N-M Chapter 263 Sato Takeru's Goal
Chapter 263 Sato Takeru's Goal
Chapter 263 Sato Takeru's Goal
After arranging for Akina Nakamori, Izumi Sakai, and Rie Miyazawa to rest for the night, Shin Kitahara walked alone through the quiet hotel corridor to the private room where Jackie Chan was.
Pushing open the paper door, Jackie Chan had already set out several exquisite dishes of snacks and two bottles of fine sake on the low table.
Seeing Kitahara Shin enter, Jackie Chan immediately smiled and waved, personally pouring him a full glass. The two clinked glasses, the spicy and mellow liquor flowing down their throats, and they began to chatter freely.
"Brother Kitahara, I, Jackie Chan, have been in this industry for so many years and seen all sorts of ups and downs." Jackie Chan put down his glass, pointed at Kitahara Shin, and his eyes revealed a respect that only men understand. "In terms of career and acting, a lot of people have already flattered you, so I won't join in. But when it comes to womanizing, I've always thought I was someone special. Today, I'm completely convinced; you've been hiding your true talent all along!"
Jackie Chan leaned closer, lowered his voice, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "What unique tricks do you have in this area?"
How can you get those three ancestors to get along so harmoniously? Teach me a couple of tricks, brother?
Kitahara Shin smiled and shook his head, picking up a peanut and putting it in his mouth: "There's really no secret. It's mainly because they have good personalities and understand each other, so they naturally get along like this."
Jackie Chan laughed heartily after hearing this, thinking to himself that the young man was holding back and unwilling to teach, and didn't take it to heart. After all, he himself had always been used to being a womanizer and had no real intention of settling down as a good family man.
After some casual conversation, the two quickly got back on track and began to discuss in depth the transnational crime film project they had mentioned earlier at the hot spring.
Jackie Chan's vision was enormous. He wanted to make a hardcore action film with a strong realistic element, depicting the lives of impoverished immigrants and gang warfare (similar to *Shinjuku Incident*). To ensure the film's tension and dramatic conflict, he wanted to use a dual-male lead setup. Jackie Chan himself would play the impoverished character who smuggles himself into Tokyo to find his family, only to be driven to the brink of despair step by step.
Shin Kitahara is perfectly suited to play the morally ambiguous yakuza boss who controls Tokyo's underground order.
"If you take on this role, you might have to come with me to Hong Kong for some of the early scenes to connect the two storylines." Jackie Chan dipped his finger in wine and drew a simple framework on the table.
Kitahara Shin continued to expand on his line of thought, offering numerous suggestions for optimizing the script structure and character depth. The two quickly reached a consensus.
However, Jackie Chan's biggest concern remains the filming location. Filming large-scale chases and action scenes in Shinjuku, Tokyo's most bustling street, is virtually impossible given Japan's rigid approval process.
"Don't worry about the venue and approval issues, brother," Kitahara Shin reassured him. "I've built up some connections in the political world. Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly member Kobayakawa and my company have deep-rooted interests. He's currently seeking re-election and a larger political empire, and urgently needs capital support from all sides. As long as he coordinates with the Metropolitan Police Department and the ward office, coupled with the local influence of Kitahara's office, we can definitely get the permit for closing the street for filming."
Hearing this assurance, Jackie Chan was completely relieved. The two hit it off and chatted about everything from action design to overseas distribution. Before they knew it, they had emptied several bottles of liquor and continued their brainstorming session late into the night, reluctant to end the conversation.
The project is currently in its early development stage. The two agreed that their respective company teams would conduct formal business negotiations after Jackie Chan returned to Hong Kong from his trip to Japan.
Slightly tipsy, Kitahara Shin returned to his luxury suite.
Pushing open the door, he was surprised to find the lights still on in the room. Akina, Izumi, and Rie, dressed in soft yukatas, were huddled together on the large tatami mat, engrossed in watching a Jackie Chan action movie on television.
Hearing the door open, the three women turned around at the same time.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Kitahara Shin took off his coat and walked over to them.
"I'll wait for you to come back together." Akina gently took his hand, her eyes sparkling. "If we fall asleep first, and you come back alone, slightly drunk, to an empty room with no one to talk to, won't you feel a little lonely?"
Hearing these warm words, Kitahara Shin felt a slight stirring in his heart. He sat down beside them, opened his arms, and pulled Akina and Rie, who were closest to him, into his embrace, casually resting his head on Izumi's soft legs.
The action movie on TV was still playing enthusiastically, but without realizing it, the atmosphere on the tatami mat had completely changed.
The rhythm of their breaths, on this snowy winter night, melted completely into an indescribable and wonderful celebration.
