Chapter 993

The snow melted, and the weather became increasingly cold.

The three most famous awards in the Japanese film industry finally reached the time for their award ceremonies.

Since the Japan Academy Film Prize is broadcast live, Akina had been helping Naoki Nagayama choose his formal wear at home since the morning.

Naoki Nagayama, being used as a clothes hanger, felt somewhat helpless, but Akina was enthusiastic, making her husband try on one piece after another, even being extremely picky about the tie and cufflinks.

"Wouldn't a simple formal suit do?! If it's a man, there's no need to be so meticulous, right?!"

"How can that be? The previous Burberry formal suit is already out of season. As a celebrity, one must keep up with the trends!"

Akina said seriously. During this period, while designing clothing, her sense of fashion had deepened significantly~

Naoki Nagayama had been a spokesperson for Burberry, and during that time, he always wore the season's trendy styles... However, later on, perhaps because Naoki Nagayama didn't appear in front of the camera frequently enough and lacked exposure, Burberry changed to another star...

"......."

Naoki Nagayama really wanted to say that men are judged by their inner qualities; even if he walked onto the award stage wearing a down jacket and cotton shoes, he would still be the famous Director Nagayama of the film industry...

But seeing his wife's serious attitude...

Forget it, what's the big deal about being a clothes hanger!

"But, Akina, are you really not coming with me?" Naoki Nagayama asked. "Just come to participate, it'll be lively..."

"Forget it, my belly is too big now, nothing looks good on me..."

Akina touched her five-month-old baby, feeling somewhat emotional.

"In two more months, I might have to wear special maternity clothes~"

Naoki Nagayama saw that Akina was feeling down because of her changing figure and quickly comforted her:

"It doesn't matter, Akina is the most beautiful pregnant woman in maternity clothes!"

"Pfft, hahaha~ Naoki-san only knows how to say that to comfort people~"

"Because Akina is truly beautiful!"

Although it was a very cliché line, Akina gently tapped Naoki Nagayama after hearing it, but her mood did indeed become much better.

In the end, following Naoki Nagayama's request for a low-key look, they chose a dark wool-collared trench coat and a turtleneck cashmere sweater for him, paired with gray trousers...

In the afternoon, escorted by a private car, Naoki Nagayama arrived at the NHK Hall.

Come to think of it, this hall really hosts quite a few events; after the New Year's Eve party and the Red and White Song Battle, it's the Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony... It seems all large-scale events that require live broadcasting must be held here; it can be considered a monopoly institution!

The main entrance of the hall was already covered with a red carpet, and reporters and fans who wanted to photograph the stars had gathered, shivering in the cold wind just to catch a glimpse of their idols.

It wasn't Naoki Nagayama's first time here. After getting out of the car, he walked quickly along the red carpet toward the main entrance, not wanting to show himself off like a peacock in the cold wind at all.

At the beginning, some reporters didn't react in time; this person dressed very low-key had actually passed many stars who were posing, and was halfway through the red carpet...

"This... isn't this Naoki Nagayama!"

A reporter finally reacted and hurriedly called out.

"Naoki-san, look over here?!"

"......."

Although he really wanted to keep walking, since he had been called, he had to give the media some face. Naoki Nagayama had no choice but to stop and wave at the camera.

Just as he wanted to leave again, an official reporter called out:

"Naoki-san, Naoki-san, please wait a moment. Can you answer a few questions?"

"...... I need to prepare for the awards ceremony..."

"One or two questions, it'll be very quick!"

The officially arranged reporter even anxiously stood in front of Naoki Nagayama to block his path... fearing that this guy would slip into the NHK Hall in an instant.

"Sigh... alright then~"

The reporter breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly signaled his cameraman to follow, but didn't expect that it would also attract other reporters.

"Naoki-san, you are preparing to film a new TV drama recently, right?!"

"Hmm~" Regarding his own TV drama, Naoki Nagayama still had to promote it. "It's the TV drama adaptation of my recent novel 'Tokyo Love Story'. If everyone is interested, you can look forward to it... it will be released at the end of March..."

"It's actually so fast? Isn't it rumored that you are still looking for actors? Especially since the requirements for the actress are very high..."

The news of Tree Friend looking for actors had been circulating in the circle for a long time, and the commotion wasn't small. Many actors hoped to participate,

"Has this actress been found yet?"

"Hai, the heroine was luckily found a few days ago! The other actors will also be decided soon!"

The reporter was even more surprised: "May I ask which actor it is? Is everyone familiar with her?"

"Her name is Honami Suzuki, an actress whose smile is very infectious!"

Naoki Nagayama naturally didn't mind warming up for the TV drama in advance.

"Please look forward to her performance in the TV drama..."

"Arigato..."

This reporter still wanted to ask, but the other reporters waiting also started scrambling to ask questions, each of them thrusting their microphones in front of Naoki Nagayama, all talking at once.

"Naoki-san, how is Akina-chan doing recently?" "When is the due date?" "Has the baby been named?" "....."

Akina, who hadn't even appeared, once again easily stole the spotlight from Naoki Nagayama.

