Chapter 863: Even kneeling down doesn't work? Does Otomo-san have to commit seppuku?!

After two days of communication, the first Tokyo International Film Festival preparation meeting was soon to be held at the Tree Stump Building in Ikebukuro~

"It's just right to let people see our new headquarters!" Otomo Yoshimura was full of excitement. "Tree Friend is no longer the original Tree Friend!"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama felt that Otomo Yoshimura's current appearance was simply like a nouveau riche who had just bought a new house~

"Otomo-san...... Tree Friend is still the original one, it's still us people~"

"No!" Otomo Yoshimura pointed outside the window. "The old Tree Friend couldn't see the prosperous streets of Ikebukuro!"

"......."

Forget it, let Otomo Yoshimura deceive himself~

Just at this moment, the office door was knocked open, and Shuichi Yin Tang walked in:

"Naoki-san, you really are in Otomo-san's office!"

For today's preparation meeting, he, as the person in charge of Tree Friend Film, naturally had to participate~

"Hmm, Shuichi-san, you've arrived too~" Naoki Nagayama greeted. "The shooting of *Squid Game* has been arranged, right?"

"No..... we're taking a break today~" Shuichi Yin Tang said. "We have to edit the first three episodes, and then take them to TBS to broadcast~"

"Is that so...."

Shuichi Yin Tang patted Naoki Nagayama's shoulder: "Speaking of which, Naoki-san has been very busy these few days, and hasn't been to Ota Ward to see it!"

"Haha, naturally very busy..... I'm contacting the people participating in the preparation meeting~"

Naoki Nagayama answered with an unchanging face. Actually, he hadn't been too busy these few days, simply because it was too hot and he didn't want to go out.

Isn't it good to cool off in the new Yamasakura-in, eat fruit, tease the dog, and tease the cat?

"Then it looks like there's no problem today!" Shuichi Yin Tang said. "About the organizer~"

"There shouldn't be any problem."

Naoki Nagayama nodded. As long as he settled a few heavyweight guests, then there would definitely be no problem!

Regarding the meeting, the three chatted in the office for a while, and were then found by Riko Hayano.

Riko Hayano, who pushed the door and entered, complained in her heart that although three luxurious offices had been allocated, why were these three people still squeezed into one office....... but after all, she was a subordinate, so she could only keep these complaints in her heart:

"Naoki-san, Otomo-san, Shuichi-san....... the guests participating in the meeting have arrived one after another!"

"Ah, is that so....." Otomo Yoshimura immediately stood up. "Then let's go welcome them!"

In the absence of mobile phones and instant messaging channels like WeChat, the personnel who came to participate would first be guided by the front desk to the guest room, and then guided by Naoki Nagayama and the others to the conference room.

"Department Manager Ogasawara, Department Manager Yamamura..... welcome!"

Otomo Yoshimura naturally recognized the personnel from Toei, bowing to welcome everyone's arrival.

"Department Manager Yoshimura, Director Yin Tang..... and Director.... Nagayama....."

Pausing slightly, they still chose to use the title of director to address Naoki Nagayama. After all, in the film industry, a director who had won the Palme d'Or was Naoki Nagayama's highest honor.

"Long time no see..."

"Not at all.... we are the ones who have been negligent in asking after you...."

"....."

A burst of lively pleasantries, Naoki Nagayama and his group led the people from Toei towards the conference room, naturally passing by the building they had just moved into.

"Department Manager Yoshimura, Tree Friend's newly moved headquarters is very nice~~~" Toshitaka Yamamura praised politely. "The employees are also very dedicated....."

"Hahaha, that's for sure!"

Otomo Yoshimura was waiting for this, and then talked endlessly about the ins and outs of moving, including how much thought and energy it took, and finally being able to move here.........

When the relocation ceremony was held, friends came, and he didn't want to show off, otherwise it would appear he was too showy..... but today Toei was an unwelcome guest, so he could naturally brag without any psychological burden. He felt comfortable, and they had to be polite and compliment him.....

Sure enough, the distance from the guest room to the conference room actually took a full five minutes!

Toshitaka Yamamura's expression stiffened..... he had to constantly echo "Yes, yes, yes" and "Indeed so", etc.

It was hard to send people to the conference room, and afterwards Naoki Nagayama and Shuichi Yin Tang had to go downstairs separately to continue welcoming the attendees...... Toho, Shochiku, Nikkatsu, the Tokyo Film Journalists Association...... and people from television stations, etc.

Shuichi Yin Tang brought people from government agencies, while Naoki Nagayama secretly took Shohei Imamura to the room next to the conference room to wait.

By 9:30, most people had arrived~

"Minasan, welcome to the first preparation meeting of the Tokyo International Film Festival." Otomo Yoshimura served as the host. "What everyone has in their hands now is the first draft of the Tokyo International Film Festival plan....... it is a plan drafted by Tree Friend with reference to other film festival activities, and we hope to get everyone's corrections....."

Everyone who received the plan started to read it, and buzzing low discussions arose among the participants.

