Chapter 977: Which young man doesn't like driving?!

The first day of Showa 61, naturally, is to sleep until you wake up naturally!

Now it's not in the hometown; there is no mother calling you to get up for breakfast in the morning, no Hezi stepping on the floor with a bang, bang, bang... even Eitaro and Ye Zi have timed feeders to provide rations~

The quiet Mountain Cherry Garden is the perfect place for a nap~

Sleepiness increases after pregnancy, and Akina was very tired from the performance yesterday and stayed up late to visit the temple fair, so she didn't get up. Naoki Nagayama curled up in the warm quilt, holding the soft Akina and sleeping very soundly~

Until he was woken up by hunger...

"What time is it now?" Naoki Nagayama opened his eyes and grabbed the alarm clock on the bedside table, "Ah... it's almost eleven!"

"Hmm?"

Akina also woke up,

"Is it eleven o'clock?"

"Yeah... breakfast and lunch can be eaten together!" Naoki Nagayama smiled and got out of the quilt, "I'll go turn on the air conditioner downstairs, Akina, get up later~"

January is the coldest time of the year, but families who are not short of money can live very comfortably... However, what is surprising is that there was no snow in Tokyo this year, so naturally, there was no singing of the familiar *Snow Flower*.

However, the re-screening of *Love Letter* has been arranged, and other snowy cities, such as Hokkaido, have already started re-screening... Going to watch *Love Letter* when the first snow falls has already become a tradition in some regions and schools~

Going downstairs to soothe the excited dog and the lazy cat, Naoki Nagayama took out the cold food that had already been prepared from the cupboard...

The custom of the Japanese New Year is that the kitchen doesn't light a fire for three days, so they eat cold food prepared in advance. However, if you want to boil hot water to make coffee or instant noodles, it doesn't matter... unless you use cold water for bathing in the New Year~

So Akina's brunch is hot milk with cereal, after all, she is pregnant, and then she can go out for a main meal... Western culture doesn't have this custom, so Western food can always be eaten hot~

"What are we doing today?"

For the first time since her debut, she could decide freely for the New Year. Akina held the food she was using to fill her stomach, not knowing what to do for a while.

"I don't know about others... but..."

Naoki Nagayama looked at the recording prompt light on the phone that was flashing non-stop... It was clear that many people had called to wish him a Happy New Year in the morning!

"In short, we first have to call friends to wish them a Happy New Year..."

"Ah, that's right!"

Akina finally found the memory of the New Year when she was at home, put down the bowl, and hurriedly went to find her address book... She couldn't remember so many people's phone numbers; except for a few relatives and managers, others had to rely on a small notebook...

Of course, Naoki Nagayama's number was definitely remembered the most firmly!

Naoki Nagayama first finished listening to the messages. The calls in the morning were from Shogakukan and companies he had cooperated with. They had handled Naoki Nagayama's private affairs and knew his private phone number, but they weren't very close.

Truly close friends like Otomo Yoshimura, Yin Tangxiu, etc., as well as relatives at home, all knew that Naoki Nagayama went to watch the Red and White Song Battle live yesterday... so he couldn't get up in the morning~

"Naoki-san, this is Kuniharu Morikawa... Happy New Year!"

Exclusive editor Kuniharu Morikawa congratulated Naoki Nagayama in the message and then mentioned the new book,

"The new book *Tokyo Love Story* has passed the editor-in-chief's review and can be prepared for printing. I hope to talk to Naoki-san in person after the New Year. Naoki-san can decide the time, anytime is fine... That's all."

"A new book..."

Naoki Nagayama scratched his head. He wasn't worried at all about whether the new book could be printed, but he was hesitant about the choice of pen name... Should he continue to use Teiju? Or use the Sato from the last *Paradise Lost*...

Or use a new pen name? Or use the protagonist's name, Kanji?

"Naoki-san, what are you thinking about?" Akina had already brought the address book down.

"Ah... thinking about whether to change a pen name for the new book..."

Akina didn't quite understand: "Is the previous pen name not okay?"

