sbdcsierra Chapter 1320, 1329: If our fellow tree spirits can do it, why can't we?!
Chapter 1320, 1329: If our fellow tree spirits can do it, why can't we?!
Chapter 1320, 1329: If our fellow tree spirits can do it, why can't we?!
As November drew to a close, the entertainment industry finally had another hot topic – the closing ceremony and awards ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival was about to take place!
Although it was postponed for more than half a month due to force majeure, no one wanted to condemn anything at this time. People who had just experienced the turmoil were instead looking forward to this grand event breaking through the previously somewhat depressed public sentiment.
After all, it's almost the end of the year, and we can't let everyone continue to have such a heavy New Year!
As promotional posters for the closing ceremony appeared on the streets, newspapers began publishing lists of the celebrities and guests scheduled to attend. Some newspapers even launched polls to select the "Most Popular Celebrity."
Meanwhile, artists from the entertainment industry are gearing up to shine at the closing ceremony.
"I've practiced over a dozen wrestling poses, over a dozen!!" "This time I'm sure to grab everyone's attention!"
Since the "mistake" made by an artist under Tree Friends on the red carpet during the film festival opening ceremony, which attracted all the spotlight and received unprecedented attention, the artist's popularity has skyrocketed. It's as if the entertainment industry in Japan and even the entertainment industry in Europe and America has suddenly had its meridians opened up!
Those of them, living in the world of fame and fortune, instantly realized that solemnity and propriety were secondary; for celebrities, the most important thing was popularity, exposure, and attention!
"If our fellow tree growers can do it, why can't we?"
"We are confident we can handle this immense wealth!"
"."
Similar schemes circulated widely within small circles, with even unknown newcomers being given unconventional looks by agents to walk the red carpet.
Then a group of newcomers looked at the bizarre costumes prepared by the agency with expressions of resistance. Transparent yukatas, tight leather suits, mascot costumes, they all showed up.
As expected of the Japanese entertainment industry, they can pull off anything once they lower their standards!
"Do I really have to dress like this?" "Isn't this cross-dressing?" "Won't people laugh at me!"
However, at this moment, the agent patiently persuaded:
"You have no reputation whatsoever, so you have nothing to lose!"
"If I become famous on the red carpet this time, I'll have everything!!"
"."
Fortunately, the Tokyo International Film Festival's executive committee received advance notice and quickly added a patch to the red carpet rules, prohibiting outlandish attire; otherwise, one would be turned away by security!
Naoki Nagayama only heard the news the night before the closing ceremony; it was Akina who told him!
"Hahaha~ Really? Someone actually wants to wear a maid outfit to walk the red carpet?"
Naoki Nagayama couldn't stop smiling.
"If this gets featured, it can't be called a film festival anymore; let's just change it to an animation festival!"
"It was Yukiko-chan who told me."
Akina said this while helping Naoki Nagayama try on his hairstyle for tomorrow.
"She learned this from chatting with artists from other agencies. They said that many newcomers are just trying to stand out on the red carpet!"
"They even said it was all the tree-loving folks who started this bad trend!"
"Hahaha~"
Naoki Nagayama wasn't embarrassed at all; he knew all too well how crazy celebrities would go to get attention and popularity in the future.
Putting everything else aside, has anyone ever seen someone walk the red carpet completely naked without any bra?!
"What about Akina? Should she wear a dinosaur costume to the red carpet?!"
Naoki Nagayama asked with a smile, "They made several dinosaur costumes to play with Natsume!"
"How can this be done!"
Akina, who was adjusting Naoki Nagayama's collar, angrily punched her husband in the arm.
"Naoki-san, if you want to wear it, then wear it yourself!"
After saying that, seeing Naoki Nagayama's eager look, Akina quickly added:
"If you wear that, I won't walk with you!"
"."
Naoki Nagayama's over-the-top, attention-seeking feeling finally disappeared.
"Forget it then."
Akina breathed a sigh of relief, then took a few steps back, looked at Naoki Nagayama who was now dressed in formal attire, and nodded in satisfaction:
"As expected, Naoki-san looks even more handsome in a suit!"
"I'm just feeling a little uncomfortable."
Naoki Nagayama doesn't really like wearing suits; for him, it's better to wear clothes that are comfortable.
"Just tomorrow."
After looking around, Akina gestured for Naoki Nagayama to take his clothes off.
"After this is over, Naoki-san, change into your usual clothes."
After packing his clothes, Naoki Nagayama told Akina:
"By the way, after the awards ceremony tomorrow, I might have to leave for Tree Friends Capital first, so I won't be able to go with Akina."
Is something wrong at the company?
"Yes, I need to talk to the person who's back from their business trip. I'm currently filming on Jurassic Island, and I don't have time during the day in Tokyo."
Because of filming, he now goes to Jurassic Island every morning. He gave the crew a day off tomorrow before returning to Tokyo with some of the actors.
"Hi, I understand!"