In fact, there wouldn't be any problems with other aspects of the plan such as the time, location, and holding process of the film festival, after all, similar film festivals all had them. Everyone mainly looked at the naming and the distribution of responsibilities, etc.

"Department Manager Yoshimura!" Sure enough, the people from Toei started to make trouble. "Regarding the organizer of the Tokyo International Film Festival....."

"The organizer is Tree Friend and Kadokawa~ Is there any problem?" Otomo Yoshimura asked lightly.

"We feel that Tree Friend and Kadokawa are not enough to represent the entire Nihon film industry!" Toshitaka Yamamura, who had already reached an agreement, said directly. "Tree Friend has only been established for five years, and Kadokawa's name has only emerged in recent years......"

Haruki Kadokawa sneered on the side:

"The idea was proposed by Naoki-san, and the investment and planning were carried out by Tree Friend and Kadokawa together. The organizer should naturally be us!"

Takafumi Ogasawara of Toei immediately interjected:

"For an international film activity with such a large influence as the Tokyo International Film Festival, if it is handed over to a company with such shallow qualifications to organize, the risk must be considered!"

"What does risk refer to?" Department Manager Tomo Nakano of Toho immediately supported.

"In case the organizer's strength is insufficient, and there is any mistake, making the Nihon film industry lose face in front of world filmmakers....."

"Indeed, if that's the case, then even if Naoki Nagayama is a Palme d'Or winner, it won't work, right~"

"Yes, yes..... young people are still unreliable..... they probably can't even distinguish the status of film seniors~"

"In my opinion, there still needs to be an organization with deep qualifications to guide it..... for Tree Friend, being the contractor should be about enough!"

Once Toei and Toho made a move, everyone who had been contacted in advance echoed, and for a time, the entire conference room was filled with voices of agreement, as if changing this organizer to someone else was already the wish of the people!

Naoki Nagayama looked at these people singing in harmony, and really felt his eyes were opened....... these guys' dramatic performances were so good, why didn't they go to the Takarazuka Revue to sing opera?

"Ahem~"

Naoki Nagayama coughed tactically, he couldn't let them continue, otherwise a consensus would be formed.

"Director Nagayama, do you have anything to say?" Takafumi Ogasawara immediately pointed the spearhead at him. "In case Tree Friend makes any mistake......"

"Then let Otomo-san hold a press conference and apologize by kneeling down in front of the media!!!"

"......."

"???"

The conference room was quiet for a while, and everyone was speechless by Naoki Nagayama's words, and even Otomo Yoshimura looked at Naoki Nagayama with disbelief......

What are you doing?! You threw a pot at me just like that? Because I have less hair?!

"Uh ahem!" It was still Tomo Nakano, who was more experienced, who reacted and hurriedly said, "What's the use of us wanting Department Manager Yoshimura to kneel down......"

"Eh? Useless?" Naoki Nagayama showed a suspicious look. "Isn't it that there's no problem after using the traditional skill of bowing to apologize after making a mistake? We have already knelt down!"

"........"

"Ahem ahem ahem!"

"....?"

Everyone was speechless again. Although this was the truth, it wasn't good to say it out loud! This made it impossible for people in the future to do it! Not everyone had such thick skin!

"Naoki-san.... you are relatively young, maybe you have some misunderstanding about this....." Tomo Nakano explained. "Bowing and kneeling down just show an attitude of apology..... it's useless for the consequences, and it's not a form of punishment...."

"Then..... does Otomo-san have to commit suicide to apologize? Can he only die? Commit seppuku to apologize?" Naoki Nagayama frowned. "Letting Otomo-san commit seppuku for this little thing seems a bit too much!"

"......" "???"

"Pfft...." Haruki Kadokawa couldn't help but laugh out loud.

(Otomo Yoshimura: Naoki Nagayama, thank you very much!)

Toshitaka Yamamura saw Naoki Nagayama's intention to make fun of it, and said directly:

"Naoki Nagayama, don't make such jokes, we are discussing the issue of the organizer! Tree Friend and Kadokawa's qualifications are too shallow...... for such a large international activity, we need to be more cautious!"

"Shallow qualifications?"

Shuichi Yin Tang on the side couldn't help it anymore, shook his head,

"In terms of establishment history, Kadokawa's predecessor was Great Nihon Film, which has existed since after the war! In terms of achievements, Tree Friend's films are all big hits, and the awards won are among the best in the Nihon film industry....... our two companies combined, in what way are our qualifications shallow!"

"......." Pausing, Toshitaka Yamamura laughed, "Qualifications can't be calculated like that...."

"Then how should it be calculated?" Haruki Kadokawa also participated.

Then the entire conference room started discussing this qualification.

Opportunities for the five major film companies to gather together were rare, and even Shochiku and Nikkatsu started talking about their own qualifications, arguing until their faces were red about who was the number one in the Nihon film industry~

Seeing this scene, Naoki Nagayama didn't worry at all; this was the normal process..... every time the company's various departments held communication meetings in his previous life, there would be this situation, and each person in charge would start pulling on a point and talking nonsense.

