I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 137 The Mayor of Omagari City Arrives! Ideas for the Akita Inu IP! The Hachiko Movie!
Akita Prefecture, Omagari City Hall.

The off-white building, a landmark in this small city, looked somewhat languid under the afternoon sun.

Mayor's Office.

Mayor Kenji Ito, a man nearing fifty with meticulously combed hair and a perfectly measured, mild politician's smile, was rubbing his temples wearily.

In front of him lay an administrative document from the Akita Prefectural Government, stamped with a bright red seal.

The title on the document, like a heavy mountain, weighed him down, making it hard to breathe—[Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development and Revitalization of Akita Prefecture's Local Culture].

"Sigh..." Kenji Ito let out a long sigh, a sigh that carried the deep helplessness of a local bureaucrat.

He knew that this was another "grand blueprint" that the newly appointed young county magistrate, eager to make political achievements, had come up with on a whim.

Revitalizing local culture?
To put it lightly.

Where does the money come from? Where do the people come from? And where do the ideas come from?
Nowadays, young people are desperately trying to get into big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Who would want to stay in this poor, remote place where all you see are rice paddies and snow-capped mountains?

"Mayor, Mr. Suzuki, the chairman of the agricultural cooperative, has arrived. He says he has something important to report to you." The secretary knocked on the door and entered, speaking respectfully.

"Let him in." Kenji Ito reluctantly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and prepared to use the most official language to deal with the head of the farmers' association, who was also a local tyrant.

However, when Kentaro Suzuki, the fat man who always had a beer belly and a face full of shrewd calculation, practically jogged in with an almost fanatical excitement on his face, Kenji Ito's prepared official speech instantly got stuck in his throat.

It was incredibly rude of this guy to come straight to my office.

But I just let it go.

After all, Kentaro Suzuki was a major supporter who got farmers to vote for him during his elections, so he couldn't afford to offend him.

So Kenji Ito said helplessly, "President Suzuki, why are you so agitated this morning?"

"Mayor! Mayor! This is incredible news! This is incredible news!"

Kentaro Suzuki even forgot to be polite; his chubby face flushed red with extreme excitement: "Look! Look! The Nohara family! The Nohara family from Nishi-Omagari Village, their son Hiroshi Nohara, who's a high-ranking official at Tokyo TV, is back!"

"Hiroshi Nohara?" Kenji Ito's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He vaguely remembered the name.

I've been seeing it almost every day in newspapers and on television lately.

That young man who created a ratings phenomenon and was hailed as a "monster," a "genius," and a "god of variety shows," seems to have... that's his name.

"He...is from our Oguri City?" Kenji Ito's voice carried a hint of surprise that even he himself didn't realize.

"Of course!" Kentaro Suzuki puffed out his chest, as if Hiroshi Nohara wasn't someone else's son, but a prodigy he had personally raised. "And! You don't know! This time, Minister Nohara is coming back in real glory! He and his older brother are planning to make a big splash in our Omagari City, to start that... that 'Nohara Agriculture Co., Ltd.'! They just asked for a loan of 300 million yen! 300 million yen! And they want to buy up a lot of land! He says they want to make our Omagari City's rice the top brand in all of Japan!"

This embellished report, like a lightning bolt piercing through the chaos, instantly illuminated Kenji Ito's mind, which was already overwhelmed by the problem of "revitalizing agriculture"!

Nohara Hiroshi!

That man hailed as having a "monster mind"!

The man who changed the entire social atmosphere of Japan with his creativity!
What if... what if we could invite him to be our consultant?

Once this idea took root, it was like a seed planted in fertile soil, taking root and sprouting wildly in his heart!
"Chairman Suzuki!" Kenji Ito suddenly stood up, his usually gentle face now filled with a do-or-die determination: "Prepare the car! Immediately! Right now! I...I want to personally visit Department Head Nohara!"