"Uh... actually, authors are creatures... after changing a pen name, they get addicted!" Naoki Nagayama teased his wife, "Using different identities to write different content, and then observing the fresh reactions of readers... Omo series..."

"..."

Akina squinted at Naoki Nagayama. Although there is no concept of Internet IDs yet, hiding behind a mask to prank others is nothing new...

Changing an identity does make it easier to let go of some constraints...

However, this behavior made the straightforward Akina very resistant:

"Naoki-san... having too many pen names will cause schizophrenia!"

"..." Naoki Nagayama saw Akina's look and sighed, "Okay, then according to Akina's wishes, let's still use Teiju..."

"Wait a moment, let me return a call..."

Naoki Nagayama dialed Kuniharu Morikawa's home phone. Sure enough, he hadn't gone out either... After asking about his well-being, he set a time to meet in person after the New Year, which was considered a temporary end to this matter.

Next, he gave the phone to Akina, watching her dial numbers from the address book, and then calling familiar people to wish them a Happy New Year...

"Terabayashi-san, Happy New Year..."

"Hanami-san..."

"... Tanaka-san..."

After work colleagues, it was brothers and sisters... The chat between sisters was relatively long, like "How is Xiao Ai doing lately? Did you watch my performance?" and so on...

And Naoki Nagayama started organizing the things to take back to his hometown tomorrow, including gifts for his father and mother, gifts for his eldest brother Aoki, sister-in-law Xiangjia, and Hezi... and gifts for his little nephew Wild Grass...

In the toy box was a humanoid creature with a red body, yellow eyes, and horns on its head... an alien from Nebula M78, a hero who came to Earth to fight little monsters and maintain world peace...

"Naoki-san..." Akina, after finishing her call, ran over and picked up the toy with some curiosity, "Is this an Ultraman doll? For Wild Grass?"

"Hmm..."

"It actually has horns like a cow, is it as strong as a cow?!" As a girl, she naturally didn't like watching tokusatsu dramas like Ultraman.

"This isn't a question of whether the strength is great or not, and these aren't cow horns... the horns on the head are actually Ultraman antennas that receive cosmic information..."

Naoki Nagayama saw that Akina was just confused, and couldn't help but popularize it for her,

"This is Super Taro Ultraman, a combined Ultraman that can only appear when six Ultramen combine!!! It's the strongest Ultraman that just came out last year..."

"Ooo... amazing amazing..."

Akina didn't know why Naoki-san became serious when talking about Ultraman... Are men always boys?! It's childish!

"Is Wild Grass already liking to watch this kind of thing?"

"He's already quite big..."

Naoki Nagayama said. In this era, tokusatsu dramas can be said to be very popular from kindergarten to elementary school, and then across a stage, they are also very popular after college...

"Little boys all like Ultraman~"

"If you say so, maybe Lighting likes it too..." Akina paused, "Did I buy the wrong toy..."

Naoki Nagayama asked curiously: "What did you buy?"

"Toy electric car..."

"... That's fine too~"

Cars, after all... which young man doesn't like driving? Toy cars are the same!

This year, he prepared cars as New Year gifts for his friends!

The entertainment industry doesn't take holidays.

Yesterday was the Red and White Song Battle and the Record Awards, and the news this morning began to report around the hot spots of last night.

The news of Akina Nakamori winning the Japan Record Awards was undoubtedly a hot topic, because this was the first time popular music had defeated traditional enka to win the highest honor in the music industry.

Some music practitioners speculated that the Japanese music industry might usher in a new trend, and popular music and other trendy music would replace traditional music as the mainstream.

However, this view was only held by a small number of people. More people thought it was just because Akina Nakamori's own popularity was too high, which allowed *My Lover* to win the big award~

With Akina Nakamori getting married, her focus would shift to the family side, and the big awards in the future would still fall to enka.

These two factions began to argue in newspapers and TV programs, making Akina, who had already stepped aside, the artist with the highest heat in the New Year again...

And at this time, NHK TV station played the clips of the Red and White Song Battle, including behind-the-scenes flower interviews, etc.... The meeting between Akina Nakamori and Naoki Nagayama in the lounge naturally caused another wave of heat.

