Chapter 964: The situation has changed, everyone!!

Naoki Nagayama of Shu-Yu naturally received the news at the very first moment... and then, after receiving a call from Akina, he also learned that Burning Productions was going to use legal means to protect their rights.

However, he couldn't just sit by and do nothing on his end!

Naoki Nagayama summoned Masami Inada, who happened to be at the Shu-Yu building, and handed him this week's issue of *Shukan Bunshun* to look at.

"Naoki-san... could it be that there was a mole inside the photography team?"

Masami Inada's first thought was the same, because the security on the day of the wedding had been truly comprehensive. Not to mention the yakuza, they had actually made full preparations in other aspects as well.

"That shouldn't be the case... The wedding planning company signed a very strict non-disclosure agreement. If they breach it, they'll be sued into bankruptcy... and they might even end up in prison..." Naoki Nagayama said. "I actually think it was done by some paparazzi with the guts of a lion..."

"There's such a thing?"

Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, Masami Inada was no novice. He had encountered countless cases of paparazzi and handled a vast number of media incidents... but he was genuinely surprised by such a daring paparazzo... he even felt a bit of admiration...

If placed in the feudal era, this would undoubtedly be the caliber of a top-tier scout or assassin!

"Inada-kun, you are more familiar with the media. Please help me find out who is so brave... and how they managed to do it..." Naoki Nagayama said. "Afterward, Burning Productions will file an infringement lawsuit, but as for my side..."

Naoki Nagayama thought for a moment, then added:

"Let's wait until the results come out before deciding what to do~"

"Yes!" Masami Inada stood up and said, "I'll go investigate immediately..."

"Hmm~~~"

Actually, come to think of it, the leak of their wedding photos was a carnival for the entertainment industry and the fans, but for the two of them, it wasn't a major impact. It wasn't negative news; at most, it just increased their public attention a little more~

However, it was a blow to Naoki Nagayama's own pride...

I, damn it, made such thorough preparations, and yet someone still managed to take photos and release them? If I don't do something about this, what happens to my face? ~

After Masami Inada left, Naoki Nagayama temporarily stopped thinking about these matters and instead returned to the editing room, throwing himself into the editing work for *The Legend of Hayato*.

"Masataka-kun... bring me the footage of the parking lot brawl..."

"Eh?" Masataka Komori was somewhat surprised as he brought the footage to Naoki Nagayama. "Naoki-san, aren't we supposed to be editing the beginning of the movie today?"

"Haha, I don't know why, but I suddenly feel like editing some scenes with blood flying everywhere~" Naoki Nagayama laughed.

"......"

As the year drew to a close, the entertainment industry was once again occupied by news of the Nagayama couple.

However, the increasingly turbulent public opinion did not affect the newlyweds at the center of the storm; instead, it had an impact on some other people.

After returning to work, Naoki Nagayama indeed received many invitations... the invitation letters could even fill the mail bin at the front desk.

His current heat, and all sorts of year-end programs, wanted a piece of the pie.

Fuji TV invited him to be a guest at the *Yearly Kanji* ceremony, TBS invited him to participate in the music festival awards, TV Asahi wanted to invite him to guest on their year-end New Year's program, and NHK invited him to participate in the live broadcast of the *Red and White Song Assembly*...

There was even an invitation from Senso-ji Temple, hoping to invite him to participate in the New Year's temple fair prayer ceremony... As expected, these Japanese monks were no less capable of making money than corporations.

With a somewhat helpless expression on his face, Naoki Nagayama flipped through the pile of invitations in his office. These had already been screened by the General Affairs Department... Regardless of whether he went or not, he needed to reply... and it had to be handwritten!

These were all big names in the entertainment industry, especially the TV stations... He couldn't just use canned responses to refuse, or he would offend people!

"There wasn't anything like this before..."

Naoki Nagayama sighed. Actually, his schedule for the New Year had already been arranged—he was going to the *Red and White Song Assembly*!

Because Akina would be participating in the *Red and White Song Assembly* this year!

For the rest of the time until the end of the year, he needed to be at Shu-Yu editing the movie and simply couldn't spare the time to attend other activities... and he didn't want to go either!

"Why hasn't Otomo-san returned yet..." Naoki Nagayama thought of Masaru Otomo again. "Otherwise, he could have helped me reply to these!"

"Knock, knock~"

The office door was knocked on~

Kieda Ochiai from the General Affairs Section walked in:

"Naoki-san... these are additional invitations..."

"There's more~~" Naoki Nagayama said with a bitter face. "It's almost time to get off work, and you're adding tasks?!"