He paused, then, as if remembering something, turned to his secretary beside him, who was still somewhat stunned by the sudden turn of events, and gave the order in an unquestionable tone:

"Pass the word! Tell all the section chiefs in the Publicity Department, Agriculture Department, and Planning Department to put down their work and come with me! This is the most important meeting for Daqu City in the next ten years!"

……

"Jingle Bell--"

Inside the Nohara family's old house, the old black telephone once again emitted a sharp, urgent scream.

Misae, who was in the kitchen learning to make tamagoyaki with her future mother-in-law, was closest to the phone. She wiped her hands and jogged over to answer the call.

"Hello? This is the Nohara family."

"Oh dear! Is this Nohara's sister-in-law?" From the other end of the phone came Suzuki Kentaro's obsequious and anxious voice: "Um... sister-in-law, this is Suzuki Kentaro from the agricultural cooperative! It's extremely urgent! Extremely urgent! Hurry! Get Nohara on the phone!"

"Huh?" Meiya was stunned.

"Hurry! Our mayor! Mayor Kenji Ito! He... he's on his way to your house with a whole bunch of city government leaders! He says... he says he wants to personally meet with Minister Nohara! To hear his guidance on the future development of our Omagari City!"

"boom--!"

The mayor...is coming to visit?!

Misae felt as if her little head had been blown apart by a real atomic bomb!

The receiver in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and her pretty face, which always carried a touch of naivety, was now filled with undisguised shock and blankness.

"What's wrong, Misae-chan?"

Nohara Tsuru, who was in the living room, excitedly discussing with her two sons and future eldest daughter-in-law when they were about to get engaged, saw her looking so lost and confused and quickly asked her with concern.

"The...mayor...is...coming to our house!" Misae's voice trembled slightly.

After all, she's just a girl from a small town.

What knowledge or insight can one gain from this?
"..."

The entire room instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

"Nani?!"

Nohara Tsuru's face was now filled with disbelief and horror.

"Mayor?! Which mayor?!" Nohara Saji and Ikuna stood there dumbfounded, like two weathered stone statues.

In the minds of these ordinary people, the word "mayor" is like "emperor" and "prime minister"—a distant legend that only exists on television.

"Which mayor could it be?!"

In the midst of this deathly silence filled with shock and absurdity, Nohara Ginnosuke suddenly jumped up from the tatami mat. His old face, which had just been filled with lewdness, was now radiating an almost manic ecstasy!
"It's definitely that Kenji Ito! The mayor of Omagari City! The guy who was just elected last year! Let me tell you, I saw it coming a long time ago! Sooner or later, that guy would come knocking on our door in person, begging Hiroshi! Hahahaha!"

Like a lion that had been suppressed for half its life, he paced back and forth excitedly in the small Japanese-style room.

"Hey! You old rascal! What are you grinning about?!"

Nohara Tsuru finally regained a sliver of reason from the shock that had been enough to stop his heart from beating.

Like a lioness completely enraged, she grabbed her husband's ear, her voice filled with the instinctive panic of a housewife facing such utmost respect: "Quick! Go clean! Clean the whole house, inside and out! Don't leave a speck of dust! And! Go to the best tea shop in town and buy me the most expensive Gyokuro tea! Then go to the confectionery shop and buy me their best wagashi! Now!"

"Ouch! Ouch! Tsuru! It hurts! I was wrong! I'll go right now!" Nohara Ginnosuke's elation was instantly shattered by his wife's murderous roar. He clutched his ear and scrambled out of the house.

However, he did not go directly to where he was supposed to go.

His small, darting eyes seemed to have thought of something. He turned a corner and rushed straight into the house of the village chief, Yamada, next door.

"Old Yamada! Old Yamada! Quick! Wake up! Something terrible has happened!"

He grabbed the village chief, who was still taking a nap, and pulled him up from the tatami mat.

"Huh?" Village Chief Yamada had stayed up late last night and was still confused. He looked at his old friend Nohara Ginnosuke and asked groggily, "What's wrong? Slow down, can I take a nap first..."

