I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 228 An Opportunity in Kumamoto Prefecture! Fujiwara Isshin's Opportunity! Hiroshi Nohara's Talent on Display!

In the TV station office area next to the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Building, as the morning light shone through the blinds and cast dappled shadows on the floor, the chatter in the production department had already drowned out the clicking of the printers.

Deputy Director Kinoshita gripped the newly compiled viewership ratings report, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force, yet he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice. He slammed the report onto the conference table, the edges of the papers curling up: "Look, everyone! Our station's viewership rating for the morning news segment has soared to 12.3%! You know, it was only 5.8% in the same period last month, that's more than double!"

Seiji Takahashi, the veteran director sitting on the far side, pushed up his reading glasses and ran his finger over the advertising data after the morning news on the report. His voice was full of disbelief: "Not just the morning! Before the 9 a.m. lifestyle news segment, we aired a 30-second clip of Kumamon teaching how to make tonkotsu ramen. The average viewership for those five minutes broke 10%, a full 4 percentage points higher than the same time slot last week! This morning, half a drawer was filled with letters from viewers, all asking, 'When will Kumamon appear again?'"

"It's even more intense around noon!"

Aya Suzuki, a female assistant who had only been with the company for six months, held a stack of postcards from viewers, her cheeks flushed with excitement. She held up the top card, which featured a crookedly drawn bear: "After the midday news, as soon as the short video of Kumamon giving out sakura mochi to send blessings aired, the switchboard was flooded with calls! One mother said her daughter insisted on going to the supermarket to buy the same sakura mochi after watching it, and even begged to see the 'bowing bear.' The overall viewership for the midday slot also rose to 9.7%, only 0.3% lower than Kyushu TV's midday variety shows!"

Yuta Tanaka, the director in charge of the afternoon children's program, came over and pointed to the data for the "15:00-16:00" segment on the report, his tone slightly smug: "Our afternoon animation rerun slot had been hovering around 6% before, but yesterday we added a short clip of Kumamon reminding viewers to 'look into the distance to protect their eyes after watching animation,' and the ratings jumped to 8.1%! The Parents' Association even sent a fax to praise us, saying that this kind of reminder is more effective than the teacher saying it ten times."

As he listened to the reports, the smile on Kinoshita's face gradually faded. He pointed heavily at the "6.2%" rating for the evening slot, his tone full of regret: "It's a pity, the evening slot still hasn't improved. The prime-time drama ratings are just over 5%, which is nothing compared to Kyushu TV's samurai dramas. Our station only has the morning, noon, and evening news slots that are competitive; the other broadcast slots are still far behind."

At this moment, everyone sighed in unison.

Takahashi Seiji put down the report and said, "Deputy Director, please don't be too hasty. The main issue is that all three news programs are broadcast simultaneously across Japan, so the content is the same no matter where the audience watches it. Naturally, they would prefer to choose the channel where they can watch the Kumamon short film after finishing the news. But the programs in other time slots... are either old-fashioned family dramas or repetitive old variety shows, which the audience is already tired of."

“That’s exactly what I mean!” Aya Suzuki neatly stacked the postcards, her tone tinged with grievance: “Last time I recommended our station’s evening variety shows to a friend, she directly said, ‘Besides Kumamon, what else is worth watching on your station?’ I couldn’t argue with that.”

Yuta Tanaka nodded in agreement: "It would be great if we could have a good program like TV Tokyo's 'Tales of the Unusual,' or even a new children's program. It would be better than replaying old cartoons every day."

As everyone was talking, light footsteps came from the office door, and the publicity minister, Yamada Ichiro, and Fujiwara Isshin walked in side by side.

After listening to their discussion, Yamada Ichiro put his briefcase down on the table and said with a sigh, "I heard everything you said. The changes brought about by Kumamon have indeed exceeded expectations. Our station's daily viewership in the Kyushu region is now firmly in second place, only 1.2 percentage points behind Kyushu TV. Who could have imagined this three months ago?"

Holding the audience survey data just compiled by the prefectural government, Fujiwara Isshin added, "The prefectural government has also received a lot of feedback. Some travel agencies say that the number of people inquiring about Kumamoto tourism has increased by 30% recently, and the Kumamon plush toys in the surrounding stores have been out of stock three times. Hiroshi-san's design has really brought the name 'Kumamoto' to life."

