I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 221 Kumamon Silly Short Drama! The Impact of Short Videos! A Huge Success!

As he spoke, Yamada Ichiro took out a shooting schedule from his briefcase and handed it to Hiroshi.

Then he explained in detail: "Look, this is the shooting schedule that we worked on overnight. The first phase is to shoot three short promotional videos, filmed at Mount Aso, Kumamoto Castle, and the central shopping street. Each video is thirty seconds long, which is just the right length to insert into the county TV news and variety shows. If you think it's okay, we can get the team together this afternoon and start shooting first thing tomorrow morning."

Hiroshi took the schedule, his fingertip lingering on the words "Filming time 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM," before looking up with a hint of approval in his eyes: "You've even calculated the filming time so meticulously; you've really got the details figured out. But..."

He abruptly changed the subject, clapped his hands, and said with a more decisive tone, "No need to wait until tomorrow. Notify the team now to meet at the county hall entrance in half an hour. We'll go straight to the central commercial street to shoot the first promotional short film—take advantage of the crowds on the street now, the footage will have a more lifelike feel."

Upon hearing this, both Fujiwara Isshin and Yamada Ichiro were stunned, their faces filled with surprise.

Fujiwara Isshin nearly dropped his briefcase, quickly gripping it tightly. His voice held a hint of uncertainty: "Nohara-san, filming now? But the team hasn't had time to prepare, and the filming equipment is still in the prefectural government's warehouse. Half an hour might be too late..."

"I've already had the equipment delivered by the county station, and it should arrive soon."

Yamada Ichiro was the first to react. He took out his phone from his briefcase, quickly pressed a few keys, and looked up with a smile in his eyes: "I told them before I left this morning that I might need to turn on my phone early today and that they should be on standby at any time. As for the team, I'll page them now and have them get to the prefectural government building within half an hour—the young people of Kumamoto are quite efficient!"

Fujiwara Isshin was both surprised and impressed by the two men's decisive actions.

He had previously worked in the county government and was used to the steady pace of "determining the plan today, preparing for it tomorrow, and implementing it the day after tomorrow." This was the first time he had seen someone put "saying it and doing it" into practice so thoroughly.

“But Nohara-san, we haven’t even finalized the shooting script yet…” Fujiwara Isshin was still a little worried. He reached into his pocket and touched the notebook, which only contained a few rough scene ideas.

Hiroshi waved his hand, his tone full of confidence: "The promotional short film doesn't need a complicated script. Just film a few silly things Kumamon does in the shopping street—like taking the wrong snacks at the convenience store, haggling with the taiyaki vendor, or helping an old lady pick up an orange she dropped. The more lifelike these scenes are, the more the audience will feel a sense of identification with them."

He took out a pen from his pocket and quickly drew a few strokes on the notepad that Yamada Ichiro handed him—the notepad showed Kumamon standing on tiptoe to reach for snacks on the convenience store shelf, with an empty snack bag clutched in its paws, while the clerk next to him was trying not to laugh as he handed him a new bag. The scene was vivid and funny.

“Let’s follow this approach and let the actors improvise.” Hiroshi handed the two a notepad, his tone light: “That’s the kind of ‘unintentional’ cuteness we’re looking for. A script that’s too structured will just feel stiff.”

Looking at the drawing on the sticky note, Yamada Ichiro couldn't help but laugh: "This is a great idea! It's fun, showcases Kumamoto's shopping district, and promotes our local snacks and taiyaki—a win-win-win! I'll page the team right now and tell them to bring their filming equipment and come over right away!"

As he spoke, he strode to the nearby public phone booth, his fingers flying across the dial pad as he kept giving instructions: "Yes, make sure the camera crew brings the wide-angle lens. The streets of the central business district are narrow; you need a wide-angle lens to capture all the shops on both sides... Lighting crew, remember to bring reflectors. It's a bit cloudy this morning, so we need to add some lighting..."

Fujiwara Isshin looked at Hiroshi with admiration in his eyes: "Nohara-san, your thinking is so flexible. If it were me, I would still be struggling with the details of the script and would never have thought that we could start the machine so quickly."

Hiroshi smiled, glanced at the clock at the entrance of the prefectural hall, the hands just pointing to 9:15: "We have to seize the opportunity when doing publicity. Right now, the people of Kumamoto don't have much expectation for 'Kumamon' yet. If we release a teaser video now, we can catch them off guard and make them remember the image immediately. After a while, when everyone is more familiar with it, we can release the official promotional video and merchandise, and the effect will be even better."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, people nowadays have spare money and are more open to new things. Everyone is interested in a cartoon character, so we can make Kumamon famous."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded repeatedly as he listened, and suddenly his mind cleared up.