But Nohara Ginnosuke's voice was full of smugness: "Mayor! The mayor of Omagari City is coming to our house! This is a big deal that concerns the reputation of our entire Nishidamagari Village! We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes! Hurry up and help me clean up my house! This is the time we need you! The mayor is coming to my house!"

The village chief, who had been dazed, suddenly snapped out of his daze: "Wait?" His voice was filled with surprise: "Mayor Omagari... is going to your house!?"

……

Hiroshi Nohara looked helplessly at the house before him, which had been completely plunged into a "state of high alert" because of the arrival of a mayor, and a hint of amusement and exasperation flashed in his eyes.

He knew, of course, that in Japan, a country with a peculiar administrative division, a so-called "city" was often equivalent to a large town in China.

At best, a mayor is just a town head-level official.

As for the higher-ranking county magistrate, it sounds impressive, but in reality, it's just about the same as a county head or district head.

If this were in Tokyo, it wouldn't even be enough to make someone a mayor, let alone a prefectural governor.

But this is Akita, his hometown.

In the eyes of these simple and honest villagers, the mayor was the most important official they could ever meet.

"Sigh." Hiroshi Nohara let out a long sigh.

He knew he couldn't let down this respect from his hometown.

More importantly, he knew better than anyone that in this society based on personal connections, cultivating relationships with local "big shots" was far more practical and reliable than getting to know a few so-called "big shots" in Tokyo.

A stable community of interests jointly built by the local government, agricultural associations, banks, and him as "external capital" will be the most solid guarantee for him to settle down and make a living on this land in the future.

……

Half an hour later, when the black cars with government license plates slowly drove into Xidaqu Village, Kenji Ito and the municipal government leaders inside the cars almost simultaneously gasped in shock.

The scene before them was far beyond their imagination.

The country road, which should have been bumpy and uneven, was now spotless and even had a slight dampness from being washed with water.

The roadside was lined with villagers who had rushed over after hearing the news. They were all dressed in their best clothes and had simple and warm smiles on their faces.

At the end of that road, in front of the Nohara family's old house, Village Chief Yamada stood straight like javelins, accompanied by several village officials. Their solemn demeanor made it seem as if they were about to be inspected not by the mayor, but by the Emperor.

"This...this is too much!" a section chief from the publicity department said in a hoarse voice, his usually confident face now showing only bewilderment.

That's a bit of an exaggeration.

Kenji Ito remained silent.

He simply looked out the window at the large crowd gathering and nodded in satisfaction. After all, as a leader and the highest-ranking official of a city, seeing so many people welcoming him felt quite good.

That vanity, at least, is quite satisfying.

The car door opens.

Kenji Ito took a deep breath, his face regaining its warmest and most sincere smile, and strode towards the young man who was already standing at the courtyard gate, calmly waiting for him.

"Minister Nohara, I've long admired your name. Meeting you today, I can confirm you truly are... a dragon among men!"

He extended his hand, a gesture that was no longer one of a superior inspecting a subordinate, but rather one of respectful and equal dialogue.

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and extended his hand, shaking it firmly in his own. He then bowed deeply in one smooth motion, saying, "Mayor Ito, you're too kind. It's an honor to have you in my humble abode!"

Two figures, one old and one young, clasped hands tightly amidst the awe and envy of the onlookers.

Then the group marched into the Nohara family's old house.

The already cramped living room was instantly filled with these important figures whom we usually only see on television.

"Mayor! Distinguished leaders! Please have a seat! Please have a seat!"

Nohara Tsuru had already changed into a beautiful kimono, flitting among the crowd like the most elegant butterfly. Her face, which always carried a gentle smile, was now flushed with a charming blush because of this sudden grand occasion.

She personally brewed the top-grade Gyokuro tea she had just bought for each visiting leader, and carefully placed the exquisitely made wagashi (Japanese sweets) in the center of the table.

Her movements were fluid, elegant, and graceful, showing none of the awkwardness or panic one would expect when meeting a high-ranking official. Instead, she exuded the composure and grandeur of a matriarch of a prominent family.

