dkrc Chapter 201 An Unprecedented Advantage
Chapter 201 An Unprecedented Advantage
Chapter 201 An Unprecedented Advantage
The next morning.
Film magazines at newsstands across Japan were sold out within half a day.
Those professional film critics who usually love to go against popular tastes and take pride in finding fault have surprisingly united this time. They've devoted a large portion of their pages to *Kikujiro's Summer*. There's no harsh criticism, only heartfelt praise.
Film critics set aside their pride and used every inch of language to praise the film's warmth, Joe Hisaishi's score, and Takeshi Kitano's restraint in his use of the camera.
The reactions of ordinary viewers were more direct.
The film's story is not difficult to understand at all. There are no profound metaphors, only a hilarious journey of a rascal and a silent child. The scenery along the way, the frogs by the roadside, the angel's wind chimes, and that extremely catchy piano piece "Summer" are deeply rooted in the audience's minds.
After watching the film, many people kept replaying the image of the two waiting for a bus on the highway in their minds, recalling their childhood and summers. Many went straight to the ticket counter as soon as they left the theater, buying tickets for a second viewing the next day.
In comparison, Toho's big-budget production, "Summer Love Song," appears extremely thin.
The classic melodramatic soap opera plot: handsome men and beautiful women crying and breaking up on the beach, then getting back together. After screaming in the theater and finishing their Cokes, fans completely forgot about it as soon as they left.
Despite the popularity of its idols, "Summer Sonata" still ranked high at the box office on its opening day. However, there was absolutely no discussion about the plot on online forums or in the streets.
Public opinion has completely changed.
Takeshi Kitano and Nobu Kitahara are enjoying an unprecedented period of favorable fortune. What's even more alarming is that this favorable situation was actively fueled by the media. Typically, the media only pursues profits and traffic; they won't easily speak favorably of someone unless they're paid.
But this time is different.
Several major publications, including Kinema Junpo, were the first to focus their attention on the screenwriting section.
Kitahara Shin's name was magnified infinitely.
A young actor with only a high school diploma who debuted in yakuza films has surprisingly crossed over into writing such a delicate and complete healing road movie script.
This stark contrast itself was a huge news story. Like sharks smelling blood, the media began to hype up Kitahara Shin's "screenwriting talent," even digging up his previous performances on television programs and praising them lavishly.
The entrance to a convenience store on a street in Tokyo.
Toru Ijuin (a seasoned enthusiast of niche films and an expert) held a can of chilled oolong tea in his hand and let out a long breath.
He just came out of the movie theater.
Toru Ijuin: "As expected, a great reputation is well-deserved. Takeshi Kitano really deserves the Blue Ribbon Award."
He was completely captivated by this film. Both its pacing and emotional delivery were superb.
He walked into the convenience store and casually picked up the latest issue of a film magazine from the shelf. He opened to the interview page with the main creators.
His gaze lingered on the words "Screenwriter: Shin Kitahara".
Ijuin Toru stood there, stunned.
In his preconceived notion, actors and screenwriters are completely different species. Actors are responsible for portraying, while screenwriters are responsible for creating.
How can an individual possibly excel in both of these areas and still reach the top level?
My first reaction was to question it.
In the entertainment industry, it's common for people to claim credit for others' work. For example, a few years ago, a well-known mystery novelist was exposed for using his apprentices to ghostwrite for him, and a famous cartoonist was sued by his assistant over authorship rights, both of which caused a huge uproar at the time.
Could Kitahara Shin have also paid for a script and used his own name to whitewash his resume?
Ijuin Toru pinched his chin, his mind racing.
wrong.
Kitahara Shin is already extremely successful as an actor, with several hit dramas boasting extremely high viewership ratings. There's absolutely no need for him to take this kind of risk at this time. If the ghostwriting is exposed, his acting career will be completely ruined. The investment and the risk are completely disproportionate.
The only explanation is that he really wrote the script himself.
Ijuin Toru felt his breathing become rapid.
Just then, the voice of a news anchor came from the television set hanging in the convenience store.
Fuji TV's latest variety show project has sparked heated discussion. Popular actor Nobu Kitahara announced that he will attempt to pass the National Judicial Examination within two months to prepare for his next legal drama series.
Ijuin Toru suddenly raised his head and stared intently at the television screen.
He was completely dumbfounded.
The National Judicial Examination? Two months? Scriptwriting? Acting?
Could human energy really go this far? He had absolutely no idea how to describe his feelings at that moment.
Ijuin Tetsu put down the oolong tea in his hand.
He found that his attention had completely shifted from the work "Kikujiro's Summer" to the person of Kitahara Shin.
He strode out of the convenience store, with only one thought in his mind: go home and search for information online.
He was going to look for Kitahara Shin's old school essays, his quotes from previous interviews, and any clues that could prove he did indeed have writing skills.
In the process of this exploration, this once scornful niche expert is gradually sliding into the abyss of becoming a die-hard fan of Kitahara Shin.