He had only thought about “doing each step step by step” before, but forgot to consider the changes in the overall environment. Now, after hearing what Guangzhi said, he understands how important “efficiency” and “timing” are for publicity.

“You’re right, I was too one-sided in my thinking.” Fujiwara Isshin said with a hint of guilt, “I’ll go and notify the manufacturing company right now and have them send the case to the convenience store in the central shopping district so we can use it as soon as we get there.”

“No need to make a trip, just send a page.” Hiroshi pointed to the public phone booth next to him: “Minister Yamada will be done soon. You can use that phone to talk to them, so you don’t have to make a wasted trip.”

Fujiwara Isshin replied "Okay" and quickly walked towards the phone booth.

Hiroshi stood still, looking up at the clock on the county hall building. Sunlight streamed through the glass curtain wall, warming his face.

He recalled his phone call with Asuka yesterday, during which the other party mentioned that "Tokyo TV was embroiled in controversy over the awards scandal." Suddenly, he felt that perhaps the appearance of Kumamon could not only change Kumamoto's fate but also bring a different kind of warmth to the people of Japan in this turbulent era.

Not long after, Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin finished their phone call and walked over quickly, both with excitement on their faces.

"The team said they'll be there in twenty minutes. The equipment is already loaded onto the truck, and we're heading straight to the central shopping street." Yamada Ichiro wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice full of anticipation. "The production company also said they'll deliver the suits to the convenience store soon, so we can start filming as soon as we arrive."

"Shall we set off now?" Fujiwara Isshin looked at Hiroshi, his eyes filled with eagerness.

Hiroshi nodded and walked towards the old Toyota first: "Let's go to the central shopping street. Let's try to finish filming the first short film before noon, and then go to Kumamoto Castle to film the second one in the afternoon—let's try to make as much progress as possible today."

Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin quickly followed, their hearts filled with confidence as they watched Hiroshi's retreating figure. They knew that this decisive young director might truly be able to bring a different future to Kumamoto with that round, black teddy bear.

The old Toyota slowly drove out of the county hall parking lot, the sunlight shining on the car body, reflecting a warm luster.

Outside the car window, the streets of Kumamoto gradually came alive. The sweet aroma of taiyaki (fish-shaped fritters) wafted from the stalls, and students in school uniforms chatted and laughed as they walked by. In the distance, wisps of white smoke rose from the top of Aso Volcano, creating a scene as tranquil and warm as a painting.

Hiroshi gripped the steering wheel, looking at the road ahead, and couldn't help but smile.

He might encounter many difficulties in the upcoming filming, but as long as he thinks of the adorable Kumamon and the smiles that the people of Kumamoto might show in the future, he feels full of energy.

And that is the meaning of his journey to this world—to use his abilities to bring about a different kind of change to the people around him and to this land.

The car quickly arrived at the entrance of the central shopping street. From a distance, several people wearing black coats could be seen busily surrounding a white truck with the words "Kumamoto Prefectural Television Station" printed on it.

"It's the filming crew!" Fujiwara Isshin pointed at the truck, his voice full of excitement.

Hiroshi stopped the car and just as he opened the door, a man in blue overalls quickly approached him, holding a video camera: "You must be Director Hiroshi Nohara? I'm cinematographer Ishigami. I spoke to you on the phone yesterday."

"Ishigami-san, thank you for your hard work." Hiroshi shook hands with him, his tone gentle. "I'll need your help to film a few more scenes today so we can finish shooting the short film as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, we're all ready!" Ishigami patted his chest and pointed to the team behind him. "The lighting and sound teams have already gone to the convenience store entrance to reserve spots, and the costumes have just arrived and are being put on the actors. We can start filming the first scene now—Kumamon taking the wrong snacks at the convenience store."

Hiroshi nodded and followed Ishigami toward the convenience store.

Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin quickly followed, holding the shooting schedule in their hands and constantly explaining the details to the team.

At the entrance of the convenience store, an actor dressed as Kumamon was standing there, awkwardly adjusting the hat on his head.

The black body of the suit is round and plump, with two bright red blushes on its face that are particularly eye-catching, making it look adorable.

"This suit is even cuter than the design drawings!" Yamada Ichiro couldn't help but exclaim, reaching out to touch the suit's belly, which was soft and fluffy, like hugging a giant cotton candy.

Upon hearing the voice, the actor turned around, awkwardly waved his paw, and his voice came through the microphone in his suit: "Director, I'm ready, we can start filming."