Over the next two days, the four of them completely forgot about their work and fully enjoyed their rare vacation. They took a cable car to the top of Mount Omuro, strolled along the trails in the crater, and savored the most authentic Kinme-no-Tsuru (golden eye snapper) dishes in Izu.
Even three days later, as she boarded the car back to Tokyo, Rie Miyazawa remained blushing, huddled in a corner of the back seat, refusing to speak to Shin Kitahara. Clearly, the three-day, three-night hot spring trip had been far too stimulating for her, a newcomer to this unusual family.
With the holiday over and 1995 completely over, the Japanese entertainment industry ushered in its most important awards season.
The Galaxy Award ceremony, representing the highest honor in Japan's broadcasting industry, is being held in a prestigious convention center in Tokyo.
Since his debut in 1988, Kitahara Shin has only been in the industry for less than eight years. But when he walked into the venue with a confident stride in a sharp bespoke suit, all his fellow actors, whether rising stars or veteran performers, spontaneously stood up and greeted him with the respect due to an industry giant.
Kitahara Shin's aura has completely transformed. It's an absolute confidence that needs no embellishment, built upon countless phenomenal works and massive capital investment.
In the front row of the venue, Kitahara Shin met Yoshinaga Sayuri, a national treasure-level actress who was also attending the ceremony. The two chatted warmly like old friends, exchanging news and their views on the future of the industry.
The awards ceremony proceeded smoothly.
When the presenter announced the winner of this year's highest individual honor in the television category, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Without any suspense, Kitahara Shin, with his overwhelmingly dominant performances in multiple works, easily secured the award.
-
Standing on the brightly lit podium, Kitahara Shin held the heavy trophy in his hand. He didn't make any arrogant declarations like he had when he first started out a few years ago, because now he no longer needed to prove himself with harsh words.
"Thank you to the organizing committee, and thank you to all the audience members who supported me." Kitahara Shin's voice was steady and powerful, echoing in the large venue. "Receiving this award means that the past is over. There is no point in resting on past laurels. In the future, I will continue to challenge myself with deeper and more complex roles and explore new acting paths."
He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the audience: "Of course, all of this is based on the premise that the audience is willing to pay. I am an actor and a producer. While pursuing artistic depth, I also value the most genuine feedback from the audience. If people find it boring, I will never make that kind of self-indulgent, hypnotic film. I will repay everyone's support with the best stories."
His speech won the loudest applause from the audience. He clearly defined his bottom line as a "master of commercial art," neither blindly pandering nor feigning aloofness.
The outside world has long been accustomed to the news of Kitahara Shin's award. No media outlet dares to raise any questions, and when reporting on it, they have unconsciously begun to adopt a style that is almost "deification".
The Yomiuri Shimbun president, Watanabe, whom I met while fishing at Lake Tanzawa, went so far as to create a brand new dedicated section for Kitahara Shin in his newspaper, the largest circulation newspaper in Japan—the "Legendary Actor Column." In this column, veteran cultural writers began to meticulously recount Kitahara Shin's rise from an extra to a top-tier capitalist, completely shaping him into a legend that could not be replicated in the Heisei era.
Fueled by this idol-making movement, the entry requirements for Kitahara's office have also risen accordingly.
The Kitahara Office of today no longer needs to cast a wide net to recruit new talent as it did a few years ago. Kitahara Shin's personal success and absolute dominance have become the company's core corporate culture and benchmark. Only newcomers with truly top potential and perseverance have a chance to pass the hellish, rigorous selection process.
Outside the imposing office building of Kitahara's office in Shibuya, Tokyo.
A young man, looking utterly defeated after his interview, walked out of the door. Frustrated, he ran his fingers through his hair and complained loudly to his waiting friend, "It was too harsh! The questions the interviewer asked were incredibly tricky, demanding an unrealistic level of responsiveness! I don't think they even wanted to hire anyone!"
Standing next to him was a young student who had come with him.
The student was dressed in a simple school uniform, with deep-set features and a sharp, defiant look in his eyes. He ignored his friend's complaints, standing quietly in place, his gaze fixed on the huge logo representing Kitahara's firm on the building's exterior wall.
His name is Takeru Satoh. He practically grew up watching the TV dramas of Shin Kitahara.
Hearing his friends' fear of the brutal competition, a bright flame ignited in Takeru Satoh's eyes. Looking at the star-making building that countless actors dreamed of, he silently clenched his fist and made a firm decision in his heart.
After returning home, he would confront his parents. He wanted to pursue a career as an actor, to cross this cruel threshold, to meet his idol in person, and even, one day in the future, to stand proudly beside him and act alongside him!