"Haha, Naoki-san, this is just the beginning!" Kieda Ochiai smiled as she placed the invitations on Naoki Nagayama's desk, then handed over a stack of documents. "Naoki-san, these are the final confirmation forms for this year's year-end bonuses... Otomo-san has already looked through them once and said he wants you to review them as well!"

"Otomo-san? Isn't he away?"

"He gave instructions over the phone..." Kieda Ochiai said. "Otomo-san has been looking at this form for the past few days..."

Naoki Nagayama nodded upon hearing this and flipped through a few pages casually...

Actually, for this kind of thing, he only needed to pay attention to the year-end bonuses of a few middle and senior managers, and then sign at the end. Anyway, there would have been discussions and audits over and over again beforehand...

But this year...

"Kieda-chan..." Naoki Nagayama said to Kieda Ochiai, "This form won't do!"

"???"

Kieda Ochiai looked at her president in surprise... In previous years, he would have at most just glanced at it!

"It probably needs to be redone... because I want to make a significant adjustment to the distribution plan for the year-end bonuses!" Naoki Nagayama said.

Kieda Ochiai's expression became visibly pained... This form was something they had worked overtime for several weeks to produce... and now he wanted a significant adjustment?!

What were you doing before!!!

Facing Kieda Ochiai's resentful gaze, Naoki Nagayama wasn't worried at all, because he knew that what he was about to say would definitely make her happy again!

"Because everyone has worked very hard this year, project after project without stopping... I've decided... this year's year-end bonuses will be doubled for everyone!!!"

"Doubled?!!"

Naoki Nagayama watched Kieda Ochiai's expression change from miserable to disbelief, and then to ecstatic... This transformation could absolutely be selected for an acting textbook!

"Hmm... although I haven't communicated with Otomo-san yet, I've made the decision... Let everyone have a good New Year!"

"......" Kieda Ochiai didn't know what to say for a moment...

"So this form needs to be redone!" Naoki Nagayama returned the form to Kieda Ochiai. "Remember, just deduct the additional bonus directly from my share; don't touch anyone else's!"

"Yes!!!"

Watching Kieda Ochiai excitedly walk out of the office, Naoki Nagayama shook his head, feeling that he, as a capitalist, was not hard-hearted enough after all!

He was actually deducting it from his own share...

Although the year-end bonuses of these subordinates probably only accounted for a tenth of it, and although he had earned thousands of times more in the US foreign exchange market... this was still cutting his own flesh!

"I suppose this counts as cutting my own flesh to feed the eagles, right?"

At this time, a meeting related to Naoki Nagayama was taking place.

The Japan Academy Film Prize Association was holding its final communication meeting~

The list of finalists for the film awards had already been released, and if there were no objections, it could be published. This communication meeting was mainly to confirm the upcoming jury committee and the awards ceremony early next year.

"I still propose Naoki Nagayama as the chairman of this jury..."

Vice Chairman Tomoyuki Tanaka said,

"Although Naoki-san is very young, as the most representative and outstanding young director in the current Japanese film industry, he is qualified both in terms of reputation and his contribution to the film industry!"

Other members of the Academy Film Prize Association sitting in the conference room nodded, some had calm expressions, and others showed disdain...

"His qualifications are too shallow..." an old member said, repeating the same old tune. "Regarding the jury for the Academy Film Prize, we should still be cautious..."

"Shallow qualifications?" Masahiro Shinoda was also one of the members. "Among you with deep qualifications, who has won the Palme d'Or?!"

One sentence left everyone else in the room silent... This sentence hit the bullseye!

"You can't put it that way..." "The Palme d'Or is just a foreign award..." "Our films revolve around the domestic market..." "Niche doesn't necessarily mean lacking depth..." "......"

Whispering comments flowed among the group of members; the voices weren't loud, but they were clearly heard.

Masahiro Shinoda didn't indulge these guys and spoke up again:

"This year's Tokyo International Film Festival... has focused the eyes of the entire world's film industry on Japan! Who among those present can compare to such an achievement?!"

"......."

Everyone didn't know how to refute this for a moment. After all, the influence of the Tokyo International Film Festival was obvious to all, and no one had any reason to say otherwise.

However... to let this guy Naoki Nagayama become the chairman of the jury, a group of senior film industry bigwigs with plenty of years under their belts listening to a young man in his twenties?

No matter how they thought about it, it was unpleasant!

He was only in his twenties and was already standing on top of their heads; wouldn't they be under the shadow of Naoki Nagayama for the next forty or fifty years?!

For many of them, whether they could live another twenty years was a question!

"Ahem... We cannot deny Director Nagayama's contributions and honors..." Shohei Imamura, who hadn't been seen for a long time, said. "However... Naoki Nagayama is indeed too young..."

"Look at the news of his marriage to Akina Nakamori spreading everywhere recently. Someone who steals the spotlight like this as the chairman of the jury... might affect the authority of the Academy Film Prize!"