Hiroshi looked at the Kumamon in front of him with a satisfied smile: "Okay, let's start filming now. In a little while, you go into the convenience store, browse around the snack section, and then accidentally take the wrong snacks from the shelf—for example, take dog food for biscuits, or seasoning for candy. The clerk will remind you, and then you pretend to be embarrassed and put the snacks back. Finally, buy a bag of citrus-flavored candy, and when you leave the convenience store, accidentally trip and fall on your butt."

He paused, then added, "Remember, move slowly, look clumsy but cute, don't be too deliberate—the more natural, the better."

"Understood!" Kumamon nodded, then awkwardly turned and walked into the convenience store.

Ishigami immediately raised the camera, the lighting crew quickly adjusted the reflector, and the sound crew quietly followed behind Kumamon with microphones.

Inside the convenience store, the clerk in the blue uniform was already prepared. She suppressed a laugh and stood next to the snack section, waiting for Kumamon to come over.

Kumamon walked into the convenience store, first curiously looking around, then slowly walked to the snack section, and stretched out its paws to rummage through the shelves.

He first picked up a bag of dog food, looked at the packaging, and then put it down. Then he picked up a bottle of soy sauce, paused for a moment, and quickly put it back, which made several customers next to him laugh.

“That’s the feeling!” Hiroshi looked at the footage on the camera with a smile in his eyes and said to Ishigami, “Record the customers’ laughter too, it will make it more lifelike.”

Ishigami nodded, adjusted the camera angle, and captured the customer's smile in the shot.

Just then, Kumamon finally picked up a bag of citrus-flavored candies. He happily held it up, but just as he was about to turn around, he didn't notice the step under his feet and tripped and fell on his bottom, scattering the candies all over the ground.

"Oh dear!" The shop assistant rushed over to help him up.

Kumamon awkwardly got up, scratched his head sheepishly, and then squatted down to pick up the candy.

The customers nearby couldn't help but laugh, and some even took out their cameras to take pictures of Kumamon.

"Stop!" Hiroshi shouted, his face full of satisfaction. "This shot is great! It's both funny and natural, perfectly meeting our requirements. Let's take a ten-minute break and then shoot the second scene—Kumamon haggling with the taiyaki vendor."

The team members breathed a sigh of relief, put down their equipment, and began to rest. Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin walked over, their faces beaming with excitement.

"Nohara-san, this shot is fantastic!" Yamada Ichiro exclaimed excitedly. "I couldn't help but laugh when I watched it just now—this Kumamon is just too cute! I'm sure a lot of people will love him when the short film airs."

“Yes, it’s even better than I expected!” Fujiwara Isshin nodded in agreement, his eyes full of admiration: “Your way of directing the actors is amazing. You got them into the right mindset with just a few words. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t know what to say.”

Hiroshi smiled, took the water Ishigami handed him, and took a sip: "Actually, there's nothing special about it. It's just about letting the actors see themselves as the real Kumamon—a slightly clumsy but very cute little bear. When doing things, you don't have to think too much, just follow your instincts."

He paused, glancing at the customers taking photos of Kumamon in the distance, his eyes holding a deeper meaning: "You see, people are starting to like him. This is the effect we want—to make Kumamon a real 'Kumamon person,' integrated into everyone's lives, rather than a cold, impersonal promotional tool."

Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin followed his gaze and saw several children surrounding Kumamon, chattering and asking him if they could take a picture with him.

Kumamon awkwardly squatted down and made a peace sign with the children, his rosy cheeks looking especially cute in the sunlight.

"You're right."

Yamada Ichiro remarked, "Only when everyone feels that Kumamon is 'one of us' can he truly enter their hearts. When people see Kumamon in the future, they will think of Kumamoto's shopping streets, Kumamoto's taiyaki, and everything about Kumamoto—that's the best form of advertising."

Hiroshi nodded, looked up at the sky; the sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing. He knew that the filming of the first short film had gone smoothly, and the subsequent filming would surely become even smoother.

Perhaps before long, that round, black bear will become Kumamoto's most shining symbol, letting everyone in Japan know that in Kumamoto, there is a cute and warm bear waiting for everyone to meet.

After a ten-minute break, the filming crew regrouped and began filming the second scene—Kumamon haggling with the owner of a taiyaki shop.

The owner of the taiyaki stall was an elderly man with gray hair. He had already heard about Kumamon and offered to cooperate with the filming. Standing in front of his stall, holding a shovel, he smiled and said to Kumamon, "Little bear, my taiyaki is the best in Kumamoto. It costs 100 yen each, and I can't make it any cheaper."

Kumamon shook its head, stretched out its paw to make an "eighty" gesture, and made a "woo-woo" sound, as if it was bargaining.

