Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 354, Fuji TV's Grand Plan
It's not yet the fiscal year closing time (Japan's fiscal year runs from April to March of the following year), but under President Kameyama's leadership, Fuji Television has achieved a significant increase in profits this year. In the parent company Fuji Media's projected annual financial statement, annual revenue has increased from 420 billion yen last year to 435 billion yen, of which at least 12 billion yen was contributed by Fuji Television. The main contributors are the successful production of "Amachan," the phenomenal ratings of "God's Hand Special" championed by President Kameyama, and the strong performance of the advertising business.

Although "Amachan" is an NHK morning drama, it is mainly produced by Fuji FNS Production Bureau. The previous director of the production bureau has been promoted, and Kazuhiko Ahiru now holds the important position of director of FNS Production Bureau.

This position is highly prestigious and extremely lucrative. If it weren't for Abiru's strong proposal and efforts to secure the Odaiba building, he would never have been able to get this position.

Needless to say, the "God's Hand SP" and its advertising revenue were created by the incredible abilities, topicality, and national curiosity of the pairing of Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai, resulting in miraculous viewership. Naturally, advertising revenue also soared thanks to the show.

For television stations, viewership ratings are life, almost the sole criterion for measuring success or failure.

This year's financial report showed a 36% increase in net profit, a 23.5% increase in operating profit, and a 24.1% increase in recurring profit. President Kameyama was secretly pleased with the projected financial report when he received a shocking piece of news from his secretary.

Someone died on the set of an NHK Taiga drama? And Uesugi Muneyuki was also there??

"You're not telling me that NHK had Uesugi Muneyuki witness the whole thing on-site, and that they filmed the entire process using a Taiga drama's camera crew, are you?" President Kameyama jumped up from his chair upon hearing this news.

“That’s probably what NHK does, President,” the secretary could only say.

"Tsk! Just as I expected!" President Kameyama was furious upon hearing the news. "The National Broadcasting Corporation? They're nothing but a despicable and shameless thief! A treacherous and vicious dog! How could NHK do this? This is the culmination of our Fuji TV's wisdom! It's invaluable experience that our entire broadcasting station gained at the cost of Mariko Hironaka and Miyano! How could NHK treat human lives like a game!"

"Yes, President." Faced with the president of Fuji TV's outburst, the secretary dared not utter a word, after all, the president's abilities had already been recognized by the Fuji Media Group.

"Damn it, how did the prestigious National Broadcasting Corporation become like this?" President Kameyama thought carefully. Fuji TV really couldn't do anything to NHK. He was so angry that he cursed, "Shamelessly plagiarizing our ideas, using their unique position to do whatever it takes for ratings, they have no shame at all!"

"Go tell NHK that we are extremely dissatisfied with this matter. From now on, forget about morning drama production, news sharing, and cooperation with public institutions! As long as I am still the station director, NHK can dream on!" President Kameyama said to his secretary after venting his impotent rage.

"Yes, President." The secretary nodded, sweating profusely, unsure of what to do. Kameyama Chihiro's intention was undoubtedly to have him notify NHK.

However, NHK, as the national broadcaster, enjoys a very high social status in Japan. As mentioned earlier, under Japan's high-level system and the revolving door between politics and business, everyone in an industry is essentially the same group of people. If you offend NHK, how can you continue to work in the news media industry?
Offending NHK would ruin my future, but offending President Kameyama right now would ruin me right now!

The president's secretary was really caught in a dilemma and didn't know what to do.

Just then, the phone rang.

"Yes, this is Iwamoto. Yes, the president is... What? Is this true? Wow... Unbelievable! Okay, should the president answer the phone himself? Okay, I'll pass it on to him. Okay, please call back immediately if there are any follow-up updates. Thank you for your help." The president's secretary put down the phone, an expression of disbelief still lingering on her face.

It was a two- or three-minute phone call, and President Kameyama, still furious, asked, "What is it now? Bad news?"