Misae and Ikuna followed behind her like the two most obedient apprentices, one responsible for adding water and the other for serving tea and snacks.

Although their two youthful and beautiful faces still showed some nervousness at seeing such a big occasion for the first time, their innate gentleness and poise earned them silent nods of approval from everyone present.

Nohara Sashi stood beside his father like a silent guardian deity, his imposing figure and sharp suit exuding an aura of a formidable "company president."

Only Nohara Ginnosuke, the patriarch of the Nohara family, was sitting to the side with a slightly protruding belly. In front of the group of city government leaders who were usually high and mighty, his eyes were filled with pride and smugness that almost overflowed.

Nohara Ginnosuke really gets more excited the more people there are, without the slightest bit of fear!

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, finally unable to hold back, and stopped in front of the younger head of the publicity department. In a tone full of experience, he commented seriously, "Your tie is too dark; it makes you look listless. Next time, learn from our Hiroshi and choose a brighter color. That'll look better on TV!"

The head of the publicity department was taken aback by his sudden instruction, and then an embarrassed look appeared on his face. The entire room instantly fell into a darkly humorous silence.

Everyone else had a smile in their eyes.

But I didn't dare to burst out laughing.

After all, with the mayor present, colleagues still need to save face.

"You old lecher! What nonsense are you spouting!" Nohara Tsuru glared at him fiercely, the warning in her eyes enough to instantly evaporate any thought of continuing to "give advice."

"Hahahaha!"

Kenji Ito burst into hearty laughter, praising Ginnosuke Nohara: "Old man, you are truly... truly a man of character! No wonder you were able to raise such a brilliant and talented prodigy as Hiroshi! Our Omagari City has beautiful mountains and rivers, and the talents it produces are truly exceptional!"

This is called a compliment of political wisdom.

The awkwardness was quickly dispelled, and Nohara Ginnosuke's already vain heart was completely filled with immense satisfaction.

"That's right! That's right!" He puffed out his chest, feeling incredibly proud, satisfied, and vain!

Seeing the envious looks from the villagers and relatives around him, he was overjoyed!

However, after the pleasantries, the atmosphere gradually shifted to the main topic.

Kenji Ito picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his eyes swept over Nohara Sashi, his gaze filled with just the right amount of appreciation.

"President Saji." His address was filled with official solemnity: "I just heard Chairman Suzuki say that your 'Nohara Agriculture Co., Ltd.' is preparing to make great strides in our Omagari City. On behalf of the city government, I would like to express my sincerest respect and gratitude to a young person like you who is willing to give up a comfortable life in a big city and resolutely return to your hometown to devote yourself to agricultural development!"

He paused, his voice filled with expectation: "You are a role model for all the young people in our entire Daqu City! You are the most vibrant and successful example of our 'Rural Revitalization' plan!"

This was a great honor, like a heavy laurel wreath, publicly crowned on Nohara Sashi's head.

His dark face instantly turned a deep purplish-red. He quickly stood up and bowed deeply to the mayor, his voice filled with honesty and sincerity: "Mayor, you...you flatter me too much. I...I'm just a farmer, not as great as you say. I just...I just listen to my brother."

These simple and honest words drew good-natured laughter from everyone present.

Kenji Ito also laughed.

He knew that enough groundwork had been laid.

It's time to introduce today's real protagonist.

He turned his head and solemnly cast his gaze upon the young man who had been calmly sipping his tea the whole time, as if none of this concerned him.

"Minister Hiroshi," he said, his voice tinged with a humble desire to learn, "you are a golden phoenix that has flown out of our Omagari City. We, your fellow townsmen, are very proud of the illustrious reputation you have achieved in Tokyo."

Kenji Ito emphasized the word "hometown".

But at this moment, his tone was filled with deep anxiety: "However, as you can see, our Omagari City, and even the entire Akita Prefecture, are now facing a huge predicament. Young people are constantly leaving, traditional industries are declining, and economic development is far behind those coastal metropolises."