The old man pretended to be troubled, frowning as he said, "Eighty yen is too little. My red bean paste is sourced directly from farms in southern Kumamoto, and the cost is almost out of control."

Kumamon, however, persisted, gesturing with its paws on the stall, sometimes pointing to its empty belly, sometimes making a pitiful face, which made the surrounding customers laugh.

"Alright, alright, I give up." The old man finally "compromised," smiling as he gave Kumamon two taiyaki: "I'll give you eighty yen. Don't try to bargain like this next time."

Kumamon immediately took the taiyaki with delight, bowed awkwardly, and then turned and ran. However, after only a few steps, he tripped over his own paw and fell to the ground.

He paused for a moment, then squatted down, picked up the taiyaki with a wronged expression, blew off the dust, and was about to put it in his mouth when the old man handed him a new one: "This one is for you, that one is dirty and can't be eaten."

Kumamon looked up, its eyes full of gratitude, awkwardly accepted the new taiyaki, and then hopped away.

"Stop!" Hiroshi shouted, his face full of satisfaction. "This scene was filmed very well! It's both interesting and heartwarming, perfectly meeting our requirements. Let's take a ten-minute break, and then we'll film the third scene—Kumamon helping an old lady pick up oranges."

The team members breathed a sigh of relief, put down their equipment, and began to rest.

Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin walked over, both with excited expressions on their faces.

"Nohara-san, your filming speed is too fast!" Yamada Ichiro looked at his watch, his tone full of surprise: "It's only been a little over an hour since filming started, and you've already filmed two scenes. Normally, it would take our county station half a day to film just one scene."

Hiroshi smiled, took the water Ishigami handed him, and took a sip: "Actually, there's nothing special about it. We just captured Kumamon's 'clumsiness' and 'cuteness' and let the actors improvise. Besides, these scenes are common in daily life, so it's easy for the actors to immerse themselves in the roles."

He paused, then added, "When I was filming for TV Tokyo, I often used this short and quick shooting method, which saves time and ensures quality. This method is perfect for filming the Kumamon short film now."

Fujiwara Isshin looked at Hiroshi with admiration in his eyes: "You not only understand film and television production, but you also know how to capture the audience's preferences. If it were me, I definitely couldn't have made such an interesting short film."

Hiroshi patted him on the shoulder, his tone gentle: "Actually, you can give it a try. Just observe life more and think more about the audience's preferences, and you'll gradually find your footing."

After a ten-minute break, the filming team regrouped and began filming the third scene—Kumamon helping an old lady pick up oranges.

An elderly woman with gray hair was carrying a bag of oranges and was walking slowly on the stone-paved street of the commercial street when suddenly the bag broke and the oranges rolled all over the ground.

Kumamon happened to be passing by and saw this scene. He immediately ran over and clumsily helped the old lady pick up the oranges.

As he picked them up, he grinned foolishly at the old lady, which made her laugh too: "Thank you, little bear."

Kumamon shook its head, handed the oranges it had picked to the old lady, and then helped her find a new bag to put the oranges in.

The old lady took the bag, smiled, and said, "You're such a good child. Here, have this orange."

Kumamon took the orange, bowed awkwardly, and watched the old lady leave before turning around and continuing on his way.

"Stop!" Hiroshi shouted, his face full of satisfaction: "The three promotional videos are all filmed! Everyone has worked hard all day, so let's stop here for today. Ishigami-san, I'll leave the rest of the post-production editing to you."

Hiroshi's voice was calm, which relieved the entire filming team.

Ishigami glanced down at his watch. It had been exactly two hours since the camera was turned on, and all three promotional videos were finished.

In all his years in the industry, this was the first time he had ever seen such a fast-paced shoot—no repeated takes, no complicated staging, and even the actors' improvisations seemed to be pre-rehearsed, with every joke perfectly timed.

Fujiwara Isshin leaned closer to the monitor and frowned slightly as he watched the replay of Kumamon nearly falling into the fruit basket while picking up oranges.

He was still clutching the shooting schedule he had stayed up all night to make, with the note "two hours of shooting time allocated for each scene" still marked on it. In the end, the three scenes only took two hours in total.

"Nohara-san, is it... all done filming?" Fujiwara Isshin's voice carried a hint of uncertainty. He glanced down at the schedule, then looked up at Hiroshi: "Each short film is less than two minutes long, isn't that a bit too much..."

"Short?" Hiroshi took the schedule from him, scanned the densely packed time marks, and paused his fingertip on the words "two hours/scene": "Fujiwara-kun, how long do you think it takes for the audience to remember a cartoon character? Is it ten minutes of flat, straightforward storytelling, or three moments that make people laugh out loud in two minutes?"