It seemed like he was considering the fairness and authority of the Academy Film Prize, but in reality, he was saying that Naoki Nagayama was too frivolous and not steady enough to lead the jury.

Masahiro Shinoda wanted to speak, but was held back by his good friend...

Continuing to support Naoki Nagayama would be counterproductive; they might even turn their guns on Masahiro Shinoda himself!

Fumio Ishikawa, sitting at the bottom, saw Tomoyuki Tanaka give him a look and immediately understood:

"Everyone... there is a reality that everyone needs to understand..."

"The viewership ratings for our Academy Film Prize awards ceremony have dropped significantly in recent years... and we have several competitors eyeing us... the Blue Ribbon Awards, the Mainichi Film Awards, and the Kinema Junpo Awards..."

Seeing that he had attracted the attention of the members, Fumio Ishikawa continued:

"As the most outstanding young director in the film industry and the hottest celebrity in the entertainment industry... Naoki Nagayama will bring the highest level of attention to whichever competition he participates in..."

"Everyone, it's not a situation where we are choosing Naoki Nagayama anymore... but whether Naoki Nagayama is willing to choose the Japan Academy Film Prize!"

"The situation has changed, everyone!!!"

"......."

This remark made the senior members present think carefully!

Any film competition needs an audience and attention!

Only then will there be advertising revenue, ticket revenue, and even various private revenues, so that the competition can continue to be held... Holding a film competition is for profit, not charity!

The Academy Film Prize Association is the organizer of the Academy Film Prize, and the employees in the organization also need to be paid!

It is true that with Naoki Nagayama's current fame and status, joining any competition would bring extremely high attention to it.

He could even hold a film competition himself...

Ah, he had already held one, and the results of the Tokyo International Film Festival's grand prize had already spread throughout the world!!!

"What he says makes sense..." "Director Nagayama can indeed bring heat to the competition..."

"Whether we can persuade Naoki Nagayama is a problem..." "Yes, Naoki Nagayama is a bit reclusive..."

"Does anyone here have a good relationship with Naoki Nagayama?!" "Ah, isn't Director Masahiro Shinoda very familiar with Naoki Nagayama?!"

"......"

Seeing the tone of everyone's conversation begin to shift rapidly in another direction, Masahiro Shinoda sneered.

Sure enough, nothing compares to tangible benefits!

However, Naoki Nagayama's influence was indeed worthy of making these guys change their minds!

After returning to the Yamasakura-in in the evening, Naoki Nagayama and Akina also talked about what happened during the day.

In the warm living room, the newlyweds, having finished dinner, leaned together as usual to watch TV and chat. Looking at them, they seemed like an old married couple of over a decade.

"They actually snuck in... Naoki-san, did you notice anyone suspicious that day?"

"Excluding the subordinates standing guard outside the temple, everyone inside was either a relative or a monk..." Naoki Nagayama recalled. "I really didn't notice any strange people..."

"But then more people came to the wedding banquet... Could it be the same person?"

"Could it be a group crime?"

"It's possible... but we'll know soon. I've asked Inada-kun to investigate!"

After talking for a while like this, the phone at Yamasakura-in suddenly rang. After Naoki Nagayama took the call and listened for a few sentences, his eyes suddenly widened...

"I understand, thank you for your hard work, Inada-kun..."

Naoki Nagayama, who hung up the phone, met Akina's curious gaze and told her the news he had just received.

"It was a reporter from *Shukan Bunshun* who actually went to the family temple to become a monk more than half a month in advance!!! Then he pretended to be a monk and took our wedding photos!!!"

"!!!" Akina also widened her eyes. "Become a monk?"

"Yes... I heard he even shaved his head and formally went through the tonsure ceremony!" Naoki Nagayama was full of emotion; this guy was definitely a ruthless person!

Then he thought of a person... the monk who was temporarily called by the photography team to help with lighting...

It seemed that the monk's eyes at that time were very wrong!

"Akina, do you remember when we were taking our wedding photos, there was a monk called to help?" Naoki Nagayama said.

"Hmm... he didn't seem to like talking much, and his expression was very serious..."

Akina had thought at the time that the monks in the temple were naturally so solemn~

"In the stolen photos, there are photos of our wedding, photos of the banquet... but there are no photos of the two of us taking wedding commemorative photos in the temple..."

"Naoki-san, are you saying it was that person?"

Akina sat up.

"It should be him!"

"......."

Having locked onto the suspect, Naoki Nagayama began to think... what exactly should he do to punish this person who stole his privacy...

Giving him a beating seemed a bit light...

Was the Tokyo Bay VIP seat a bit too much? ===== CHAPTER 965 =====