Deputy Director Kinoshita's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned to Fujiwara Isshin, his tone filled with obvious expectation: "Isshin-san, you and Nohara Hiroshi-san are relatives, could... could you ask him to make a program for our station? Like 'Super Transformation,' even a short segment would be fine! With him overseeing it, the program quality will definitely be guaranteed, and we might even be able to surpass Kyushu TV!"

As soon as he said that, the office fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on Fujiwara Isshin.

Seiji Takahashi even leaned forward a little, holding a pen in his hand, as if he was ready to jot down program ideas at any moment.

Fujiwara Isshin shook his head with a wry smile, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the research data: "I had thought about this before. When I visited Koyama's house last week, I specifically observed Hiroshi-san's condition. Even on his vacation, he spends six hours a day drawing manga. His table is piled with original manuscripts of 'Yu Yu Hakusho,' 'Doraemon,' and 'Midnight Diner.' He even revises storyboards while eating. I really didn't have the heart to say anything—he carries too heavy a burden."

"A heavy burden? How heavy can it be?" Just as Deputy Director Kinoshita was about to ask further, Takahashi Seiji tugged at his arm.

The veteran director cleared his throat, his tone full of admiration: "Deputy Director, you haven't been following TV Tokyo's developments. The things Hiroshi Nohara is in charge of right now are astonishing—the anime 'Yamishibai' is still being serialized, and he has to give the final approval to the storyboards for each episode; the drama 'Tales of the Unusual' requires him to go through the scripts for three episodes every week, and he also has to decide on the casting for the live-action version of 'Midnight Diner'; although the variety show 'Super Transformation' is handled by Section Chief Kei Tanaka, he still has to make the final decisions on the design of important segments."

Holding the postcard, Aya Suzuki added quietly, "I saw in the Asahi Shimbun last week that he just finished filming the sequel to Seven Samurai and is preparing for the preliminary research for Hachiko Monogatari. Not to mention his manga, Yu Yu Hakusho is a top seller in Weekly Shonen Jump, Doraemon's collected volumes sold 50,000 copies in its first week, and Midnight Diner has even been translated into English and sold overseas... He alone is practically worth half a production company."

Shota Sato, the newly hired intern, was so shocked that he almost dropped his pen: "My God! So much stuff? Does he even get enough sleep? I thought 'Super Transformation' was a team effort, but it turns out he's the core of it all... No wonder the show's ideas are so original. No one else could come up with the idea of ​​'using their body to mimic the lights of Tokyo Tower'."

Deputy Director Kinoshita suddenly realized, not even noticing the report slipping from his hand onto the table. His tone was full of shock: "So... so he has to manage so many things? I only knew he was a director before, I didn't expect him to be so good at comics... My grandson watches Doraemon every day, saying he wants to be like Nobita when he grows up, and he even asked me, 'Does Doraemon's pocket really exist?'"

"More than these."

Fujiwara Isshin sighed and spread the research data on the table: "The prefectural government wants to collaborate with him to make a tourism promotional video for Kumamoto, Shueisha wants him to adapt 'Doraemon' into an anime, and even the Ministry of Education has approached him. He receives more than a dozen phone calls every day, and his pager rings from morning till night. Even Misae-san said that he sometimes revises the script at two or three in the morning."

The office fell completely silent, with only the clicking of the printer echoing in the air.

Looking at the viewership ratings on the report, and recalling his expectant tone, Deputy Director Kinoshita felt a little embarrassed: "I was being presumptuous... I didn't expect Hiroshi Nohara to be so busy. We really shouldn't have troubled him any further."

Yamada Ichiro gently patted Vice President Kinoshita on the shoulder, his tone tinged with relief: "Don't be too disappointed. Kumamon is already a great gift he gave to our Kumamoto Prefectural Station—with this character, our news slots can maintain stable viewership, and the revenue sharing from related merchandise can subsidize production costs. What we need to do next is to make good use of the Kumamon IP, such as developing more short film content, or collaborating with local businesses to organize offline events, and gradually build up our audience base."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the office, his tone becoming firm: "I've already applied for special funding from the prefectural government, and I plan to launch a series of short films called 'Kumamon Takes You Around Kumamoto' next month. There will be two episodes a week, each five minutes long, taking viewers to attractions like Mount Aso and Kumamoto Castle, and also promoting local cuisine. Although it's not produced by Hiroshi Nohara himself, we can learn from his creative approach—using heartwarming stories to touch the audience and using adorable characters to bridge the gap."