On the other side, in a dark alley in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district.
Takashi Miike is currently filming V-Cinema, "Shinjuku Yakuza." To save money, all the extras are ruthless, marginal actors recruited from Kitahara's office.
The trouble started as soon as the machine was set up.
A dozen or so True Yakuza thugs, dressed in floral shirts and covered in tattoos, blocked the alley entrance. Their leader was a local gang leader with a buzz cut and a scar on his face. They were upset that the film crew hadn't given them prior notice or paid protection money, so they simply overturned the outer reflectors.
Takashi Miike was sweating profusely with anxiety. He could film as he pleased, but when faced with real yakuza causing trouble, the crew was simply no match. Seeing that a conflict was about to break out, he gritted his teeth and rushed forward to stand in the middle.
-
"Brothers, don't make a move! I'll go get some help!"
Takashi Miike quickly ran to a corner, took out his mobile phone, and dialed Masakazu Ota's number.
Inside the Porsche at this moment.
After receiving the call, Ota Masakazu felt dizzy. Who would have thought that at this critical juncture, the film crew would run into a local bully?
Sitting in the passenger seat, Kitahara Shin put down his script and turned to ask, "What happened?"
Ota truthfully recounted the unexpected situation in Shinjuku.
After listening, Kitahara Shin calmly nodded: "Change course, go to Shinjuku. I'll call Team Leader Takayama while I'm at it."
Takayama, the gang leader, was the yakuza boss whom Kitahara Shin had mentored before the bursting of the bubble economy. Thanks to Kitahara Shin's words, "Exchange for US dollars," Takayama not only preserved his wealth but also rose rapidly through the ranks of the gang. Although the two had less contact in recent years after Kitahara Shin's career shift, this bond of mutual benefit remained strong.
Half an hour later, the car stopped outside the dark alley.
Kitahara Shin got out of the car and walked straight into the alley.
The atmosphere was tense. The fake thugs from the film crew and the real thugs opposite them were staring at each other.
Kitahara Shin felt no fear whatsoever. His physical abilities were far beyond those of an ordinary person; not only had his strength and reaction speed been enhanced by the system, but his stamina was also astonishing. Nakamori Akina and Sakai Izumi had a deep understanding of this. He had no need to panic at all when dealing with a few street thugs.
When he appeared, the young thugs who had been shouting suddenly froze.
They stared intently at Kitahara Shin, their eyes widening in disbelief.
One of the thugs, with dyed yellow hair, got so excited that he dropped his baseball bat and pointed it at Kitahara Shin, yelling =#
"You—you're Sanada Kyoji?!"
Kyoji Sanada is the crazy male lead played by Shin Kitahara in the yakuza film "Yakuza Wife".
Kitahara Shin looked at the group of excited thugs and smiled: "It's me. You guys have seen that movie?"
The blond thug nodded frantically, practically begging for an autograph: "Of course I've seen it! Brother Crazy is so awesome! He stabbed the boss to death and even slept with the boss's woman! He's practically an idol in our line of work!"
Hearing this outrageous praise, Kitahara Shin went along with it, saying, "Since we all know each other, can we pretend this is a misunderstanding, become friends, and resolve the issue?"
The group of thugs exchanged embarrassed glances, then turned to look at their scarred leader behind them.
Scarface was in a very bad mood at this moment.
He doesn't usually watch TV dramas or movies, and he hates pretty boys who rely on their looks. What's more, his subordinate's words about "stabbing the boss to death and sleeping with the boss's woman" made him, as the leader, instinctively feel a sense of unease and irritation.
Scarface stepped forward and spat on the ground: "Resolve? This is our territory. You came here without paying and started taking pictures, affecting businesses around here. You think you can just dismiss me with a 'misunderstanding'?"
Kitahara Shin looked at him and asked calmly, "So, what do you want to do?"
Scarface was just about to say a few harsh words to extort money from him.
"squeak--!
""
Suddenly, a screeching sound of brakes came from the alley entrance.
Two black Mercedes-Benz sedans came to a smooth stop. The doors opened, and two middle-aged men in bespoke suits stepped out.
One is Team Leader Takayama. The other is the true boss of this neighborhood—Oshima.
The two men's expressions changed instantly upon seeing the scene in the alley.
"Get out of my way, all of you! Are you all blind?!"
The leader rushed over and slapped Scarface hard across the back of the head, making him stumble.
Then, to the astonishment of the thugs and crew, the two big shots who wielded considerable influence in Tokyo's underworld walked up to Kitahara Shin and bowed their heads politely.
The leader, covered in sweat, said, "Mr. Kitahara, I'm so sorry! My men are blind and have disturbed you."
Team Leader Takayama patted Kitahara Shin on the shoulder familiarly, speaking to him in a warm tone as if he were a younger brother: "Brother Kitahara, I'm so sorry. I've made you laugh and caused you trouble again."