Yamada Ichiro, who was standing next to him, also came over, holding a citrus-flavored hard candy he had just bought. He peeled one open and popped it into his mouth: "I think it's quite interesting. When we were filming Kumamon bargaining earlier, the owner of the grilled rice cracker stall next to us was laughing so hard he cried. He even asked me when this little bear would be on TV."

Fujiwara Isshin was still a little hesitant. He took out the previous broadcast list of "Yamishibai" from his briefcase and pointed to the "eight minutes per episode" mark: "But you also made eight minutes per episode for 'Yamishibai' before. Won't the audience feel that this two-minute short film is incomplete?"

Hiroshi didn't answer directly. Instead, he took out a small notebook from his pocket, opened one of the pages, and drew a few simple storyboards on it—Kumamon dropping a taiyaki, Kumamon helping an old lady pick up oranges, Kumamon drinking soy sauce as if it were a beverage, and each scene was marked with the words "within 30 seconds".

"Yamishibai is a storytelling show that needs time to build up its atmosphere. But Kumamon is different."

Hiroshi pointed to the storyboard and said with certainty, "What we want is not for the audience to remember a story, but for them to remember a 'cute little bear who makes mistakes.' Three jokes in two minutes, played three times, will be more memorable than a ten-minute film."

He closed his notebook and looked at the team that was still packing up the equipment. Ishigami was talking to the lighting technician, and the two of them were laughing happily.

“Look at them, they film with such ease. This short and quick approach saves costs and allows for rapid trial and error. If the audience likes it, we can film a longer series; if they don't, we can adjust quickly.”

Ichiro Yamada, chewing on a hard candy, suddenly clapped his hands: "I get it! Just like those ads on the streets of Tokyo, nobody stares at them for ten minutes, but a thirty-second ad that's played repeatedly will stick in your memory after a few views. If we use these short clips as commercial breaks, the effect will definitely be great!"

Fujiwara Isshin looked at the storyboard drawn by Hiroshi, and then recalled the laughter of the audience during the filming just now. Finally, he nodded thoughtfully.

He used to think, "If you're going to do something, do it completely," but he forgot that the core of promotion is "to make people remember you."

Hiroshi Nohara's thinking was indeed much clearer than his. The filming crew finished packing up their equipment and gathered around.

Lighting technician Matsushita exclaimed, "Nohara-san, your shooting rhythm is amazing! When I was shooting tourism promotional videos with the county TV station before, it would take an entire afternoon to shoot one shot. Today, working with you, I feel like my brain is working faster."

"you do not say!"

Sound engineer Rukawa nodded in agreement. Her recorder was still playing the footage from earlier, in which the audience's laughter could be clearly heard: "When we were filming the scene where Kumamon was throwing oranges, an old lady said, 'This little bear is cuter than my grandson.' That reaction was so real! It was much more natural than the deliberately arranged extras."

Ishigami put the camera in the box and couldn't help but sigh: "When I was filming 'Kansai Scenery' on TV Osaka, the director always said that we should 'pursue perfection' and shoot a single shot more than ten times. In the end, the audience didn't remember many of the shots. Today, following you, I understand that sometimes 'imperfection' is what makes things cute—the few times Kumamon fell were more memorable than any deliberately designed action."

"And your way of directing the actors is amazing!"

Yanan, who was in charge of costumes, came over and held a paw from a Kumamon costume in his hand: "You just tell the actor to 'imagine yourself as a little bear who has just learned to walk,' and he immediately got the feeling right. It's much more effective than what I taught him before, 'be cute and adorable.'"

Hiroshi listened to everyone's praise and just smiled faintly.

Behind this "relaxation" are countless nights spent scrolling through Kumamon short videos in past lives—those clips that people watch repeatedly are never the exquisitely perfect scenes, but those clumsy, real moments that bring a smile to one's face.

"Actually, none of these things are because I'm good at them."

Hiroshi picked up a black velvet that had fallen off the suit and gently blew it away: "It's the Kumamon character itself that has vitality. It doesn't need to sing or dance, it doesn't need to preach, it just needs to be itself—it can fall down, it can be silly, it can be happy for half a day because of a taiyaki, that's what the audience will like."

He paused, then looked at the elderly man selling taiyaki (fish-shaped fritters) in the distance, his tone softening.

“We made these short films not for the sake of ‘promotion’, but to show everyone the loveliness of Kumamoto—there are bears who can bargain, elderly people who are willing to give away taiyaki, and strangers who will help people pick up oranges. These are the most precious things about Kumamoto.”