"Do this couple have to feed dog food on the New Year?"

"Baka, give our Akina-chan back!"

"..."

Fans had basically accepted the fact that Naoki Nagayama and Akina

Especially with the recent interviews and variety show appearances, everything reveals that Akina Nakamori will be retiring for a period of time... Actually, one can almost tell from Akina's belly...

On Naoki Nagayama's side, the news that "The Legend of Hayato" will be released on January 3rd is also flooding the screens...

The preview screening received full praise, making people look forward to this film even more, and everyone hopes to go to the cinema to enjoy it during the final day of the holiday.

The film industry itself is also very concerned about this film...

The vice chairman of the Japan Academy Film Prize Association also chatted about this film when Fumio Ishikawa came to pay a New Year's visit:

"The buzz for 'The Legend of Hayato' has almost secured the title of the strongest film of the beginning of the year; other film studios don't have any films that can compete!"

"Yes... but everyone is almost used to it..." Fumio Ishikawa said, "Naoki Nagayama's New Year films are never bad..."

"It's really... has the entire film industry bowed down at the feet of Naoki Nagayama?!"

"Hahaha, Naoki-san is a genius after all..." Fumio Ishikawa laughed, "Now is his peak, so naturally, no one can compete... However, whether he can maintain it is a question!"

Naoki Nagayama is young now and has infinite creativity, but a genius's creative peak only lasts for a few years. Ten years from now, is the film industry going to remain under one person forever?

"Hahaha~ that depends on you young people~"

Tomoyuki Tanaka is already over seventy years old. How many more years can he live? Now, the thing he wants most is that the Japan Academy Film Prize under his management must not fail!

"Ishikawa-kun, has the matter of contacting Naoki Nagayama before the New Year been settled?"

"It has already been settled! Naoki-san will serve as the chairman of the jury! He will also be the award presenter..." Fumio Ishikawa replied, "However... he requested that he choose the location for reviewing the films..."

"???"

"It's fine, I heard it's a noble courtyard in Kyoto..." Fumio Ishikawa comforted him, "Naoki-san said he doesn't like staying in hotels..."

"But ten judges... can a courtyard accommodate them?"

"I heard it's a very large courtyard... there shouldn't be any problem..." Fumio Ishikawa said, "And the expenses..."

"Money is not an issue!" Tomoyuki Tanaka said immediately, "Just do as Naoki-san says!"

"Hai..."

Fumio Ishikawa originally wanted to say that expenses wouldn't be needed either, only the costs for ingredients and the housekeeping company, but since the vice chairman had agreed so readily, could he perhaps take a little more...

The date for the Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony is usually in early March, but the results for some awards have to be announced in mid-February, so Naoki Nagayama will have to start working in mid-to-late January, which can be said to be very busy~

"If only 'The Legend of Hayato' had been released last year... then, to avoid suspicion, Naoki Nagayama wouldn't have been able to let this film win the grand prize..."

After hanging up the phone, Tomoyuki Tanaka sighed.

It is a blessing for the film industry to have an outstanding director like Naoki Nagayama who can produce such excellent films, but his existence also suppresses the development of other film directors, preventing the film industry from blossoming in a hundred flowers...

However, from the current perspective, the benefits brought by Naoki Nagayama far outweigh the disadvantages.

Otomo Yoshimura bought a new villa last year, located in Setagaya Ward, a true wealthy neighborhood.

As the CEO managing the daily operations of the Shuyou Group, even during the New Year, it is impossible for him to rest... Last night, he was drinking with other company presidents and department heads from the entertainment industry at clubs in Shinjuku and Shibuya.

It wasn't until he lost consciousness that he was sent home to Setagaya by his driver, to be looked after by Yuki Yoshimura.

After the sky turned bright, Otomo Yoshimura woke up in a daze, only his body was still suffering the consequences of a hangover; his stomach was nauseous, and his head still ached terribly...

"Are you up?" Yuki Yoshimura saw her husband walking downstairs unsteadily and hurried over to support him, "How is it, does your head still hurt?"

"Still a little..."