Deputy Director Kinoshita's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up a pen to circle something on the report: "That's a great idea! We can have Kumamon 'get lost' in the short film, and then meet local residents who help him. This will showcase the tourist attractions and also reflect the warmth of Kumamoto's people. Takahashi-san, you're very experienced, how about we put you in charge of directing this short film?"

Seiji Takahashi nodded immediately, his eyes behind his reading glasses brimming with enthusiasm: "No problem! I'll go write up the shooting plan right away, and try to start filming next week!"

Ayaya Suzuki raised her hand, her voice full of excitement: "I can be in charge of the audience interaction segment! We can let the audience vote on the places Kumamon should visit next, and we can also collect their stories, which might be used in the short film!"

Yuta Tanaka stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "I think we could add a short segment called 'Kumamon Learns Dialect,' for example, teaching the audience to say 'hello' and 'thank you' in Kumamoto. It would be fun and would also spread local culture, which kids would definitely love."

Seeing everyone's renewed enthusiasm, Yamada Ichiro smiled.

He picked up the Kumamon plush toy from the table and gently placed it in the center of the conference table: "Everyone, Hiroshi Nohara has given us a good start. Now it's up to us to work hard. I believe that as long as we put our heart into creating content, one day, Kumamoto TV will become the number one in the Kyushu region, and even make a name for itself throughout Japan!"

Fujiwara Isshin couldn't help but smile at the lively scene before him.

He recalled seeing Hiroshi Nohara drawing Kumamon comics in the study of Koyama's house yesterday—under the desk lamp, the man in casual clothes was focused on adding reflective details to Kumamon's red vest, with a faint smile on his lips.

He then understood that Hiroshi Nohara's success was not only due to his talent, but also because he always managed to hide "warmth" in his works.

Whether it's a bowl of miso soup in "Midnight Diner" or Kumamon's clumsy bow, they can all touch the softest part of people's hearts.

The sunlight outside the office grew warmer and warmer, shining through the blinds onto the Kumamon plush toy and giving its round ears a golden edge.

The production team's discussions resumed, this time filled with hope—everyone spoke freely about the filming locations for the short film, the format of audience interaction, and how to make Kumamon more popular, as if they could already see what the future of the television station would look like.

Deputy Director Kinoshita picked up the report, drew an upward arrow next to the "6.2%" for the evening slot, and muttered, "Once 'Kumamon Takes You on a Tour of Kumamoto' airs, our evening ratings will definitely rise! Kyushu TV will be worried then!"

Seiji Takahashi had already begun writing the filming plan. The sound of his pen scratching across the paper, intertwined with the sounds of everyone's discussions, created the most vibrant morning on Kumamoto TV.

And the starting point of all this, the man named Hiroshi Nohara, is probably in the study of the Koyama family right now, conceiving a new story for his next manga—unaware that the "warmth" he planted has already quietly sprouted in the land of Kumamoto.

……

But at this point in the conversation, Yamada Ichiro seemed to have thought of something. After saying goodbye to the people from the prefectural government, he took Fujiwara Isshin outside.

Fujiwara Isshin, who was still packing his things, was still somewhat confused.

"Isshin-kun! This way, let's go!"

Yamada Ichiro leaned against the door of the black Toyota Crown, holding the prefectural government's official briefcase in his left hand and shaking the silver car key in his right. The Kumamon pendant hanging from the metal key chain shimmered in the sunlight. "Governor Muto has always been very concerned about Kumamon. We need to go and report the latest situation of Kumamon to him. This is a rare sign of his concern."

"Should we go report to Governor Muto?"

Fujiwara Isshin looked up upon hearing this and carefully tucked the last tray of ingredients into his dark gray briefcase.

That was the complete data that I worked with the TV station's editing team until 3 a.m. last night, and even the age segmentation of the audience for each short film was clearly marked.

He walked quickly to the car and, as he opened the door, reminded him, "Minister Yamada, the footage is all in the passenger-side glove compartment. When you report later, you need to focus on the response during the lunch break. The 'Kumamon visits the horse meat market' segment received nearly two hundred more letters from viewers than last week."

"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

Ichiro Yamada started the car, the engine's low growl particularly clear in the quiet parking lot. He casually turned on the radio, and the morning news from Kumamoto Prefecture was playing. The host, speaking in a Kumamoto dialect, said, "...Yesterday, sales of Kumamon merchandise reached a new high. The plush toys in major department stores throughout the prefecture are basically sold out, and manufacturers are urgently restocking..."

