Chapter 754: What is he plotting again?

"Hold on a second!"

Fumio Ishikawa, a judge for the Japan Academy Film Prize, flipped through another ballot, then another...

"Why are there so many votes for *Kikujiro*?"

The preliminary evaluation opinions for the Academy Film Prize were slowly being collected. After the numerous members selected the films to be nominated for each award, the jury would cast the final votes to determine the true winners.

Although he already knew *Kikujiro* would definitely be nominated, Fumio Ishikawa still hadn't expected that so many members of the Academy Film Prize Association would vote for this film.

Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Film Score, Best Cinematography, Best Editing... *Kikujiro* was nominated for almost every single award.

"Are they trying to sweep the entire Academy Film Prize?" Fumio Ishikawa clicked his tongue.

Actually, last year's *Love Letter* had won more than one award, but this time, *Kikujiro* was even crazier than *Love Letter*!

Although in the final jury selection, they certainly wouldn't let *Kikujiro* win Best Film and Best Director, for the other awards, the judges might use a compensatory psychology to select this film.

"I just have a feeling that this year's film awards will have some special circumstances..."

Fumio Ishikawa shook his head. The end of the year was a busy time for all the major film awards. If the Academy Film Prize was encountering this kind of problem, then the other film award selections would surely be filled by *Kikujiro* as well!

"It wouldn't be that at the beginning of next year, Naoki Nagayama will be carrying away a pile of trophies, right~"

Approaching late November, the filming of Masataka Komori's *Crows Zero 2* had come to an end, and it had now officially entered the editing process.

At the same time, the posters and promotion for *Crows Zero 2* had already begun in the cinemas.

"How is it? Can you make it in time for the release at the end of the month?" Naoki Nagayama asked Masataka Komori in the studio.

"Uh... the progress is a bit tight."

Masataka Komori answered honestly, not daring to lie at all. The three giants of Shu-Yu were all staring at him in front of him, and two of them were even very knowledgeable about the film editing process.

"A bit tight?" Shuichi Ido frowned. "Do you need to add more editing staff?"

"No... no need~"

Film editing wasn't a job you could just pick up casually; the more people involved, the more complicated things might become...

However, if Naoki-san joined in—one had to know that Naoki-san's editing talent was unparalleled; any film he participated in could definitely be finished within a week!

Masataka Komori quietly looked up at Naoki Nagayama, then sighed as if resigning himself to fate... He had known before filming that future films would need to be completed independently by new directors; this was the future grand policy of the Shu-Yu Group.

If every film required Naoki Nagayama to take the helm, then what was the point of having new directors like himself and Xu Mudao?!

Otomo Yoshimura also applied some pressure:

"Komori-kun, you have to know that the promotion has already been sent out. If you can't produce the finished work by then, you know the consequences, right?!"

"..."

Naoki-san and Shuichi-san were both the peaceful type of bosses, so the majesty of the Shu-Yu leadership mainly relied on Otomo Yoshimura to uphold...

If the goal wasn't met, he would truly reprimand, scold, and dock pay!

There was even a history of firing initial employees...

"Please rest assured, Otomo-san. Even if I have to work 24 hours a day and night, I will definitely finish the film editing!" Masataka Komori patted his chest to guarantee.

"Ha, working 24 hours, how could a person handle that~" Otomo Yoshimura revealed a warm smile, his increasingly severe male-pattern baldness and the reading glasses on his face seeming to reflect light together. "I'm not some kind of devil~"

"For the convenience of work, until the film editing is finished, Komori-kun will stay in the editing room during this time..."

Masataka Komori listened to the 37-degree mouth in front of him slowly say words that made one's hair stand on end.

"I heard that humans need at least 4 hours of sleep every day... How about this, besides those 4 hours, I'll give you an extra hour for eating and using the restroom..."

Otomo Yoshimura stared at Masataka Komori in front of him, his eyes full of oppression:

"Use all the remaining 19 hours to edit *Crows Zero 2*!"

"..."

Masataka Komori felt the sweat beads on his temples emerge. He felt as if there was a bloody mouth in front of him; if he dared to say a single word of 'no', it would swallow him without hesitation...

"... Yes...!! I will stake my life on it, and I will finish editing before the release!!!"

"Mm-hmm, then hurry up and get to work... The time starts counting from now~"

"..."

After Masataka Komori stiffly walked out of the office and the door closed.

Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Ido both looked with terrified eyes at Otomo Yoshimura, who was dry-mouthed from talking so much, as he slowly took a sip of tea...

"Otomo-san... is your heart really made of flesh?" Shuichi Ido seemed to be meeting his old friend for the first time.

"Shuichi-san, what nonsense are you talking about!" Naoki Nagayama refuted Shuichi Ido. "Otomo-san isn't just his heart that isn't made of flesh; he himself is a robot!!!"

Otomo Yoshimura looked at these two mischievous guys and rolled his eyes:

"Komori-kun is different from you two... He doesn't have the ability and power to be responsible for the results, so I must apply some intensity to him..."

Shuichi Ido retorted: "... You aren't applying intensity at all; you just want him to ascend to heaven!"

"..." Otomo Yoshimura narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing. "Shuichi-san... can the filming of *Ring 2* begin?! Are the actors gathered? Is the location ready? Has the production disclosure meeting been held? What about the promotion?"

A series of questions made Shuichi Ido's originally relaxed expression change immediately, and he lowered his voice at once:

"I'm sorry, Otomo-san... I admit my voice was a bit loud just now, excuse me~ I'll go to Ota Ward to speed up the processing now; you don't need to count me in for lunch~"

"Hmph..."

Watching Shuichi Ido run away with his tail between his legs, Naoki Nagayama gave a disdainful huff, drawing Otomo Yoshimura's gaze over.

"Otomo-san, why are you looking at me? I don't have anything to be accused of!"

Naoki Nagayama was very proud; all his important work was finished, and now he could be said to be completely carefree~

However, Otomo Yoshimura still looked Naoki Nagayama up and down, making him feel completely uncomfortable:

"Hey, hey, hey... what are you looking at? I'm not a beauty!"

Otomo Yoshimura shook his head, seeming very disappointed:

"Naoki-san... now that this year's work is finished, can't you exercise a bit of subjective initiative?!

Can't next year's projects be planned in advance? Can't the proposals be made in advance?

Even if you don't want to plan so early, Shu-Yu still has so many things at the end of the year! Should the year-end bonuses be prepared? Can't you help audit the year-end reports?

..."

The incessant nagging made Naoki Nagayama have to cover his face and flee...

"Otomo-san's nagging ability is almost on par with Tang Sanzang!"

After leaving the office, Naoki Nagayama didn't go anywhere else, but instead made an appointment with the famous Shochiku director Masaki Kobayashi to have tea together.

At Ginza's Sanmeiju, it was still the private booth on the second floor.

"Naoki-san... I really envy you, being so leisurely at such a young age!" Masaki Kobayashi took a comfortable sip of this year's Yame tea. "And having such a teahouse in Ginza, to come and drink tea whenever you want..."

"Life is short, why be so tired~"

Naoki Nagayama still preferred Gyokuro tea. Smelling the mellow aroma and taking a small sip, he felt his whole body warm up, and the chill of autumn seemed to be completely driven out of his body.

"Still like an old man~" Masaki Kobayashi shook his head, becoming increasingly curious about this friend of his.

"Does Naoki-san have no pursuits?"

"Uh... earn a lot, a lot of money... financial freedom~" Naoki Nagayama laughed. "This point is almost considered completed..."

"Tsk~"

Masaki Kobayashi was a bit envious. Although he was also very wealthy, that was only achieved when he was nearing old age.

"Also... have a wonderful romance..." Naoki Nagayama thought of his girlfriend. "This point is still being worked on~"

"Then are there no other pursuits? For example, in terms of film achievements..."

Naoki Nagayama smiled: "Isn't that something that happens naturally?"

The old director opposite shook his head. He knew he shouldn't have asked Naoki Nagayama. The films this guy shot casually had won very great honors... This was something that he, an old man who had worked in the film field for a lifetime, found very difficult to obtain.

Eating a piece of tea snack as if in retaliation, Masaki Kobayashi asked about other things:

"What about what we talked about last time, striving for the foreign Palme d'Or, how is it going?"

"I have already reached an agreement with Haruki Kadokawa of Kadokawa Pictures..." Naoki Nagayama's expression became serious. "He has already agreed to submit *Kikujiro* for review in Kadokawa's name..."

"Kadokawa Pictures, huh..."