Actually, it wasn't for any answer, just to show their presence.

"With one drum, the spirit is aroused; with the second, it flags; with the third, it is exhausted"..... only when everyone was tired of arguing was it time to discuss serious business!

Walking out of the conference room to arrange things, drinking a cup of tea slowly, seeing that everyone had started to quiet down, Naoki Nagayama then opened his mouth:

"Minasan..... I know that everyone is indeed worried about a guy as young as me taking on important responsibilities....."

"No, no, we aren't targeting Naoki-san!" Toshitaka Yamamura said immediately.

"Yes, it's just that the international film festival indeed has a major influence...."

Tomo Nakano also said on the side, but this statement was completely meant to target him.

Naoki Nagayama smiled and didn't refute:

"I am indeed a bit young, although I have won the Japan Academy Film Prize and Blue Ribbon Prize many times, and even won the Palme d'Or, achieving good results in the film industry....."

"......"

The people from Toho and Toei were stunned. Everything was fine, why did you suddenly show off your achievements!!! Did you think the others sitting here didn't have any?!

Oh..... they really didn't......

Just like that, Naoki Nagayama's words made everyone present unable to speak...... after all, there might be people who could beat Naoki Nagayama in achievements, but they weren't in the conference room today.

"Ahem, Naoki-san....." Tomo Nakano's tone was gentler. "We know your achievements in the film industry are extraordinary....."

Naoki Nagayama asked curiously:

"Then why not give me a chance to try? Anyway, I'm so young, even if I make a mistake, everyone will forgive me, right?!"

"......." Don't say it so naturally!

"Naoki-san.... after all, this relates to Nihon's image internationally, we still think it's better to have a more stable helmsman...."

Takafumi Ogasawara said.

"Oh oh, need a more stable helmsman!" Naoki Nagayama nodded and laughed, "I think so too!"

"Oh?"

The representatives of several old-fashioned film companies were surprised. Was this agreeing?

"So.... I specifically went to ask a more stable predecessor for advice before......." Naoki Nagayama stood up and opened the door to welcome someone in. "I believe with his guidance, the holding of the Tokyo International Film Festival will be smoother....."

Entering was a scholarly old man with glasses and gray hair.

"He is, Director Shohei Imamura! The winner of the previous Palme d'Or!" Naoki Nagayama said to everyone in the conference room. "This time he will serve as an important position—President of the Jury! At the same time, he is also the Vice President of the Tokyo International Film Festival Organizing Committee!"

The atmosphere in the conference room quieted down instantly.

Everyone present was related to film, and there was no one who didn't know this big director who was in the limelight last year, and many people recalled the new wave movement this guy started in the film industry twenty years ago.

Shohei Imamura's huge influence could be said to be that in the current film industry, besides Akira Kurosawa, no one could suppress him.

"Minasan, good morning!" Shohei Imamura greeted with a smile. "I'll have to trouble everyone for their care afterwards!"

"......."

"!!!"

How could this still be said?! Was there any choice for the organizer? With a status like Shohei Imamura, he had already jumped out of the scope of film companies. Whoever he supported represented a large group of filmmakers supporting whoever.

And now, it was very clear that Shohei Imamura was here to stand for Naoki Nagayama!

Naoki Nagayama led Shohei Imamura to sit in the front row, and then continued to discuss the content of this plan.

Toho and Toei people still wanted to struggle, they looked at the representative sent by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology this time:

"Ikenobo-san, do you think if Tree Friend and Kadokawa are the organizers, it needs to be reconsidered?"

"As for this..." Yasuko Ichinobo, who had been listening silently, glanced at Naoki Nagayama and smiled, "Since the Tokyo International Film Festival is a fresh initiative... and it was proposed by Naoki-san, I don't see anything wrong with Tree Friend hosting it..."

Yasuko Ikenobo was the representative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the "Kanji of the Year" activity before. With this resume, and with the support of her family, she was promoted to a section chief under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology after a year.....

This international cultural exchange activity launched by Naoki Nagayama made her keenly see the future prospects, and she got the opportunity to attend again through the strength of her family!

"Young people, after all, don't always stick to the rules....... the 'Kanji of the Year' activity planned before wasn't it also very successful!"

"......"

Takafumi Ogasawara and Tomo Nakano looked at each other:

"They actually have a friendship?"

Neither of them expected that Naoki Nagayama actually had a friendship with Yasuko Ikenobo........ and seeing the way Yasuko Ikenobo looked at Naoki Nagayama, maybe it was an "illicit affair"!

"When did this happen?!"

Both had to complain bitterly in their hearts:

"Pah! Sure enough, it's a pair of dogs! Naoki Nagayama, actually forgot he still had the nickname of Playboy Naoki! Don't know when they hooked up!"

"......."

Naoki Nagayama smiled:

"Then let's settle the matter of Tree Friend and Kadokawa being the organizers together!"

"There are still many things to discuss next....."

"Minasan, let's continue!"

"......" ===== CHAPTER 864 =====