Akina smiled and said,
"Then I'll go shopping with my friends after the event!"
"Okay~~~"
The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo is one of the most famous hotels in Japan, having hosted countless events, including the wedding of Seiko Matsuda and Masaki Kanda.
As dawn broke, the hotel was ready to welcome the closing ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival.
A bright red carpet stretched from the side road all the way to the hotel's main entrance; flowers, streamers, music, a custom-designed backdrop and stage; and a large number of security personnel were already in place, ready to apprehend anyone who disrupted the order.
The staff of the Tokyo International Film Festival arrived early, and even Shuichi Itō was there early to prepare for any unexpected incidents!
Starting at 6 a.m., countless reporters began to gather near the hotel, and fans and tourists from all walks of life followed in an endless stream. Gradually, the square in front of the hotel's main entrance and both sides of the red carpet were packed with people, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the celebrities!
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, it was 8 o'clock. Cars began to drive towards the Imperial Hotel Tokyo.
As a luxury car pulled up at the entrance to the red carpet venue, the surrounding fans and reporters instantly became excited!
"Ah! That's Shizuka Kudo!!"
"Why did she arrive so early?!"
"Yes, yes, could it be a special project?"
"."
When Shizuka Kudo stepped out of the car, dressed in a sharp coat and sporting a mischievous smile, the fans erupted in cheers, making the area around the red carpet even more lively.
While the reporters were frantically snapping photos, they also had many questions.
It's important to know that in the entertainment industry, regardless of the event, there's generally an unspoken rule that "the bigger the star, the later they arrive." Sometimes, agencies even resort to physical fights behind the scenes to compete for the title of "headliner"!
As for Shizuka Kudo, although she is still a bit young, in terms of popularity and buzz, she is already a top-tier entertainer in the entertainment industry!
As the reporters were wondering what was going on, another car pulled up.
"Akito sack!"
Upon seeing the figure stepping out of the car, the reporters exclaimed again.
"Even Aoyama Chikako is here so early?!"
"It really is Aoyama Chikako!" "Chikako-chan is so beautiful!"
The clicking of camera shutters and the flashes that couldn't be hidden even in broad daylight demonstrate Aoyama Chikako's current popularity!
Now, with her mature and sophisticated image, Aoyama Chikako has risen to stardom through the summer's "Long Vacation," becoming an absolute sensation.
Seeing that two popular celebrities from the show had arrived early, the reporters attending the closing ceremony all had one thought:
"Could it be that all of Shuyou's artists arrived early this time?!"
In fact, the subsequent appearances of a series of Tree Friends artists, including Yuki Saito, Junko Ito, and Momoko Kikuchi, confirmed the reporters' suspicions, while also surprising them somewhat:
"Could it be that Tree Friend is up to something again?!"
It's worth noting that the various "minor mishaps" that happened to the artists on the opening ceremony's red carpet drew all the attention of the entertainment industry to them, and the artists practically stole half of the exposure on the opening ceremony's red carpet!
However, to their surprise, the artists from Tree Friends were all very well-behaved this time, and no problems arose until other artists began to arrive.
Naoki Nagayama and Akina Nakamori appeared at just such a moment!
As soon as the car stopped, before the door was even opened, cheers from the fans erupted:
"Akina!! It's Akina!" "Akina Nakamori is here!" "Akina-chan is the best!"
Akina Nakamori, arm in arm with Naoki Nagayama, slowly walked down the red carpet, a bright smile on her face, waving to those around her from time to time.
Although she's almost three months pregnant, you can't tell at all. The dress accentuates her slender figure, making her look like a youthful girl.
"Arigato~" "Thank you everyone for your support!"
Akina waved happily to her fans and occasionally signed autographs. Naoki Nagayama, standing next to her, looked a little awkward, as he had no fans present. Perhaps his fans' cheers were too quiet, and he was hidden in the crowd.
In the media area, the two interacted with reporters, and various questions kept coming at them, which finally gave Naoki Nagayama some sense of participation.
"Director Nagayama, how is the filming of 'Jurassic Park' going?"
"Jurassic Park is currently being filmed on the island," Naoki Nagayama replied with a smile. "Filming is going very smoothly. It's expected to be released early next year!"
Why wasn't Akina Nakamaro chosen for this role?
"The image of Emincho is not suitable."
Naoki Nagayama looked at his wife beside him, whose skin was as white as snow.
"She's too young, not old enough, and she's pregnant."
And now she looks more and more like a rich lady, even her baby fat is coming back!
The reporters at the scene smiled kindly, and then one reporter asked Akina Nakamori:
"Akina-chan, what are your thoughts on Director Nagayama's choice of Yuko Tanaka as the female lead?"
"Yuko Enoki is a highly skilled and professional actress, and I believe her performance in 'Jurassic Park' will be outstanding."
Just as the reporter was trying to probe the celebrity couple's opinion on Yuko Tanaka's "family destroyer" persona, they met Naoki Nagayama's ambiguous smile and immediately shut up!
