I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 156 Farewell to the Koyama Family! Go deliver "Seven Samurai"!
Two days later, it was still the same futuristic Tokyo Station.

This time, however, the atmosphere on the platform was no longer as reserved and unfamiliar as when we first met. Instead, it was filled with a bittersweet feeling of parting, a sense of reluctance and warmth.

"Oh dear, Hiroshi-kun, this...this is far too extravagant! It's really far too extravagant!"

Looking at the shopping bags piled up at her feet, almost forming a small mountain, and bearing the logos of major luxury brands, her usually gentle smile was now filled with complex emotions.

After all, Misae and Hiroshi Nohara are not married yet, and we, as their future father-in-law and mother-in-law, have already received so many good things from Hiroshi Nohara.

It's hard not to feel embarrassed.

"Oh dear, this is Nohara's kind gesture after all, it's very kind." But Koyama Yoshiji carefully adjusted the collar of his handmade suit, which he had just had made at the most famous tailor shop in Ginza, and the satisfaction and love in his eyes were almost overflowing.

Such a fine suit really complements his slicked-back hair, making him look quite dignified and imposing.

So he was very satisfied with Nohara: "When we go to Kumamoto, we'll treat Nohara to a good time, won't we?" he explained.

But Koyama Takaya glanced at him without saying a word.

Such an expensive gift.

If they really wanted to give Hiroshi Nohara a gift of equal value, they would have to use up their savings!
Especially when Koyama Takaya glanced at the two meticulously packaged bottles of what was said to be the top-grade "14th Generation" Ryusen sake, a look of shock appeared in his eyes.

It's said that just those two bottles of sake are enough to cover their retirement income for half a year!
"Yes! The fact that my uncle and aunt were willing to entrust Misae to me is already the greatest kindness they could bestow upon me! Misae is the greatest gift in my life!"

Hiroshi Nohara then spoke with a smile.

He then bowed deeply to Yoshiharu Koyama and Takayoshi Koyama, his posture as humble as a diligent student listening to his teacher's teachings: "Miya is the love of my heart, and her worth cannot be measured by any value. The gifts I bought for you are just ordinary things, but only in this way can I express my sincere feelings for Misae, as well as my sincere respect and reverence for you."

This perfectly timed flattery made Yoshiharu Koyama feel completely at ease. All the seriousness and authority on his usually stern face melted away like ice and snow at that moment.

His face was filled with immense satisfaction.

But amidst this warm atmosphere of "harmony between father-in-law and son-in-law," a delicate figure, filled with reluctance and wailing, clung tightly to Hiroshi Nohara's arm like an unshakeable little tail, crying out: "Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! I don't want to go back to Kumamoto! I want to stay in Tokyo!"

Koyama Yumesae's large eyes were already misty with moisture, and her pretty face was filled with endless longing for this steel jungle full of prosperity and temptation.

"Tokyo is so much fun! There's delicious food, great drinks, and so many beautiful clothes! Most importantly... there's you, my handsome and capable brother-in-law! I'd be so bored if I went back to Kumamoto!"

"You rebellious daughter!" Yoshiharu Koyama was trembling with anger, but he still pulled Yumeko Koyama into the train.

The train started slowly, taking away those gazes that were either relieved, reluctant, or expectant.

Nohara Hiroshi held Misae's hand and stood on the platform until the white steel snake completely disappeared from the end of his sight.

……

The black Toyota Crown moved forward steadily in the night.

“Next year, let’s go to Kumamoto Prefecture, your hometown, and take a look.” Hiroshi Nohara drove with one hand.

"Hiroshi-kun, next year... are we really going to Kumamoto?" Misae gently rested her head on his shoulder, her voice filled with a dreamlike surprise.

“Of course.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded with a smile. He didn’t even need to check the travel guide; his memories from his past life were already vividly clear in his mind: “When the time comes, we’ll go to Mount Aso to see the world’s largest active crater; go to Kurokawa Onsen to soak in the legendary ‘beauty bath’ that can heal everything; and we’ll also try the most authentic horse meat sashimi and that bowl of Kumamoto ramen that can make anyone cry.”

With each place name he mentioned, Misae's beautiful big eyes shone even brighter.

When he finished speaking the last word, his obsidian-like eyes were already filled with the sweetest anticipation for the future.

This is, after all, a tourist attraction in her hometown.

She knew this man; he wasn't just making a promise.

He was building a happy future for her, filled with love and delicious food.