"Well, yes and no... President... Our sources at NHK revealed that after Uesugi Muneyuki forensically examined the scene of the death on the NHK set, he uncovered a whole corruption problem in the Taiga drama, including the deceased assistant Nishimura receiving a large amount of extras' salaries without working, the murderer being the head of the props department swindling prop funds by using inferior materials, and many more issues of corruption on set."

The secretary's expression was very strange: "As always, all the cases handled by Uesugi-san have complete witness testimony, physical evidence, and circumstantial evidence. The murderer has confessed. NHK Chairman Matsumoto is rushing to Tochigi Prefecture. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office have been mobilized. Currently, the entire Taiga drama series 'Gunshi Kanbei' has been suspended. NHK held an emergency board meeting and decided to cancel the series outright. It's even possible that... it's not just 'Gunshi Kanbei' that's being canceled, but the entire history of Taiga dramas that began in 1963..."

President Kameyama was stunned for a moment upon hearing the news. Then, all the wrinkles on his face smoothed out, his lips curled up, and his eyes widened. After a very short "Ha!", he gasped for breath, trying to make his expression look like a "囧" (a Chinese internet slang term for awkwardness or embarrassment). He picked up the whiskey on the table, took a sip, and said with deep sorrow, "What a tragedy!"

"Tragedy~" The secretary couldn't help but laugh.

"You're amazing, Uesugi-kun!" President Kameyama shook his head vigorously. "Our society needs people like Mito Kōmon."

“Greatness needs no further explanation!” the secretary sighed in response.

"His friendship with Fuji TV will last forever~" President Kameyama closed his eyes, expressing deep sympathy, and then went on to think about all the misfortunes and hardships of his first half of life... and, well, the regret of losing his sex partner, Mariko Hironaka.

"May you live forever~" the secretary sighed tactfully, echoing the president's sentiment.

"It's such a pity. 'Gunshi Kanbei' is a good drama. The first episode had a viewership rating of 18%, but it was unfortunately canceled. Sigh... This is a major blow to Junichi Okada!" President Kameyama was indeed a little regretful this time, after all, Fuji TV and Kansai Johnny & Associates had a very close cooperation.

"President, it seems NHK wants all the major TV stations to cooperate with their press releases, but you previously said we don't plan to cooperate with NHK anymore..."

"No! No, no, no, Iwamoto, you've misunderstood me! NHK's status as the national broadcaster is unquestionable in Japan. Fuji TV is just a humble private broadcaster. Why should we refuse NHK's cooperation request? We will not only cooperate, but we will cooperate seriously! We will not only give NHK front-page headlines, but also produce special programs, invite various guests, and thoroughly investigate the truth behind the corruption on the Taiga drama set!" President Kameyama said righteously and solemnly, "Not only that, we will also report Uesugi-kun's on-site testimony to 'God's Hand'! Give the entire nation an explanation! Tell everyone that Fuji TV will always stand on the side of justice!" "Justice!" The secretary straightened his back and responded with a resounding voice. He and President Kameyama exchanged a glance, both seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.

We're willing to do anything for ratings!
Uesugi Muneyuki, you're practically Fuji TV's own father!
After the secretary left, President Kameyama finally couldn't help but burst into laughter to himself.

But at the same time, he was also somewhat relieved that he hadn't agreed to Abiru Kazuhiko's suggestion to have a whole bunch of homeless people come in every year, kill someone, and broadcast it live.

Uesugi Muneyuki's abilities are too strong. The death of one person will inevitably lead to a deep investigation and will also uncover some internal matters.

We can't investigate everything, can we? Which TV station doesn't have its share of shady dealings?
Fortunately, Uesugi Muneyuki was satisfied with the "Rakuya hospitality." As for the female anchors at the station, they were also very willing to get involved with Uesugi Muneyuki and have something happen between them. However, it was not yet determined who Uesugi Muneyuki preferred. Kameyama Chihiro thought that as long as a female anchor could win Uesugi Muneyuki's favor and influence his decision, he would give her any position as the host of the morning or evening news!
As long as we maintain our friendly relationship with Uesugi Muneyuki, every big bombshell he drops will bring our station a huge influx of viewers and attention! This guy drops bombshells wherever he goes, so it seems we'll never lack material for our shows!
Furthermore, future crime dramas adapted from his works... aim not only to become the best Taiga dramas, but also to completely overshadow NHK!