“Listen to this, the hype is no joke.” Yamada Ichiro laughed and turned up the volume, tapping his fingers lightly on the steering wheel: “Governor Muto has been talking about Kumamon every day lately. At last week’s prefectural meeting, he even said that he wanted to make this character Kumamoto’s ‘new calling card’.”

Fujiwara Isshin looked out the car window. The breakfast shops on both sides of the street had already opened for business. The words "Tonkotsu Ramen" and "Oden" on the wooden signs exuded a lively atmosphere. Occasionally, students in school uniforms would ride by on bicycles, with notebooks printed with Kumamon patterns in their baskets.

He suddenly remembered that when he talked to Masaya on the phone the day before yesterday, Masaya said that Yume had specially asked a classmate to bring a Kumamon pencil case from Kumamoto City, which she carried in her schoolbag every day to show off.

"However, the governor values ​​Kumamon not just to boost tourism."

As soon as the car drove away from the parking lot, Yamada Ichiro suddenly lowered his voice, his eyes revealing a deeper meaning: "Next year is the governor's re-election year. Kumamoto's economic data is not good right now. Agricultural exports have dropped by 12% compared to last year, and two textile factories have gone out of business. The governor is eager to produce some impressive achievements—the popularity brought by Kumamon can be used as a 'people's livelihood card'."

Fujiwara Isshin paused for a moment, his fingers gripping the briefcase.

He had spent five years in the Ministry of Finance, and he knew all too well the intricacies behind the word "re-election".

Masao Muto served in Kumamoto for eight years and had a decent reputation, but when Tokyo Governor Ryuichi Koike visited last year, he subtly mentioned that "local development needs to focus more on innovation," a remark that has bothered Governor Muto ever since.

"But I am, after all, a finance professional."

Fujiwara Isshin frowned, his tone hesitant: "I only know the basics of the publicity process, such as approving event budgets and supervising the use of funds, which I can handle. But if you ask me to do campaign publicity planning, such as how to organize offline events and how to maintain media relations, I definitely can't do it—if I mess it up, it will only implicate the governor."

The car stopped at a red light. Yamada Ichiro turned to look at him, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Isshin-kun, you're being too modest. It's precisely because you understand finance that you're the most suitable candidate. Think about it, how much does campaign publicity cost? Venue rental, material production, media placement—which expense doesn't go through the Ministry of Finance? By coordinating things, you can ensure that the funds are spent wisely and keep an eye on the publicity department to prevent any 'wasteful spending'—that's exactly what Governor Muto values ​​in you."

He pulled out a pack of Seven Stars cigarettes from his suit pocket, took one out but didn't light it, and twirled it between his fingers: "Besides, the promotion path in the propaganda department is much faster than in the finance department. If you help the governor with the propaganda for his re-election, he might be transferred to the Comprehensive Policy Bureau after he wins the re-election. Then you'll be in contact with the core affairs of the county government, which is much better than staring at the ledgers every day."

As the green light turned on, Yamada Ichiro stepped on the gas, and the car smoothly merged into the traffic.

As Fujiwara Isshin watched the walls of Kumamoto Castle flash past the window, a different thought suddenly came to mind.

He recalled his father, Fujimoto Maru, often saying, "Opportunity favors the prepared mind." Perhaps this was truly an opportunity he couldn't miss.

The off-white exterior of the county government building stood out in the morning light. Two life-sized Kumamon plush toys were placed next to the stone lions at the entrance, attracting passing employees to stop and take pictures.

As soon as the two entered the hall, they saw Governor Muto's secretary, Kobayashi, quickly approach them: "Minister Yamada, Mr. Fujiwara, the governor is already waiting for you in his office. He specifically instructed that you don't need to announce your arrival; just go in directly."

Pushing open the door to the governor's office, the first thing that catches the eye is a panoramic map of Kumamoto hanging on the wall, with the locations of various municipalities marked in red on the map, and several promotional posters of Kumamon posted next to it.

Muto Masao sat in a black leather chair, holding a document in his hand. Seeing them enter, he immediately put down the document and pointed to the sofa opposite him: "Have a seat. Did you just come from the TV station? Was there any traffic on the way?"