"Please ask some work-related questions..." Naoki Nagayama said in distress. "Akina is resting at home, everything is fine..."

"Hahaha~" "Alright then~" "Work..."

The reporters immediately changed their direction:

"Naoki-san, besides 'Tokyo Love Story', does Tree Friend plan to release any movies this year?"

"Hmm... currently there are plans for two. One is being edited, it's Xiu-san's 'The Man with Zero Presence'..."

Naoki Nagayama replied seriously.

"The other one is currently having its script written, the name has already been decided, it's called 'Tiger of Ginza'!"

"Oh oh oh?!" "Is it another action movie?" "Which gangster boss is it based on?!"

As soon as everyone heard the name, they immediately assumed it was a gangster movie!

After all, it was too similar to the name of 'Legend of Hayato'... Hawk of Sumida, Tiger of Ginza... could this be becoming a gangster universe!

"Hahaha, it's not a gangster movie, nor is it an action movie..." Naoki Nagayama explained repeatedly. "If I had to categorize it, it could probably be considered... a drama?!"

"Can you tell us specifically what kind of movie it is?"

"....."

After finally getting rid of the media, Naoki Nagayama finally arrived inside the venue and met with Fumio Ishikawa of the Japan Academy Film Prize Association.

"Ishikawa-san... you've really worked hard..."

Naoki Nagayama watched as many staff members came to find Fumio Ishikawa to confirm issues every few moments, feeling somewhat emotional.

"This time, is it President Tomoyuki Tanaka's last term?"

"Hai, that is indeed the case... President Tanaka is in poor health... the tedious work of the award ceremony..." Fumio Ishikawa explained.

"Ha, then who is the candidate for the next vice president?"

"That remains to be decided by the board of directors..."

Although Fumio Ishikawa was humble in his words, he likely thought in his heart that it was nine times out of ten going to be him, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

However, Naoki Nagayama didn't think highly of this point... Fumio Ishikawa was indeed Tomoyuki Tanaka's confidant, but the Japan Academy Film Prize Association didn't belong to Tomoyuki Tanaka alone... Fumio Ishikawa was a very capable person, but he was only an executor.

If there were really an election for president, perhaps Naoki Nagayama would have a better chance than him...

Just at this moment, someone came to ask for instructions again. Fumio Ishikawa said respectfully to Naoki Nagayama:

"I'm sorry, Naoki-san, I need to go handle this~"

"Ah, no problem, no problem, I'll go find other acquaintances to chat with..."

"I'll leave it to you tonight, Naoki-san..."

"Hmm hmm~"

Tonight, Naoki Nagayama, as the chairman of the jury, was responsible for announcing the final grand prize, and also served as an award presenter... he was a very important figure.

While waiting for the live broadcast to begin, Naoki Nagayama met many acquaintances inside the venue, including his friends Masaki Kobayashi and Masahiro Shinoda, as well as famous directors in the circle he had met before...

Including the somewhat serious Akira Kurosawa, whose presence was very strong~

As time went on, more and more celebrities walked over from the red carpet at the entrance. Naoki Nagayama greeted Yuko Tanaka and Takeshi Kitano, and even saw Mieko Harada, whom he hadn't seen in a long time...

"Mieko-chan is currently filming 'House on Fire', right?" Naoki Nagayama asked.

"Hai, is Naoki-san also paying attention?" Mieko Harada was surprised. "It's already almost finished editing~"

"Hmm... because it's a masterpiece by Director Fukasaku..."

What was even stranger was that Keiko Matsuzaka was actually participating... one must know that she had kicked Kinji Fukasaku away!

Sure enough, Director Fukasaku is a ruthless man; in order to make a comeback, he could even endure such humiliation! He truly has the demeanor of Han Xin from ancient times!

"It is said that it will be released in April or May this year, but now there is no chance... I don't know what's going on."

"....."

It might be the fault of 'Legend of Hayato'!

After chatting for a while, he saw Kanako Higuchi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time... Her appearance with a hair bun was very gentle and soft; she was a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko-style beauty!

Naoki Nagayama felt at first glance that she was very much like Satomi in 'Tokyo Love Story'... she was a great beauty recognized by several male leads!

"Kanako-san..." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Naoki Nagayama asked directly, "Do you have any schedule recently?"

"? If it's about the schedule, I happen to have some... What does Naoki-san mean?"

Kanako Higuchi had been involved in a scandal with Naoki Nagayama a few years ago, and at that time, she was indeed somewhat moved... However, that was all in the past~

"I have a TV drama 'Tokyo Love Story' that I'm going to film... I think Kanako-san is very suitable for the role of Satomi in it..."

Naoki Nagayama didn't beat around the bush.

"I want to invite Kanako-san to participate in this TV drama..."

"Satomi?" Kanako Higuchi had naturally read the novel 'Tokyo Love Story' and also knew that Satomi was the second female lead, a character who was a great beauty...

In that case, does Naoki-san think I'm a great beauty?!

Kanako Higuchi suddenly felt somewhat happy:

"Does Naoki-san think I'm suitable?"