President Kameyama grinned; he couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

Dead people are great, people should die, this is another easy win!

How am I so amazing?
........................

As night fell and the city lights came on, the January night in Tokyo was bitterly cold.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked rather unpleasant after being scolded by his grandfather.

When Grandpa Uesugi Kuninori heard about the incident, he was furious. Especially after NHK intervened, Uesugi Kuninori immediately called and berated Uesugi Muneyuki for 15 minutes and 57 seconds.

I went to great lengths to get you two brothers a cameo role in a Taiga drama to get some exposure, and this is how you repay your grandfather? And have you forgotten that I was also the historical consultant on set?! Yukimatsu Maru, you idiot, you've ruined both your brother and grandfather with this!
After giving Uesugi Muneyuki a good scolding, Uesugi Kuninori, still retaining some of the old-fashioned Showa-era man's integrity, could only sigh upon hearing that the evidence on set was indeed rife with corruption, saying that Japan was getting worse and worse. He then instructed Uesugi Muneyuki that the case should end there, at most spreading to the film crew, but not further extending to the entire NHK television station, otherwise he would have no future in the Japanese media industry.

As for Uesugi Kuninori, his grandfather still has many connections, so he can handle things. Then, Uesugi Muneyuki's side can cooperate by saying a few words like "NHK's original intention was good, it was all the production team's corruption" and "the actors are innocent, they were also cheated," in an attempt to reduce the scope of this matter.

“You child! Really…” Uesugi Kuninori still complained, “Sentoku-maru is not like you, he has always been fine! Yukimatsu-maru, this is no longer the Sengoku period!”

Uesugi Muneyuki could only agree, thinking to himself that it was no wonder that the founding noble families of the Muromachi Shogunate had mostly transitioned from military to civil service, and that during the Edo Shogunate period, samurai had also begun to become completely court nobles by the time of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.

When everyone is unwilling to offend or antagonize others and desires a peaceful and stable life while enjoying wealth, the corruption of the national system becomes inevitable.

Of course, we're talking about Japan here.

Among the sushi chefs, Uesugi Muneyuki sat with Kirenakawa Ryoichi, the head of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit.

Ryoichi Kirenakawa's expression was also not very good. He thought to himself, "I am the head of the Special Investigation Headquarters, an elite bureaucrat with an annual salary of 1350 million yen, while you, the forensic officer Uesugi, a rising star in Japan, called me out and you only invited me to eat this?"

How stingy!
"Here, this is for you." Uesugi Muneyuki silently handed an envelope to Chief Kirenagawa.

Chief Kirenagawa took the envelope, glanced at it, and his expression changed slightly. His previous dissatisfaction vanished instantly, and his eyes lit up!
This is the crucial account book that Nishimura Yuzuru, the production assistant and victim in the Taiga drama set case, hid! The documents inside detail the problems with the props department and the kickbacks received by numerous crew members, led by the producer!
With this thing...

"How did you get your hands on this?" Chief Kirenakawa immediately put the document away and stuffed it into his coat.

"I specifically called you out, Minister, because I didn't want to answer this question," Uesugi Muneyuki said in a low voice.

"Very good! Excellent!" Headmaster Kirenagawa instantly understood what Uesugi Muneyuki meant, feeling that Sushiro was truly a blessed place, even the cheap tofu skin sushi in his mouth tasted delicious: "But... why?"

"Actually, I have a request that I hope the minister can help with."

"Oh, I see. So there were conditions for the exchange." Chief Kirenagawa nodded. "Speak, what is your request?"

"It's about..."

(End of this chapter)