"Thank you for your concern, Governor. The journey was smooth."

The two bowed simultaneously, and Yamada Ichiro took the briefcase from Fujiwara Isshin and placed it on the coffee table: "We brought the latest ratings report and audience feedback. Would you like to take a look?"

"Let's talk about the data first, I can hear it more clearly."

Muto Masao leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze falling on Fujiwara Isshin: "Isshin-kun, you've dealt with Nohara Hiroshi-san the most, so you go first."

Fujiwara Isshin immediately stood up, his tone respectful yet composed: "Governor, according to the latest statistics from the television station, the broadcast performance of Kumamon-related short videos last week was as follows: The 'Kumamon Teaches How to Make Breakfast' segment, broadcast during the morning news slot (7:00-7:30), achieved an average viewership rating of 12.8%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from last week, with female viewers aged 25-45 accounting for 62% of the total."

"The 'Kumamon Visits the Horse Meat Market' segment, broadcast at 12:15 PM, achieved an average viewership rating of 14.2%, peaking at 16.7%, setting a new record for our county's station this year."

"The 'Kumamon Eye Care Reminder' segment after the 3 PM children's program saw its viewership rise from 7.9% last week to 8.5%. The Parents' Association even sent a fax to praise it, saying it was very helpful for children's eye care education."

He paused, then took a stack of letters from viewers from his briefcase and handed them to Masao Muto:

“These are the audience feedback letters we received last week, a total of 427. 89% of the letters said that ‘because of Kumamon, I started paying attention to Kumamoto’s attractions and food.’ 132 audience members inquired about ‘whether there are Kumamon-themed tour packages.’ Travel agencies have also reported that the number of people inquiring about Kumamoto tours has increased by 35% recently, especially families from Tokyo and Osaka who want to bring their children to see ‘the bowing bear.’” Masao Muto picked up a letter with a crooked drawing of Kumamon on it. Next to it, written in pencil, “I want to eat strawberry daifuku with Kumamon,” and signed “Hanako Suzuki, second grade, Kumamoto Municipal Elementary School.”

He looked at the painting, a slight smile unconsciously curving his lips. He looked up at the two of them and said, “Very good. This data is even better than I expected. Hiroshi Nohara is indeed talented. I watched his film Seven Samurai before and felt that he had a very accurate grasp of ‘emotional resonance’—the key to Kumamon’s popularity is that it has grasped the two points of ‘cuteness’ and ‘down-to-earthness’.”

Yamada Ichiro immediately replied:
“Governor, you are wise! I have already discussed this with the publicity department and we plan to combine Kumamon's publicity with your campaign. For example, next month we will organize a ‘Kumamon Goes to the Community’ event, where Kumamon will deliver bento boxes to nursing homes in various municipalities and organize drawing competitions at elementary schools, while also promoting your achievements in elderly care and education over the past few years; we will also launch a ‘Kumamon Limited Travel Package’, where tourists who purchase the package will receive a commemorative badge with your name on it, which will both boost the tourism industry and increase your exposure.”

"That's a good idea."

Muto Masao nodded, then turned his gaze to Fujiwara Isshin: "Isshin-kun, I'd like you to join my campaign team, mainly to be responsible for auditing and supervising campaign funds. You've worked in the Ministry of Finance for many years and are familiar with financial processes, which can help prevent the problem of 'misuse of funds.' Moreover, you have a close relationship with Nohara Hiroshi-san, so if we need his help designing new Kumamon content later, it will be easier to communicate."

Fujiwara Isshin was taken aback; he hadn't expected Governor Muto to invite him so directly.

This is not only a recognition of his abilities, but also a rare opportunity for promotion. It should be noted that most of the candidates in Governor Muto's campaign team are senior officials from the prefectural government and local councilors. There are almost no candidates like him who joined before the age of thirty.

He immediately stood up and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your trust, Governor! I will do my best to audit the funds and will not let you down!"

"Don't be so formal."

Muto Masao waved his hand, took a document from his drawer, and handed it to Fujiwara Isshin: "This is the activity schedule drafted by the Public Relations Department. Take a look at it first, and let me know if there's anything inappropriate. By the way, next time you meet with Nohara Hiroshi-san, talk to him and see if you can design some new Kumamon content, such as making a series of short films to introduce my policies on agriculture, education, and healthcare over the past few years—it doesn't have to be too deliberate, just integrate the policies into the story, such as Kumamon visiting a newly built agricultural cooperative or experiencing new medical equipment at the prefectural hospital."