Otomo Yoshimura took the warm hangover soup handed to him by his wife and drank it in large gulps. He felt it was both sour and spicy, and a layer of fine sweat broke out on his head, but he felt like he had come back to life.

"Where is Keishin?" Otomo Yoshimura didn't see his eldest son and couldn't help but ask.

"He went to perform New Year's worship with friends..." Yuki Yoshimura saw that Otomo Yoshimura was sober and asked, "Father of the children, can you return to Nagano tomorrow?"

"Hmm... I still have to attend a social engagement tonight..."

"... How come you still have to attend social engagements even though you are a division head..." Yuki Yoshimura complained, "You are so old, why don't Xiu-san and Naoki-san go..."

"..."

Otomo Yoshimura drank his soup silently. In fact, he didn't have to go. Naoki Nagayama never encouraged him and Xiu Yin Tang to engage in useless drinking socializations; he didn't rely on these drinking buddies to make money... It was just that Otomo Yoshimura himself liked the feeling of attending social engagements...

After all, given his current status, he is flattered and toasted at drinking parties, and everyone at the table is talented and speaks nicely...

If he were at home, he would be complained about by his wife for not doing any housework and complained about by his son for being long-winded... And returning to his hometown would require driving for several hours...

"By the way, were there any phone calls this morning?" Otomo Yoshimura changed the subject in a low-key manner.

"Ah, there were indeed many... I have written them all down." Yuki Yoshimura handed over the notebook, which contained the names of people who had called to pay their New Year's greetings in the morning, and the most recent one was Naoki Nagayama...

"Naoki-san called too... I'll call him back right now..."

"Are you in such a hurry?"

"After all, it's Naoki-san..."

Yuki Yoshimura stopped talking. After all, Naoki Nagayama is the great benefactor who enabled their family to jump in social class within a few years... For the head of the household, he might be even more important than relatives.

"Naoki-san said he sent a New Year's gift?" Otomo Yoshimura asked while looking at the contents written in the notebook.

"Hai... he said the gift for you and Keishin hasn't been received yet..."

Just at this moment, the Yoshimura couple heard the front door being opened, followed by Keishin Yoshimura's cry of surprise:

"Father, Mother... there is someone at the door who drove a sports car here..."

"??"

Otomo Yoshimura walked out the door in confusion and saw his son, who had returned from New Year's worship, examining a brand-new Toyota Century at the door...

Then he saw a man in a suit walk over and ask respectfully:

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Otomo Yoshimura?"

"Hai, may I ask who you are?"

"I am the manager of the Toyota dealership... Akihiro Hirayama." Akihiro Hirayama took out a file folder and a letter, "This is a car that Mr. Naoki Nagayama ordered at our dealership before the New Year, and he specifically instructed that it be delivered during the New Year..."

"?"

Otomo Yoshimura opened the envelope and saw a sentence inside,

"Otomo-san, I've seen that you've been coveting my Toyota Century for a long time... I might as well give you one... You worked hard last year!"

"..."

At the same time, in Xiu Yin Tang's home, someone also drove a Mercedes-Benz sports car...

Xiu Yin Tang took the letter and was also completely bewildered...

"... This guy Naoki Nagayama... could it be that he has made too much money?!"

Of course, Naoki Nagayama has earned quite a lot in other areas... The efficiency of making money in the financial market far exceeds that of running a company! That's why so many entrepreneurs like to go public to raise money...

Although Otomo Yoshimura and Xiu Yin Tang both take direct commissions, the Tokyo International Film Festival last year didn't actually earn much for the Shuyou Group; instead, the two of them were busy working on this matter for the second half of the year, which was very hard work...

On the other hand, the group has expanded to this point, and the relationship between them must be well-maintained...

Both of them are Naoki Nagayama's trusted friends. With the two of them there, Naoki Nagayama can ignore those troublesome matters, focus on producing films, and enjoy life... Naoki Nagayama hopes that this relationship will continue forever!

So he simply sent a special New Year's gift!

Anyway, it only adds up to fifty million... Compared to the money he earned this year, it's not even a drop in the bucket!