"Of course!"

Naoki Nagayama nodded without hesitation.

"The moment I saw Kanako-san, I knew this role had to be you!"

"Hahaha, since Naoki-san has invited me so sincerely, then of course I will participate!"

There was a large luxury yacht on the Pacific Ocean, which had sailed directly from Dongjingwan to the vicinity of Miyake Island.

Ocean temperatures are naturally higher than on land, and due to the Kuroshio Current, the seawater temperature here was even better. When there was sunshine during the day, there was even a feeling of early summer on the yacht.

Rich people love to experience the feeling of summer in winter~

At this time, the entire yacht was playing explosive music, bikini-clad girls brought drinks, and guests were dancing and clubbing in the yacht's hall, partying day and night. When they were tired, sleepy, or caught someone's eye, they would go to a small room to rest.

On the deck pool outside, some were chatting, some were casually sunbathing, and others were chatting about the latest interesting events in the entertainment industry.

The yacht was full of gourmet food, all prepared on-site by five-star chefs; everywhere there was fine wine, all high-end liquor worth tens of thousands per bottle; and everywhere there were handsome men and beautiful women, some were models, some were students, and some were third-rate small stars seen on TV...

Muneo Matsuo and Tomoyuki Nishimoto felt that their eyes had really been opened these past few days...

After boarding the ship in Dongjingwan, the two of them had felt strange, wondering if it wouldn't be cold to have a yacht party in the middle of winter... Who would have thought that it would sail directly to the Pacific Ocean!

And it really wasn't cold at all, it was even a bit hot...

Bathing in the warm sunshine and feeling the rising temperature, the chill brought from the Tokyo winter just dissipated like that!

Such a location definitely couldn't be found on the Pacific Ocean at random, but had been carefully positioned and specifically traveled to!

Muneo Matsuo and Tomoyuki Nishimoto had long since taken off their coats and were drinking beer on the deck in their shirts:

"Is this the luxury of the rich!"

"I thought rich people would go directly to Hawaii for vacation... I didn't expect that in the sea not far from Tokyo, one could also have a pool party in winter..."

"How come I've never heard of this before?"

"It's probably like those membership-only clubs... they are all isolated from ordinary people!"

"......" Tomoyuki Nishimoto took a sip of wine. "Sure enough, we were too young before; the lives of the rich... are truly unimaginable!"

Muneo Matsuo nodded:

"We should think now about how to learn more, so we can film 'Tiger of Ginza'!"

"If we can film it, it will definitely be a huge hit!"

"First, we have to find someone to ask... first make friends..."

The two looked at each other and began searching the deck for guys who definitely looked rich. They soon found a mixed-race handsome guy with an open white shirt, a smooth physique, and a handsome face, who looked quite lonely.

"Hello?" Using his unskilled English, Muneo Matsuo walked up. "Can you speak Japanese?"

"I am Japanese!"

The mixed-race handsome guy spoke in fluent Japanese, looking at the two young people who had suddenly approached him.

"Who are you?"

"We are here playing with friends..." Tomoyuki Nishimoto said. "We have never seen a party like this before, it's really surprising!"

"It's an eye-opener!"

The two sang in harmony while talking to the handsome guy, and soon they became familiar.

"Haruaki-san, we haven't been in contact with this kind of circle before, we just don't know if there are any more exciting activities... you know, the kind of activities that rich people participate in..."

Tomoyuki Nishimoto asked cautiously...

"Hahaha, of course there are!"

The mixed-race handsome guy didn't care at all, pulled the two toward the lower deck, and after a few turns, opened the door to a cabin.

Only to see that it was filled with smoke, there were quite a few figures lying around, and there were white flesh-worms rolling on the bed...

Tomoyuki Nishimoto and Muneo Matsuo were pushed in by the handsome guy, and only then did they see clearly that there were both men and women inside, each with a dazed expression...

And then they saw the handsome guy pick up some strange pills from the table:

"Good brothers, don't say I'm not taking care of you, this is the more exciting stuff!"

"!!!"

There was no need to explain this; the two understood immediately! This is contraband!!!

The guys in this cabin were already high!

"Come, come, come, this is good stuff from the Golden Triangle, but it all has to be destroyed before returning to Tokyo... you guys try it!"

Watching the handsome guy walk toward them with the pills, their faces turned pale:

"No need, no need, we two don't take contraband..."

"This is bad for your health..."

"Haha, looks like you two are still green..." someone in the room said with a laugh. "Then don't start with something so exciting, try some leaves first!"

"Yeah..." The handsome guy also nodded, handing over a few hand-rolled cigarettes. "Come, try this... it's very relaxing~"

"Once you guys are relaxed, brother will take you to try experiences you've never tried before!"

Looking at the tight T-shirt inside the mixed-race handsome guy's open shirt, and the pink tight underwear inside his pants... and then seeing the lecherous look in his eyes as he looked at the two of them...

Tomoyuki Nishimoto and Muneo Matsuo seemed to understand something in an instant!

"I'm sorry! We came to the wrong place!!!"