"Hi! I'll communicate with Hiroshi-san as soon as possible." Fujiwara Isshin took the document, his fingertips brushing over keywords such as "agricultural revitalization" and "medical security," already planning how to bring it up with Nohara Hiroshi.

Muto Masao suddenly coughed lightly, his tone becoming somewhat subtle: "However, when you talk to Hiroshi Nohara, please don't mention that this is related to my election."

Fujiwara Isshin was stunned, his face full of doubt: "Why? Hiroshi-san isn't the kind of person who would refuse to help. He would definitely support anything that benefits Kumamoto."

Yamada Ichiro chuckled beside him, patting Fujiwara Isshin on the shoulder: "Isshin-kun, you're still too young. Hiroshi Nohara is a big shot from Tokyo, a third-tier director at TV Tokyo, with his own production department, and his manga is top-tier at Shueisha. He has very high standards. If we directly say 'we want your help with the election campaign,' he'll inevitably feel like we're using him—after all, he has a personal relationship with Tokyo Governor Ryuichi Koike, and if word gets out, it won't be good for him."

Muto Masao sighed as well, gently stroking the Kumamon plushie on the table with his fingers: "Yamada is right. Kumamoto is a remote domain, and whether we can be re-elected smoothly ultimately depends on the attitude of Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo City. Right now, Tokyo Governor Ryuichi Koike and Tokyo Mayor Mikami Tanaka are locked in a bitter feud, and nobody knows who will ultimately take power. Hiroshi Nohara has the resources of TV Tokyo, and we can't let him think we're forming cliques, otherwise, if someone else changes in Tokyo, our prefectural government's work will be difficult to carry out."

Fujiwara Isshin then realized what was going on.

He was only thinking about how to conduct the publicity campaign, but he didn't consider the complex political relationships behind it.

Hiroshi Nohara does indeed have extensive connections in Tokyo. He not only attended the Tokyo Culture Festival with Ryuichi Koike, but also has a close personal relationship with Yoshihiro Shimazu, the president of TV Tokyo. If these people find out that Kumamoto is using Hiroshi Nohara for election campaigning, it will certainly cause unnecessary trouble.

“I understand.” Fujiwara Isshin nodded solemnly, carefully folding the document and putting it into his briefcase. “When I communicate with Hiroshi-san, I will only mention the cultural promotion and tourism promotion of Kumamoto, and never mention the election. For example, I will tell him that I want to make a series of short films to introduce the agricultural and medical achievements of Kumamoto and attract more people to live and work in Kumamoto. This way, the promotional effect is achieved without making him feel resistant.”

Muto Masao smiled with satisfaction, picked up the matcha on the table and took a sip: "Very good. You are reliable and I trust you. In the coming days, you will have to work hard, doing your job in the Ministry of Finance while also taking care of your campaign team. If there is anything that needs the prefectural government to coordinate, just tell me or Yamada, and we will fully support you."

"Hi! Thanks, Governor!"

Fujiwara Isshin bowed again, his heart filled with enthusiasm. Looking at the Kumamon plushie on his desk, he suddenly realized that this adorable little bear was not only Kumamoto's mascot, but might also become an important opportunity for his career development.

When I left the governor's office, the corridor was already bustling with activity. Staff members were hurrying along with their documents, and I could occasionally hear them discussing the "new Kumamon short film."

Yamada Ichiro patted Fujiwara Isshin on the shoulder, his tone tinged with satisfaction: "Do a good job, Isshin-kun. Governor Muto values ​​you highly. If you can help him get re-elected this time, your future will be limitless."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded, his gaze falling on the Kumamon poster on the corridor wall—in the poster, Kumamon was wearing a red vest, holding a sign that read "Welcome to Kumamoto," and smiling adorably.

He suddenly remembered what Hiroshi Nohara had said: "A good work should be able to connect people with the place and allow more people to feel the warmth of the place."

It now appears that Kumamon has achieved this.

What he needs to do next is to make this "warmth" a driving force for the development of Kumamoto.

When I returned to my office at the Ministry of Finance, the phone on my desk rang.

Fujiwara Isshin picked up the receiver, and Maya's gentle voice came through: "Isshin, do you want to come home for dinner tonight? Mom made your favorite tonkotsu ramen, and she also said she wants to discuss the engagement party favors with you."