The team members quieted down, and Suzuki's recorder was still playing laughter. Those soft, genuine laughs were more heartwarming than any fancy background music.

Looking at the scene before him, Yamada Ichiro suddenly remembered what the governor had said when he reported to him yesterday: "We must make Kumamoto a warmer place."

The true warmth isn't built up by fancy promotional videos, but by these everyday moments that gradually seep into people's hearts.

“Nohara-san,” Fujiwara Isshin suddenly spoke, his tone firm. “Tomorrow I’ll coordinate with the prefectural TV station to repeatedly insert these short films into the news and the Kumamoto Living Guide. In addition, I’d like to contact local convenience stores to put the films on the small TVs at the checkout counters so that more people can see them.”

“I’ll contact them too!” Ishigami said immediately. “I have friends on Osaka TV. I’ll ask them to help broadcast it. Maybe viewers in the Kansai region will like Kumamon!”

"And the surrounding merchandise too!"

Tanaka's eyes lit up: "I know a toy manufacturer. We can make a batch of Kumamon plush toys as soon as possible and put them in the prefectural government's souvenir shop. They're sure to sell well!"

Everyone chimed in, and what was supposed to be a relaxing break suddenly turned into a lively planning meeting.

Looking into their eyes, Guangzhi suddenly felt at ease—sometimes, change doesn't require earth-shattering plans, just a lovable image, a group of people willing to give, and a love for their hometown.

As the sun gradually set, it bathed the stone pavement of the central commercial street in a warm yellow hue.

As Hiroshi watched his team members still having a heated discussion, an idea suddenly came to him.

He took out his phone and dialed Asumi's number—he wanted to discuss with TV Tokyo whether they could add a "Kumamon searching for its family" segment to "Super Transformation," so that Kumamon people in Tokyo could see what their hometown looks like, and also let more Tokyoites know that Kumamoto has such a cute little bear and such warm-hearted people.

The moment the call connected, Hiroshi looked at the streetlights gradually lighting up in the distance, and at the energetic figures in his team, and couldn't help but smile.

He knew that Kumamon's story had only just begun. And this adorable little bear would eventually carry the warmth of Kumamon into the hearts of many more people.

……

The car slowly drove out of the central business street, the sunlight shining on the car body and reflecting a warm luster.

Outside the car window, the streets of Kumamoto gradually quieted down. The taiyaki stalls had closed, and the students in their school uniforms had all gone home. In the distance, wisps of white smoke rose from the top of Aso Volcano, creating a tranquil and warm scene.

Hiroshi gripped the steering wheel, looking at the road ahead, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his face. He knew that although the promotion of Kumamon had only just begun, as long as they persisted, they would surely be able to bring a different future to Kumamoto with this adorable little bear.

After returning to the prefectural office, Hiroshi said goodbye to Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin, and then drove back to the Koyama family home.

As soon as I entered the house, I saw Misae sitting in the living room, holding a piece of drawing paper and drawing the image of Kumamon.

"Hiroshi, you're back!" Misae saw him and immediately stood up happily, handing him her drawing paper: "Look at my drawing of Kumamon, isn't it cute?"

Hiroshi took the drawing paper, on which was drawn a round, black bear with two prominent red cheeks and a taiyaki in its hand, looking adorable.

"It's so cute!" Hiroshi nodded with a smile, handing the drawing paper back to Misae: "It's even prettier than mine."

Misae's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "I just copied the design you gave me before, and added some of my own ideas. By the way, did the shoot go well today? Is the Kumamon short film finished?"

Hiroshi sat next to Misae and told her about the day's filming, specifically mentioning scenes of Kumamon taking the wrong snacks at the convenience store, haggling with the taiyaki vendor, and helping an old lady pick up oranges.

Misae's eyes lit up, her voice full of anticipation: "It sounds so interesting! I can't wait to see these short films! When will they be on TV?"

"It'll be ready soon. It'll be finished by tomorrow, and it should be on the county TV news the day after tomorrow." Hiroshi stroked Misae's hair, his tone gentle. "I'll watch it with you then."

Misae nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with a happy smile: "Okay! I'll also tell the people in the manga club so they can read it too."

As the two were talking, Koyama Takaya came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of freshly made dorayaki: "Hiroshi, Misae, try my freshly made dorayaki, it's still your favorite red bean paste filling."

Hiroshi and Misae quickly thanked him, then picked up their dorayaki and started eating.

The dorayaki has a crispy and soft outer layer, and the red bean filling is sweet but not cloying; it tastes just like I remember.

While eating, Hiroshi chatted with Koyama Takaya about the day's filming and also mentioned the Kumamon promotion plan.