“Recently, the prefectural government has been putting pressure on us, demanding that we come up with a practical and feasible plan to revitalize the local economy, increase farmers’ income, and develop some innovative industries that are unique to Akita Prefecture.”

As he spoke, he let out a long breath, a breath that carried a sense of helplessness as if he were exhaling the weight of an entire era.

"To be honest, these people in our municipal government have been worrying themselves sick over this matter. So, the reason we've taken the liberty of coming here today is... to hear from you, the genius hailed as having a 'monster mind,' what... insightful opinions you have on the future development of our hometown?"

These heartfelt words instantly silenced the entire room.

All eyes, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, were fixed on the young man.

They all value it highly.

Do you have any insightful opinions on revitalizing your hometown?

Hiroshi Nohara put down his teacup.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead tapped rhythmically on the warm, smooth surface of the blue-and-white porcelain cup with his knuckles, neither too lightly nor too heavily.

"Tack, tick, tick..."

The crisp sound, like drumbeats striking everyone's hearts, pushed the anticipation and tension to its peak.

He is thinking.

Memories of his past life flashed through his mind like film reels on fast-forward.

With the collapse of the bubble economy and the onset of the economic crisis, the Japanese government was forced to erect towering trade barriers in order to save itself and began to support its domestic agriculture at any cost.

The farmers' association, this seemingly insignificant organization, will grow into a huge political monster that controls millions of votes and can influence the political situation in the coming decades.

And Akita Prefecture...

A barely perceptible glint flashed in the depths of Hiroshi Nohara's eyes.

He remembered that in his previous life, Akita Prefecture, an insignificant name on the economic map, was renowned worldwide because of a unique cultural symbol.

——Akita Inu!

That breed of dog, famous worldwide for its "loyalty," that was revered as the "national dog" of Japan and even once presented as a "national gift" to heads of state from various countries—a legendary creature.

But in this parallel world...

He casually glanced out the window at the rustic dirt path, where an ordinary-looking, tan-colored Shiba Inu was wagging its tail and strolling leisurely.

He knew that in this world, the Akita Inu was still an undiscovered, hidden gem.

"Mayor Ito."

Thinking of this, he slowly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a confidence that could draw the attention of everyone in the room: "You just said that you want to develop some innovative industries that are unique to our Akita Prefecture. I do have a somewhat immature idea here."

"Oh?!" Kenji Ito's eyes lit up instantly, and he subconsciously straightened his back.

"What does our Akita Prefecture have?" Hiroshi Nohara asked in return.

"We...we have rice?" a section chief from the Ministry of Agriculture tentatively answered.

"Do we have sake?" another section chief from the publicity department added.

"We...we what?" Kentaro Suzuki scratched his chubby head and gave a wry smile.

Akita Prefecture is just an ordinary prefecture among the 42 prefectures of Japan.

Hiroshi Nohara listened quietly, then shook his head: "What you're saying is all right, but none of it is the core issue."

He stood up, walked to the paper sliding door that offered a view of the courtyard, and his gaze fell on the tan Shiba Inu that was still leisurely strolling around.

"The truly unique treasure of our Akita Prefecture, the one that truly represents the spirit of our land, has always been right beside us."

He turned around, and amidst countless bewildered gazes, slowly uttered words that would leave everyone stunned.

"Akita dog."

"..."

The entire room instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned.

They stared at the young man who was casually referring to "Akita Inu," their faces filled with disbelief and absurdity.

dog?
They racked their brains for half a month to come up with a "rural revitalization" plan, and the final answer was... a dog?

"No... Nohara-bumi..." Kenji Ito's voice carried a hint of disappointment he himself didn't realize: "You... you're joking, right? Akita dogs are a local specialty, but... they're just dogs. How can selling dogs... possibly revitalize a city's economy?"

"Who said we only sell dogs?"

Hiroshi Nohara smiled, a smile that carried the absolute confidence of someone who had achieved a crushing victory.

He walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and on the pristine white surface, with fluid strokes, drew a magnificent business blueprint that was enough to overturn everyone's perception.