……

When the languid feeling unique to holidays is completely replaced by the efficient and busy urban rhythm of a Monday morning, Hiroshi Nohara has already returned to his desk, the department head's desk that symbolizes his absolute power at TV Tokyo.

He skillfully handled the mountains of reports and contracts, all of which only required a signature.

'Jingle Bell--'

The black internal telephone on the table broke the silence.

“Minister.” Kitagawa Yao’s voice came from the other end of the phone: “It’s Director Kurosawa Eiji’s call. He’s on his way and said he’ll be there in fifteen minutes. He also said that you should get ready, because he’s going to take you to a… very important place.”

"A very important place?" Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

Fifteen minutes later, when Eiji Kurosawa appeared at the office door, Hiroshi Nohara finally understood what the "very important place" he was referring to was. "Let's go, Nohara-kun," Kurosawa said without any formalities. "I sent the rough cut of 'Seven Samurai' to Eirin yesterday. Today is the first round of review. There's someone over there who's been wanting to see you."

Yinglun.

Neon Film Ethics Management Committee.

A seemingly insignificant but actually absolute power institution that controls the life and death of all films in Japan.

No matter how big the investment or how strong the cast, any film must, and can only, pass the review of this organization before its official release.

Otherwise, all that awaits them is the cold fate of being ruthlessly shut down.

……

In Chuo Ward, Tokyo, there's that unremarkable little gray building.

There are no luxurious decorations here, only long, quiet corridors where you can hear your own heartbeat, and heavy wooden doors that seem to lead to another world.

Hiroshi Nohara followed Eiji Kurosawa through the maze-like corridor.

Finally, they stopped in front of a room with a sign that read "First Deliberation Room".

Eiji Kurosawa didn't knock. He simply nodded slightly to the two staff members at the door, who were dressed in sharp suits and had solemn expressions: "I am Eiji Kurosawa. I have made an appointment in advance for today's film submission and review."

When the two staff members saw who it was, a look of genuine awe instantly appeared on their faces.

"Director Kurosawa."

They greeted them and then opened the door to the heart of power for them.

The room was very quiet, without any luxurious decorations, only a set of quaint mahogany sofas and a landscape painting with a profound artistic conception on the wall.

A man is sitting at his desk working on documents.

He was wearing a simple dark gray suit, was of medium build, and looked like an ordinary, common elderly civil servant.

But as he slowly raised his head, Hiroshi Nohara's heart involuntarily clenched.

Hideaki Fujiwara!
Deputy Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Public Relations Department, one of the key figures behind the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area Plan, and also... a standing committee member of the Japan Film Ethics Management Committee for film censorship!

"Mr. Fujiwara."

Eiji Kurosawa, a renowned director who could silence any producer in public, bowed deeply to the man like the most humble student.

"I apologize for disturbing your peace and quiet."

"Oh?"

A hint of undisguised surprise appeared on Fujiwara Hideaki's usually calm face.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Eiji Kurosawa's face, which was filled with respect, before settling on the young man who was also bowing respectfully to him.

"Nohara-kun, we meet again." His voice was filled with curiosity: "I never expected that the two people I value most, one is a master of samurai films who can represent the essence of our Japanese culture, and the other is a variety show star who can change the landscape of the entire television industry, would actually... collaborate on a movie."

"Lord Fujiwara, you have misunderstood."

However, before Hiroshi Nohara could even offer a polite greeting, Eiji Kurosawa's straightforward voice rang out first.

He slowly straightened up, his weathered face etched with the openness and pride of a craftsman from the old era.

"This 'Seven Samurai' is entirely Nohara's work from beginning to end. He handled everything from the script and storyboard to every shot and every staging on set."

"I, this old fellow, was nothing more than... an assistant to him, holding the empty title of co-director."

"There is only one true director for this film."

He paused, and under the astonished gaze of the top bureaucrat who held the power of life and death over their works, he spoke earnestly, word by word:

"It's him, Hiroshi Nohara."

"..."

Even the over-sixty-year-old Fujiwara Hideaki was slightly stunned at this moment.

Looking at Eiji Kurosawa, and then at the young man who had been calmly smiling throughout, his heart, hardened by countless power struggles, suddenly felt overwhelmed by an absurd, almost unreal feeling!
After a moment, he asked in surprise, "You, Eiji Kurosawa, were just a supporting co-director in Hiroshi Nohara's samurai films?"

This is simply a fantasy!
(End of this chapter)