Koyama Takaya nodded repeatedly, his tone full of satisfaction: "Hiroshi, you are a really capable child. We are all proud of you for doing so much for Kumamoto."

Hiroshi smiled, his tone modest: "Auntie, you're too kind. I just did what I was supposed to do. As long as it makes Kumamoto better, I'm happy."

As the three were talking, Yoshiji Koyama returned from outside.

He held a newspaper in his hand, his face beaming with excitement: "Hiroshi, look! Today's Yomiuri Shimbun reported on your film 'Seven Samurai,' and also mentioned your promotional work for Kumamoto!"

Hiroshi took the newspaper, which read, "Seven Samurai is a hit, director Hiroshi Nohara helps promote it in Kumamoto," along with a photo of him on set.

"That's great!" Misae looked at the newspaper, her eyes filled with pride. "Now everyone in Japan knows you're promoting Kumamoto. Kumamon is definitely going to be a hit!"

As Hiroshi looked at the newspaper, he felt a deep sense of emotion.

This is just the beginning. There is still a lot to do, but as long as he has these people supporting him, he is confident that he can do everything well.

In the evening, Hiroshi sat in his studio, holding a pencil, drawing a new image of Kumamon on a piece of paper.

He used the silly videos of Kumamon from its previous life to design some new clothes for Kumamon, such as a red kimono or a yellow hat, to make it look cuter.

The pencil scratched across the paper, and Kumamon's new image gradually took shape.

Hiroshi looked at the little bear on the drawing paper with anticipation in his eyes. Perhaps before long, this cute little bear would become the most shining symbol of Kumamoto, letting everyone in Japan know that in Kumamoto, there is a cute and warm little bear waiting for everyone to meet.

The next morning, Hiroshi received a call from Ishigami, who said that the short film about Kumamon had been edited and asked him to go to the county TV station to take a look.

Guangzhi quickly got up, said goodbye to Xiaoshan's family, and then drove to the county government.

As soon as I entered the county TV station's editing room, I saw Ishigami and several editors gathered around a computer, watching a short film about Kumamon.

"Nohara-san, you're here!" Ishigami saw him and immediately stood up happily, pulling him to the computer: "Look at the short film we edited, the effect is even better than expected!"

Hiroshi sat in front of the computer and clicked on the first short film—a scene where Kumamon mistakenly took the wrong snack at a convenience store.

At the beginning of the short film, Kumamon clumsily walks into a convenience store, wanders around the snack section, picking up a bag of dog food one moment and a bottle of soy sauce the next, making the customers laugh.

Finally, he picked up a bag of citrus-flavored candies, and just as he was about to turn around, he tripped and fell on his bottom, scattering the candies all over the ground.

Hiroshi looked at the short film with a satisfied smile in his eyes: "It's very well edited! It captures both Kumamon's cuteness and clumsiness."

Ishigami laughed, his voice full of excitement: "We also added some upbeat background music to the short film, making it even more fun. Now take a look at the second short film."

Hiroshi nodded and clicked on the second short film—a scene where Kumamon is haggling with the owner of a taiyaki shop.

In the short film, Kumamon stretches out his paws to bargain with the shopkeeper, pointing to his belly one moment and making a pitiful face the next. In the end, the shopkeeper "compromises" and gives him two taiyaki.

He hadn't taken two steps when he tripped over his own claws, and the sea bream burned on the ground.

The shopkeeper handed him a new one, and he happily skipped away.

“This short film is also very interesting!” Hiroshi nodded with a smile: “It’s both heartwarming and cute, and I’m sure the audience will like it.”

Ishigami continued, "We've also finished editing the third short film. Please take a look."

Hiroshi clicked on the third short film—a scene where Kumamon helps an old lady pick up oranges.

In the short film, an old lady spills oranges all over the ground, and Kumamon runs over to help pick them up and even finds her a new bag.

The old lady gave him an orange, and he awkwardly bowed before watching her leave.

"All three short films are very well edited!" Hiroshi was very satisfied after watching them. "We can insert them into the commercials on the county TV station tomorrow. We'll insert them a few more times so that more people can see Kumamon."

Shi Shang nodded quickly: "Don't worry, we've already spoken to the county TV station's programming department. These short clips will be shown in the morning news, the noon variety show, and the evening drama tomorrow."

Hiroshi looked at Ishigami and smiled, "You've worked hard. If Kumamon becomes popular, you'll have made a big contribution."

Ishigami and the others immediately bowed their heads respectfully and said, "This is what we should do. We are all very happy to be able to participate in such a meaningful project."

Hiroshi chatted with Ishigami for a while, then left the county office and drove back to Koyama's house.