“What we’re going to do isn’t just sell dogs. What we’re going to do is create a completely new cultural IP centered around the Akita Inu.”

"IP?" This modern-sounding term left everyone present looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Yes, IP."

Hiroshi Nohara nodded. His voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

"The first step is to tell a story."

“We want to establish a dedicated ‘Akita Inu Culture Research Association’ to collect, organize, and package all the legendary stories about Akita Inu dogs. I happen to have a story about ‘Hachiko,’ who waited for his owner for ten years at Shibuya Station. We want to make it the core and most touching spiritual essence of our IP—loyalty.”

"The second step is to build a brand."

"We want to cooperate with agricultural cooperatives to establish a standardized and modern 'Akita Inu breeding base.' Every Akita Inu that leaves our base must have a pedigree certificate and a unique identification chip. We want to make 'Made in Omagari City' the most noble and purest name in the Akita Inu breed."

"The third step is to coordinate efforts."

“Mayor Ito, you just said that the prefectural government has asked us to revitalize local culture. Then we will tie the Akita dog to all of our local culture!”

His voice suddenly rose, filled with undeniable power!
“We can launch sake themed around Akita dogs, wagashi shaped like Akita dogs, and even collaborate with the Shirakami Sanchi National Park, a well-known tourist attraction in Akita Prefecture, to hold a grand Akita Dog Snow Festival every winter! We want all Akita dog lovers from around the world to come to our Omagari City for a pilgrimage!”

"The fourth step, which is also the most crucial step."

He paused, and amidst countless gazes already utterly stunned by his wildly imaginative ideas, he slowly unleashed the final trump card—a weapon powerful enough to send the revelry spiraling completely out of control.

"I will personally direct a film based on the story of 'Hachiko, a loyal dog,' a film that will move the entire nation of Japan, and even... the whole world."

"boom--!"

Movie!

This word exploded in everyone's mind like a real hydrogen bomb!

Kenji Ito felt as if his brain had been completely turned into a paste by a high-speed blender!
He stared blankly at the young man in front of him, who had casually laid out a grand scheme that would change the fate of the entire Akita Prefecture. His heart, which had long been worn down by reality, was completely dumbfounded!
Kenji Ito finally understood.

This young man wasn't offering any advice at all.

He is creating a world!
An unprecedented and entirely new business empire that uses the Akita Inu as its totem and integrates agriculture, tourism, cultural and creative industries, and film and television!

"No... Minister Nohara..."

Kenji Ito's voice became somewhat hoarse from the extreme shock, and he subconsciously changed his address to the most respectful honorific.

He suddenly stood up and, to everyone's astonishment, bowed deeply to Hiroshi Nohara.

A perfect 90-degree bow!
"Although I don't understand it, it feels amazing!"

"Especially knowing that you plan to use the Akita dogs from our Akita Prefecture, from our Omagari City, to make a movie promoting our Akita Prefecture..."

"Then the future of our Daqu City... is in your hands!"

A celebrity comes to make a movie.

That would be a huge success for local tourism and promotion!

In the works produced by Hiroshi Nohara, a famous director who hails from Akita Prefecture, Akita Prefecture and Omagari City have been promoted.

So he is the mayor of Daqu City.

Can we not promote our hometown's achievements?
It's important to know that this was a promotional film about Hiroshi Nohara's hometown that Kenji Ito personally requested Nohara to film, after overcoming opposition and personally visiting Nohara's hometown for friendly discussions.

Regardless of the circumstances, Kenji Ito has a proven track record of political achievements!

He truly cared about his hometown...

A good civil servant!

They must be good civil servants who deserve promotion!
Thinking of this, Kenji Ito, who was bowing to Hiroshi Nohara, couldn't help but smile smugly at the corners of his mouth.

What's the big deal about bowing?
At the beginning of this year, too many young people left Daqu City. At a press conference at the city hall, in front of so many reporters and TV stations, he was able to humbly bow and apologize.

Now?

Just a sprinkle of water~
(End of this chapter)