu Mudao said, "It wasn't obvious when I was young, but as I got older, my presence got lower and lower. It wasn't until junior high school that I realized I was always ignored by classmates in class..."

"At that time, I didn't tell my parents, thinking I was being bullied in class."

Bullying of Neon students, besides bullying, there is another kind... that is isolation, ignoring... no one will talk to you, no one will interact with you, treating you as if you don't exist at all...

This kind of psychological bullying, compared to physical bullying, it's hard to say which one is more serious.

But this behavior is safer. Even if reported to the teacher, no evidence can be found, and others cannot be blamed, so it is more common than bullying people.

Xu Mudao said with some emotion: "But when I patted others on the shoulder, they would still notice me and talk to me... so it didn't seem like bullying."

"......." Naoki Nagayama was curious about another thing, "When you patted them, wouldn't they be startled?"

"......." Xu Mudao looked at Naoki Nagayama with strange eyes, "Naoki-san, your focus is a bit weird, right? Shouldn't you be concerned about whether my psychology has been hurt?"

"I don't worry about this... Mudao-kun gives me the feeling of being a mentally healthy person with strong emotional control ability."

Naoki Nagayama said,

"If an ordinary person were ignored for a long time, they would definitely develop an inferior, timid personality, and might even go to extremes... but Mudao-kun can still learn photography, join Tree Friend, and participate in our movie filming..."

"Yeah, my father and mother care about me very much. In order not to ignore me, they tried their best. In high school and university, I also met many good friends..."

Xu Mudao nodded as if he had received recognition. In order not to ignore him, as long as he came home from school, the alarm clock at home would ring every two hours... and there was a note on it that said 'Check on Xu Mudao'.

The two chatted, and soon arrived at the shaman's residence in the suburbs...

This detached house where the family shrine and residence were combined into one, the outer wall was brand new, and even the grass in the yard was clean...

After entering, the floor, walls, and furniture seemed to have not been used for long... Doing opening ceremonies for Tree Friend for the past two years, it looks like she earned quite a lot!

"Sumimasen... Obasan" Naoki Nagayama visited the shaman, "Tree Friend has a new movie this time and needs to trouble you again."

"So that's it! Absolutely no problem!" The shaman, with a rosy complexion and high spirits, agreed happily, "When is it this time?"

"Next Monday at nine in the morning... right outside our Tree Friend studio."

"Hai hai! I will definitely arrive on time!" The shaman nodded in agreement, and said a bunch of good words, saying she wanted to hold a separate exorcism and purification ceremony for Naoki Nagayama to drive away bad luck.

Naoki Nagayama hurriedly waved his hand and declined, "Obasan, I don't need it. If possible, please do it for this colleague of mine... help him get rid of the bad luck."

"Your colleague?" The shaman nodded, "Alright, alright, just let him come in!"

"Uh..." Naoki Nagayama turned his head to confirm, "Isn't he right behind me?"

Xu Mudao also coughed at this time: "Ahem, it is indeed me..."

The shaman seemed to have just discovered Xu Mudao's figure, her expression startled, as if she was scared: "This person, who is it? When did he come in?"

"Obasan, he came with me, Xu Mudao... you should have seen him when filming movies before!"

The shaman then looked carefully, and finally said with a solemn expression:

"This colleague of yours... has a big problem!"

"....."

About this, we already knew...

After communicating with the shaman about Xu Mudao's lack of presence, the shaman seemed a bit unbelievable that there was such a person. However, after Xu Mudao went out for five minutes and came in again, the shaman finally believed it...

In a short time, she seemed to have forgotten that someone had just come.

"His situation..." After the shaman recalled it again, she pondered for a long time, "Ordinary ceremonies have no effect... need to bring some special things, and some other assistance, to make people not ignore him."

"Hontoni? May I ask what it is?" Xu Mudao didn't expect that the shaman in the countryside really had a way.

"You need to find the personal belongings of someone with a particularly strong presence, the closer to the body the better... carry it on your body." The shaman said, "Then, the appearance also needs to be adjusted... By the way, isn't there that kind of plastic surgery now! Pull open the corners of the eyes, double eyelids, pad up the nose bridge..."

Plastic surgery, that's acceptable, but someone with a particularly strong presence, this is hard to find!

Xu Mudao thought for a circle, and suddenly turned his gaze to Naoki Nagayama next to him!

Yeah, if Naoki-san stands in the crowd, everyone can see him at a glance, he should have super high presence!!!

His personal belongings... Xu Mudao couldn't help but put his gaze on Naoki Nagayama...

"Mudao-kun... please don't look at my lower body!!! Underwear is absolutely impossible to give to you!!!"

"...... Naoki-san...... please!" Xu Mudao requested, "Please give me one of your personal belongings, let me try if it works!!"

"Socks can be considered....."

After the reporter from 'Tokyo Sports' returned to the headquarters, he lay on his desk very frustrated.

The colleague next to him asked curiously: "What's wrong? Didn't you go to interview Naoki Nagayama today? Didn't you get the scoop?"

"That guy, his mouth is too tight! He didn't reveal anything!" the reporter complained, "It's all about the new movie... Are we going to help him promote the movie for free this time?!"

The colleague was a bit curious: "About Akina Nakamori, he didn't reveal anything? How did he answer?"

"Saying things like he won't answer anything unrelated to the movie..." the reporter handed over his recording pen and lay down again, "Here... this is the answer, you'll know after listening~"

After the colleague took it, he pressed the play button and started listening. Some opening remarks and introductions were skipped quickly, until the question session... He pressed the double speed several times, picked a few questions to listen to, and understood at the same time.

"Ha, he really doesn't give the reporters any face at all~"

Almost at the end, he put the recording pen on the table and let it continue to play,

"You can only concoct one based on these answers... or say that Naoki Nagayama is trying his best to avoid questions related to Akina Nakamori to avoid suspicion... Entertainment news, both answering and not answering can produce headlines and content~"

Just at this time, the recording pen happened to play to the part where Naoki Nagayama fixed the loophole...

"...... enough!!! Isn't it just about the airship, it's been so long..."

The colleague was surprised all of a sudden, immediately picked up the recording pen, and repeated this sentence...

"...... Isn't it just about the airship, it's been..."

"Didn't deny it?" A smile gradually appeared on the colleague's face: "Didn't we get good content for the interview!!!"