As soon as I entered the house, I saw Misae and Yume sitting in the living room, holding Kumamon plush toys and playing a role-playing game.

"Hiroshi, you're back!" Misae stood up happily as soon as she saw him. "Look at the Kumamon plushie that Yume and I made, isn't it cute?"

Hiroshi looked at the dolls in the two people's hands. They were made of black cloth, with two red blush patches sewn onto their faces, making them look adorable.

"It's so cute!" Hiroshi nodded with a smile. "It's even prettier than the ones we bought."

Mengya happily added, "Brother-in-law, we want to make more Kumamon dolls and sell them to students at school so they can also like Kumamon."

Hiroshi nodded, his tone full of agreement: "That's a great idea! You can make more of them, not only to sell to students at school, but also to local convenience stores and restaurants, so that more people can know about Kumamon."

Misae and Yumiya nodded quickly, their eyes filled with excitement.

Koyama Takaya came out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of freshly made miso soup: "Hiroshi, Misae, Yume, come and eat, the food is ready."

The three of them quickly went over, sat down at the dining table, and began to eat.

At the dinner table, Yoshiji Koyama looked at Hiroshi with anticipation in his voice: "Hiroshi, the Kumamon short film is going to air on TV tomorrow. Do you think it will be a hit?"

Hiroshi put down his chopsticks, his tone full of confidence: "It will definitely become a hit! These short videos are both interesting and cute, and we will repeatedly broadcast them on TV. Over time, everyone will naturally remember Kumamon. Once everyone is familiar with Kumamon, we can launch peripheral products, such as dolls, keychains, T-shirts, etc., which will definitely sell very well."

Yoshiharu Koyama nodded, his voice full of satisfaction: "I believe in you! You've always been confident in what you do. If Kumamon becomes popular, Kumamoto's economy will definitely improve, and the fruit farmers will be able to sell their oranges."

Hiroshi looked at Yoshiharu Koyama with determination in his eyes: "Uncle, don't worry, I will do my best to make Kumamon popular and make Kumamoto better."

After finishing his meal, Hiroshi returned to his studio on the second floor, pencil in hand, sketching designs for Kumamon merchandise on drawing paper. He wanted to design cute dolls, keychains, and T-shirts to make more people like Kumamon.

The pencil scratched across the paper, and the design sketches for Kumamon merchandise gradually took shape. Hiroshi looked at the designs on the paper, his eyes filled with anticipation. He knew that as long as they persevered, they could definitely bring a different future to Kumamon with this adorable little bear.

The next morning, Hiroshi was woken up by Misae's cheers.

"Hiroshi, wake up and watch! Kumamon's short film is on TV!" Misae shouted excitedly, holding the remote control.

Hiroshi quickly got up, went to the living room, and saw a short video on TV showing Kumamon taking the wrong snacks at a convenience store.

In the short film, Kumamon clumsily walks into a convenience store, wandering back and forth in the snack section, picking up a bag of dog food one minute and a bottle of soy sauce the next, making the customers laugh. Finally, he picks up a bag of citrus-flavored candy, and just as he's about to turn around, he trips and falls on his bottom, scattering the candy all over the floor.

"So cute!" Misae exclaimed excitedly as she watched TV. "I can already hear the neighbor lady praising how cute Kumamon is!"

Hiroshi watched TV, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his face. He knew that the promotion of Kumamon had taken its first successful step.

In the following days, short videos featuring Kumamon were repeatedly broadcast on the county's news, variety shows, and dramas, and more and more people began to become familiar with this adorable little bear.

Some people will buy a Kumamon plush toy when they see it in a convenience store; some will order a Kumamon-themed set meal when they see a Kumamon poster in a restaurant; and some will take a photo with an actor wearing a Kumamon costume when they see him on the street.

The county government's phone lines were ringing off the hook, with many people calling to ask where to buy Kumamon merchandise and when they could see more Kumamon short films.

Yamada Ichiro and Fujiwara Isshin watched with excitement in their eyes. They knew that Kumamon had become a sensation and had become Kumamoto's "living advertisement."

Hiroshi felt gratified seeing all this.

Although there is still a long way to go in promoting Kumamon, as long as they persevere, they will surely be able to bring more surprises to Kumamoto with this adorable little bear.

That afternoon, Hiroshi also received a call from TV Tokyo.

The caller wasn't Asumi.

It was actually Takada Toshihide, the executive deputy director.

"Managing Director Takada." Hiroshi Nohara answered the phone and heard Toshihide Takada's excited voice.

……

P.S.: Still asking for recommendations and monthly votes! I hope everyone can support me! Thank you all in advance!
(End of this chapter)