Fujiwara Isshin's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, and her tone softened: "Okay, I'll go home after get off work. By the way, Maya, have you contacted Misae? I want to ask her if Hiroshi-san is free lately. I have some things I want to talk to him about regarding the Kumamon promotion."

“Misa told me yesterday that Hiroshi-kun is going back to Tokyo next week.” Masa’s voice was tinged with regret: “After all, Hiroshi-kun only has a two-week vacation, and it will be over soon.”

Fujiwara Isshin pursed his lips, and immediately made up his mind: "I understand, I'll go over now."

After hanging up the phone, Fujiwara Isshin sat at his desk and opened the schedule of events given to him by Governor Muto.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell onto the paper, giving the words "community activities" and "tourism packages" a golden edge.

He picked up his pen and wrote "Discuss short film matters with Hiroshi Nohara this weekend" next to "Funding Review". The scratching sound of the pen tip across the paper seemed to be the prelude to the busy work to come.

He knew the next few months would be tough, as he would have to balance his duties at the Ministry of Finance with the affairs of his campaign team, as well as coordinate communications with the television station, the production company, and Hiroshi Nohara.

But he knew even more clearly that this was a rare opportunity—

Not only can they contribute to the development of Kumamoto, but they can also realize their career aspirations.

Just as Hiroshi Nohara proved his directing skills with "Seven Samurai" and won the hearts of readers with "Doraemon," he also wants to use this promotional campaign to prove his abilities and carve out his own niche in the prefectural government.

At 3 p.m., Fujiwara Isshin received a call from the publicity department, saying that they had contacted three nursing homes and two elementary schools in Kumamoto City, and the community event next month could be held as scheduled.

He wrote down the time and place in his notebook and called the TV station to confirm the filming progress of the Kumamon short film.

Everything was progressing smoothly, just as he had anticipated.

However, before the end of the workday, Fujiwara Isshin left the office early to discuss Governor Muto Masao's arrangements with Nohara Hiroshi.

He needed to organize his thoughts and have a proper conversation with Hiroshi Nohara!

……

Afternoon, at Xiaoshan's house.

A faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted through the courtyard. Hiroshi Nohara sat on the tatami mats under the eaves, holding an HB pencil, drawing storyboards for Isshin Fujiwara's Kumamon costume drama.

On the manuscript paper, a little bear wearing a red vest is holding a wooden sword and engaging in a "duel" with the villain. His movements are clumsy but cute.

Fujiwara Isshin sat opposite him, holding the newly printed script for the suit drama, occasionally pointing to the storyboard and offering suggestions for revision: "Hiroshi-san, could you have Kumamon fall down here, then pull a dorayaki out of his pocket and stand up? Kids would definitely love to see these little accidents."

Hiroshi Nohara glanced in the direction he was pointing, added a small dorayaki pattern next to the storyboard with his pen, and said with a smile, "Okay. But be careful about the range of motion of the costume, don't make it too strenuous for the actor. When we were filming the promotional video last time, the actor playing Kumamon said that his view would be blocked when he bent down to pick something up, so we had to make a mark on the ground beforehand."

"I got it!"

Fujiwara Isshin quickly made notes on the script, his eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you so much. I shouldn't have taken up your rest time, but the prefectural government is urging us to air the first episode before the Kumamoto Castle Cultural Festival."

"It's alright, I'm going to draw comics anyway, changing the subject will actually help me relax." Hiroshi Nohara put down his pencil, picked up the green tea on the table and took a sip, his gaze falling on Yumeya playing in the courtyard.

The little girl was hugging her Kumamon plushie and playing "role-playing" with the neighbor's child, chanting, "I am the righteous Kumamon, and I will protect everyone."

They are quirky and extremely cute.

"By the way, the county government would like to discuss something with you."

Fujiwara Isshin put down the script, his tone cautious: "After watching the promotional video for Kumamon, Governor Muto felt that this character could be developed into Kumamoto's 'cultural calling card,' and would like to ask you to help design a complete IP development plan, including merchandise, offline events, and even Kumamon's 'persona story.' The governor said that if the plan is approved, the prefectural government is willing to provide special funds and establish a dedicated operations team."

He said this with great trepidation.

And nothing about the election was revealed.

Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara tapped the storyboard lightly with his fingers, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The character story can revolve around 'Kumamon's search for its hometown,' starting from Kumamoto Castle and traveling to places like Mount Aso and Kurokawa Onsen, encountering different people and events. This will not only showcase Kumamoto's local customs and culture but also make the character more three-dimensional. As for merchandise, in addition to the usual plush toys and stickers, we can also develop 'Kumamon-limited' local specialties, such as strawberry jam and tonkotsu ramen seasoning packets printed with the bear's image. This will not only boost the economy but also help tourists remember Kumamoto."

"That's a good idea!"

Fujiwara Isshin's eyes lit up, and he quickly took out his notebook to write: "We can hold a 'Kumamon parade' for offline activities, with actors wearing costumes interacting with students at schools and shopping malls. We can also hold a 'Kumamon drawing competition' to invite children to participate. This will increase audience engagement."

Moreover, all of these can be linked to the election.

Fujiwara Isshin exclaimed, "This could easily be done every quarter!"

Hiroshi Nohara nodded and added, "We also need to pay attention to the 'tone' of the IP. The core of Kumamon is 'cuteness' and 'warmth.' It cannot be overly commercialized, nor can it exhibit behaviors that are inconsistent with its character. For example, it cannot endorse tobacco and alcohol products, and it must be polite during interactions. Even if a child mischievously pulls its ear, it must respond in a gentle manner—details are what make the image last."

"You've thought of everything so thoroughly!"

Fujiwara Isshin closed his notebook, his tone full of admiration: "I will organize your ideas into a plan tomorrow and submit it to Governor Muto. If the plan is approved, the prefectural government will definitely send a formal letter inviting you to serve as the 'Kumamoto Cultural Advisor,' and I will have to trouble you with your help then."

Hiroshi Nohara smiled and shook his head: "I'm just offering some ideas; the actual implementation will depend on the prefectural government and the operations team. By the way, Misae's 'Future Manga Club' has recently recruited a lot of new people. If IP development needs support in terms of manga and illustration, we can let them participate—the manga artists in the club are all very talented. The illustrations they drew for 'Doraemon' received very good feedback from readers."

"That's wonderful!" Fujiwara Isshin said excitedly. "This will reduce costs and provide opportunities for local young people. Governor Muto will definitely be happy. I'll go back and coordinate with the prefectural government's publicity department to finalize the details of the cooperation as soon as possible."

"YOOOHU~" As the two were chatting, Mengya's cheers suddenly came from the courtyard.

The little girl ran to the porch, holding a Kumamon plush toy, and proudly presented it to Hiroshi Nohara: "Brother-in-law! Look! I made a new hat for Kumamon! It's made of cherry blossom petals, isn't it pretty?"

Hiroshi Nohara took the doll, looked at the little hat made of pink petals, and couldn't help but smile: "Beautiful! Yumeya is so creative. If this idea were used in a Kumamon short film, it would definitely be very popular."

Upon hearing the praise, Mengya immediately puffed out her little chest and proudly said, "Really? Then I'll make clothes for Kumamon! Some with strawberry patterns, some with star patterns, so it can wear a new outfit every day!"

Looking at the scene before him, Fujiwara Isshin suddenly had an idea. He leaned close to Nohara Hiroshi's ear and whispered, "Hiroshi-san, why don't we let Yume participate in the 'Kumamon Costume Design Competition'? Let's make it the theme of 'Designing new clothes for Kumamon,' and let her be a 'special guest judge.' This way, we can encourage her and also increase the topicality of the competition."

Hiroshi Nohara paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "That's a good idea, Yumeya will definitely be happy. But we need to make it clear to her beforehand that the judges must be fair and impartial, and cannot favor a particular work just because they like it—we need to make her understand that responsibility is more important than interest."

Mengya had no idea that she was about to become a "special guest judge" and was holding her doll, discussing with the neighbor's child, "We're going to the park tomorrow to play hide-and-seek with Kumamon."

Sunlight filtered through the osmanthus branches, casting dappled patterns of light on her. The little girl's laughter mingled with the chirping of cicadas in the courtyard, radiating childlike innocence.

Seeing this, Hiroshi Nohara picked up a pencil and added a scene on the last page of the storyboard: "Kumamon and children holding hands and playing in the park."

As he listened to the soft scratching of his pen across the paper, he suddenly realized that perhaps this was the meaning of creation—not only to produce excellent works, but also to bring joy and hope to people through heartwarming stories.

(End of this chapter)