Scarface, clutching the back of his head, stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded as he watched his unapproachable boss grovel before an actor. He was struck dumb.
Kitahara Shin didn't even glance at the scarred man.
He smiled slightly at the two bigwigs, his tone still as nonchalant as ever: "No major problems, it's good that things are resolved. We're filming a yakuza movie anyway, so consider it a preview of the life."
After the commotion in Shinjuku subsided, Kitahara Shin glanced at the time and took the initiative to speak.
"Team Leader Takayama, Team Leader Oshima, thank you both for coming today. It's lunchtime, so if you don't mind, let's have a simple meal together."
Takayama and Oshima exchanged a glance. In their minds, celebrities in the entertainment industry would avoid them like the plague, let alone offer to treat them to a meal. Takayama knew Kitahara Shin's background and immediately agreed with a smile. Oshima also wanted to find out more about this rising star, so he nodded in agreement.
Half an hour later.
Inside a private box at a high-class restaurant in Shinjuku.
The woman in the kimono withdrew and closed the paper door. On the table were exquisite kaiseki cuisine and fine sake.
Japan at this time was in the aftermath of the 1990s. After the bursting of the bubble economy, major banks and financial institutions were left with massive amounts of non-performing loans. Because it was difficult to recover these bad debts through legitimate channels, many companies outsourced their debt collection to yakuza organizations. This is why yakuza forces remained active in this era, and why yakuza-themed films were so popular—because this was a reality that many ordinary people often encountered in their lives.
Takayama and Oshima's main source of income is currently from collecting bad debts and forcibly taking over bankrupt mortgages.
After a few drinks...
Oshima had expected Kitahara Shin to be timid and hesitant in front of them, like the other actors. But Kitahara Shin sat in the main seat, exuding complete composure. He skillfully poured drinks and chatted amiably, his aura of a powerful and shrewd leader even surpassing that of Oshima, a yakuza boss who had been around for decades.
Kitahara Shin put down his wine glass.
"You two, you're living quite comfortably these days, aren't you?"
Oshima smiled and didn't deny it.
Kitahara Shin cut to the chase: "I have a suggestion. You should start transforming your businesses as soon as possible."
Both Takayama and Oshima were stunned.
Oshima: "Transformation? Mr. Kitahara, how do you think we should transform?"
They knew that Kitahara Shin's company was thriving and that he had an extremely sharp business mind, so they naturally wanted to hear his insights.
Kitahara Shin spoke calmly, as if discussing tomorrow's weather.
"You can make quick money now. But in a few years, as we enter the 21st century, national policies will definitely tighten. With the comprehensive improvement of the legal system, the laws against organized crime will only become more stringent. At that time, your current space for survival will be greatly reduced, and you may not even be able to open a bank account."
He looked at the two of them.
"While we have the funds now, we should divest half of our underground gray-market operations. We should register a legitimate security company and provide high-end security services to wealthy individuals and large corporations. This is the safest way to launder money."
Kitahara Shin pointed in the direction outside the door.
"As for those underlings who spend their days idly on the streets and only know how to fight, if you really don't know what to do with them, you can send them all to me. I have a V-Cinema production department, and Director Miike is in dire need of a lot of fierce-looking extras to shoot B-movies. They provide meals and pay wages, which is better than getting into trouble on the streets and getting arrested."
This was also Kitahara Shin's personal motive.
On the one hand, regulating these local bullies in advance can ensure the absolute safety of himself and his artists in the future. On the other hand, Takashi Miike's meat grinder-like production crew does indeed need a constant supply of cheap and real labor.
After hearing these words, Takayama and Oshima fell silent.
Oshima remained silent, merely raising his glass to conceal his thoughts. Takayama, on the other hand, nodded solemnly.
Gao Shan: "I will give it serious consideration."
Kitahara Shin smiled.
"Take your time to consider this; it's not something that can be decided overnight. However, it's never a bad thing to prepare early."
One hour later.
After dinner, Kitahara Shin left by car.
Oshima and Takayama stood at the entrance of the ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant), watching the Porsche drive away.
Oshima lit a cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke with a hint of disdain.
"Gao Shan, do you think what he just said is reliable? Asking us to give up our current privileges and huge profits to become security guards? He's just an actor, does he really think he's a prophet? How could the government possibly force us to our deaths? This is utter nonsense."
Takayama listened to Oshima's complaints without responding.
He stood there, lost in thought.
He recalled a few years ago, at the peak of the economic bubble. Everyone was frantically buying buildings and land, only...
Kitahara Shin casually reminded him to "change it to US dollars." Because of that one sentence, he escaped that financial massacre and secured his current position.
Looking at the still-burning cigarette butt in his hand, Gao Shan made a decision in his heart.
Oshima didn't believe it, but he did.
Starting tomorrow, he will begin to adjust the personnel structure under his command, and gradually transform into a security company according to the route planned by Kitahara Shin.
>