Almost forgot, this is Naoki Nagayama! He's known for being very strict with reporters! He definitely doesn't want to be shaved and become a monk!
The interaction at the event passed peacefully, and after taking a photo with Akina Nakamori, Nagayama Naoki and Nakamori Nakamori entered the banquet hall of the main venue.
Around 8:30, more and more celebrities began to appear, including foreign stars!
"That's Meryl Streep!!" "Sylvester Stallone! That's Stallone, he's really strong!" "Why is he here too?!"
Hollywood was also greatly affected by the stock market crash. Many producers and investors went bankrupt, and numerous film projects were abandoned halfway through. The entire entertainment industry fell into a slump and was in dire need of revitalization.
However, Hollywood doesn't plan large-scale events these days, so when they receive an invitation to the Tokyo International Film Festival, a major film event, many stars rush there overnight in order to maintain their exposure and popularity.
"Jackie Chan is here too!" "That's Leslie!"
Hong Kong stars also came, including Leslie Cheung, who had worked with Naoki Nagayama.
Of course, the Japanese entertainment industry, being the local powerhouses, had the most celebrities. Due to previous rule changes, there were no outrageous or garish outfits on the red carpet, but each celebrity had their own little tricks up their sleeve.
Someone picked up their work ID, another touched up their makeup, and someone accidentally bumped into their friend, both of them were surprised. Someone even actually tried to trip over their clothes.
In short, the atmosphere at the closing ceremony was even more lively than at the opening ceremony, with frequent gasps of surprise from the crowd, adding a touch of excitement to this grand event.
Inside the main venue, Akina was already seated, chatting with Shizuka Kudo.
The two of them are actually not that far apart in age, and they both started out as rebellious, so they had quite a few things to talk about.
As for Naoki Nagayama, he did not sit in his own seat, but instead went to see Yoshimura Otomo and Itō Shuichi, who were in charge of the overall situation.
"Shuichi-san. Otomo-san."
"Naoki-san!" Yoshimura Otomo smiled as he looked at Nagayama Naoki. "I don't know why, but it feels like it's been a long time since I've seen you!"
Actually, the two always talk on the phone, but Naoki Nagayama was always at Tree Friends Capital recently, and now he's started making movies again. So they haven't seen each other yet.
"Haha, so have I become more handsome?!"
Naoki Nagayama responded with a smile, which, as expected, earned him a collective look of disdain from his two friends. "Your skin is getting thicker and thicker!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Naoki Nagayama asked:
"Otomo-san, Shuichi-san, how's the progress on your end?"
"Yes, Yoshihiko Noda trusts me completely!"
Yoshimura Otomo said with a smile.
"I am already a founding member of the 'Noda Brotherhood'!"
"Noda Brotherhood?"
"Yes, it's a political association like the Takeshita Keisekai."
Yoshimura Daitomo continued to smile.
"A group of hot-blooded young people created one just like that! It's like a delinquent gang~"
Such associations are usually established when political factions are being aligned, with the aim of unifying the camp. For a group of powerless and ineffective young people, the establishment of such an association is nothing more than a joke!
"Hahaha," Naoki Nagayama laughed, "Not necessarily. Youthful loyalty is a rare and irreplaceable thing."
Naoki Nagayama patted Hirotomo Yoshimura on the shoulder.
"Since Otomo-san is a founding member, then you should put a little more effort into this 'Brotherhood'!"
"Establish an admission mechanism, offer some benefits, and add a sense of ceremony."
For example, shouting things like "Loyalty!" during collective decision-making.
"The kindred spirits you share when you're young, if developed properly, can become the most important thing in your life."
Yoshimura Otomo shook his head, not taking the association seriously, but he still decided to follow Nagayama Naoki's suggestion and establish some rules and benefits for members, making it similar to a fan club.
Anyway, my friend is not short of money now!
Then Naoki Nagayama switched to Shuichi Itō's side:
"Shuichi-san, how about taking over the task of getting the Tokyo International Film Festival promoted internationally by the authorities?"
"The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be very happy to!"
Shuichi Itō said with some pride,
"After speaking with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whom I knew before, I discovered that they also lacked materials for external communication."
"Our Tokyo International Film Festival has great value in both its cultural and commercial aspects, so we are preparing to package it as one of Japan's calling cards."
"That's great!"
Naoki Nagayama nodded in satisfaction. In this way, the Shuyu Group, as the initiator and organizer, and deeply tied to the Tokyo International Film Festival, would certainly be able to obtain national-level support internationally.
If a friend of the tree is bullied, Japan has to speak out for the sake of its reputation, and it always has to take a stance of condemnation and protest!
Next, we still need to wait for a powerful figure close to tree enthusiasts to come to power in the cabinet before we can help tree enthusiasts even more!
The three chatted for a while outside the banquet hall, and also greeted other acquaintances who came, making Shuyou's presence in the entertainment industry even stronger.
(End of this chapter)