Masaki Kobayashi nodded. Although it didn't have the long history of Shochiku, Kadokawa was indeed very powerful and was on good terms with many people in the foreign film circle~

"Are there any other preparations?" Masaki Kobayashi continued to ask. "What is the probability of winning?"

"I've also asked people from Tokyo University of the Arts... At least the nomination will definitely be obtained... The rest depends on the quality of the film..."

Naoki Nagayama laughed. In his previous life, this film had been nominated for the Palme d'Or. Now, years earlier, the novel and excellent aspects of this film were even more highlighted... Fairy tales... reconciling with childhood, people in the Western film circle were very fond of this kind of thing!

Masaki Kobayashi also had great confidence in this film of Naoki Nagayama's. After taking another sip of tea, he said:

"I will also write letters to friends to recommend this film~"

Having spent so many years in the film circle, Masaki Kobayashi naturally had famous foreign director friends who would likely be members of the Palme d'Or jury.

"Arigato~ Masaki-san!"

Naoki Nagayama was very grateful to this director who had helped him many times without compensation.

"Haha, Naoki-san is a rising star in the film industry~ As a senior, I naturally have to take good care of you!"

Masaki Kobayashi laughed. This very old man had the mindset of a young person~

At the same time, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, and other TV stations with programs aimed at teenagers all received a special advertising request.

"Animation elements that teenagers like the most?"

At TV Tokyo, Yuto Matsuyama, the producer of the Youth Culture Program Department, looked at the research questionnaire in his hand and asked in confusion,

"What is this trying to do?"

The people in the advertising department were also very helpless: "This is an advertising request sent over by the Shu-Yu Group, hoping to conduct research within our youth program interactions..."

"Aren't the animation elements that teenagers like something you can just blurt out? Ultraman, soccer, basketball, robots, magical girls, etc..." Yuto Matsuyama blurted out a whole bunch of elements... it seemed like something strange was mixed in...

The people in the advertising department shook their heads: "The Shu-Yu Group hopes for something more specific... and there are other questions..."

"Isn't it better to go to schools to distribute questionnaires for this kind of thing? Why come to the TV station?" Yuto Matsuyama was very speechless. "It's thankless work!"

"I heard that this questionnaire was indeed distributed to schools..." the people in the advertising department said. "Not just TV stations, schools, but also cinemas, radio, libraries, comic books... this questionnaire was distributed everywhere."

Yuto Matsuyama was even more surprised:

"What is the Shu-Yu Group doing?"

"Don't know... said it's for decision-making... gave quite a bit of money..."

"... Is this because they have so much money they can't spend it all?!"

The two people discussed back and forth, but there was no definite answer.

At the same time, such a survey questionnaire also caused controversy in Shu-Yu's other distribution channels... A questionnaire that seemed to have nothing to do with the main business of Shu-Yu Pictures, investigating the preferences of young people...

What was the Shu-Yu Group, this enterprise that had emerged suddenly, plotting again?!

At Fuji TV, Department Head Kazuki Takano also noticed this matter. If it weren't for certain connections, such complex research might not necessarily be done.

He immediately attributed this matter to Naoki Nagayama. Naoki Nagayama was currently participating in the production of the year-end *New Words and Buzzwords Awards*. Doing this kind of thing at this time... made his nerves a bit tense.

"What is Naoki Nagayama plotting?"

Not thinking of the reason, he immediately called Sugiura Tai over...

"Do you know what Naoki Nagayama is doing?" Kazuki Takano handed the research questionnaire to Sugiura Tai.

"Hm?"

Seeing the strange questions on the questionnaire, Sugiura Tai was completely bewildered.

"Naoki-san hasn't mentioned it..."

"Could it be related to the TV series promised to him?" Kazuki Takano asked. He had previously agreed for Shu-Yu Pictures and Fuji TV to co-produce a TV series. "Could it be that Shu-Yu plans to produce an animation?"

"This... should be impossible..."

"Go ask!" Kazuki Takano directly assigned the task. "Figure out his purpose..."

"Ah, I have to go ask this too?"

Sugiura Tai had a bitter face. How come every task is handed to me... This kind of thing has absolutely nothing to do with me!

"Mm, didn't you communicate very well the previous few times? So I'll leave this matter to you!" Kazuki Takano's face was full of encouragement. "Tai-san, this is because I value you!"

"..." Sugiura Tai's face was full of bitterness.

Sure enough, this is the true meaning of the workplace; once you do it well, all similar things in the future will be yours!