I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 230 of the manga is complete! An invitation from Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Masao Muto! Lunch after the meeting!
Sunlight streamed through the wooden lattice window of the study on the second floor of the Koyama family home, casting shadows of branches on the tatami mats. A faint scent of ink and paper filled the air.

Hiroshi Nohara sat at the low table, and the HB pencil in his right hand finally made the last stroke—a total of ninety chapters of manga, thirty chapters each of Yu Yu Hakusho, Doraemon, and Midnight Diner, were finally finished.

He leaned back on the cushion, stretched out a big yawn, his joints making a slight "click" sound, and his eyes revealed undisguised relaxation.

The drawings on the table were neatly stacked, the three thick stacks of original manuscripts resembling three small mountain peaks. The storyboards on each page were precise and smooth, and the kana in the speech bubbles were so neatly arranged that they looked like printed text. Even the steaming miso soup in "Midnight Diner" and the sugar frosting on dorayaki in "Doraemon" were vividly depicted with light ink.

"Brother-in-law~"

Suddenly, soft footsteps came from the doorway, carrying a hint of sneakiness.

Hiroshi Nohara looked up and saw Yumeya carrying a celadon teacup, slowly moving in, her eyes glancing at the sketches on the table every now and then, her little thoughts impossible to hide.

"This is green tea that Mom made. Brother-in-law, you've been drawing for so long, have some water and take a break." Mengya handed over the teacup, her voice soft, but her fingertips couldn't help touching the top stack of Doraemon manuscripts, her eyes sparkling.

Hiroshi Nohara took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm rim. He couldn't help but laugh, deliberately shaking the cup. "This tea, Yumeya, isn't just for quenching my thirst, is it? It looks like your eyes are glued to the drawing."

"No, no!" Mengya's cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, but she still couldn't help but mutter softly, "It's just that I think my brother-in-law draws well... and... and other readers have to wait for the magazine to be serialized, I would be so happy if I could read it in advance."

"Oh? If other readers knew that a little girl had peeked at the plot in advance, wouldn't they think it's unfair?" Hiroshi Nohara took a sip of green tea, looking at Yumeya's pouting lips, his tone full of teasing.

"No way!" Mengya suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide open, like an angry little hamster: "I'm my brother-in-law's most loyal reader! Whether it's Yusuke fighting in 'Yu Yu Hakusho,' Nobita and Doraemon going on adventures in 'Doraemon,' or the tamagoyaki made by the owner of 'Midnight Diner,' I love them all! Last time my classmates were talking about comics at school, I said I knew the author of 'Yu Yu Hakusho,' and they didn't believe me. I even argued with them!"

As she spoke, she vigorously clenched her little fist, her earnest expression making Hiroshi Nohara burst out laughing.

"What are you two talking about, laughing so happily?"

Footsteps sounded at the door again, and Misae walked in wearing a light purple pajamas, carrying a small plate of strawberries.

She leaned against the door frame, glancing at the drawings on the table with a sly smile: "Mengya isn't peeking, she's just concerned about her brother-in-law's work and wants to 'supervise' him to make sure he hasn't made any mistakes—besides, what's wrong with liking comics? I even want to see them in advance."

"Second sister, you want to see it too?" Mengya's eyes lit up, and she immediately tugged at Meiya's sleeve: "Look, even my brother-in-law is teasing me, you have to put in a good word for me!"

Hiroshi Nohara shook his head helplessly as he watched the two sisters singing in unison. He pushed the three stacks of drawings towards the center and said, "You can look if you want, but you have to agree to one condition."

"What are the conditions? As long as I can see it, I'll agree to anything!" Mengya immediately leaned over, nodding her little head like a rattle drum.

"After you finish reading it, you absolutely cannot tell anyone about the plot." Hiroshi Nohara's tone became more serious, and he lightly tapped the artwork with his fingertips: "This is all content that hasn't been serialized yet. If it's leaked in advance, it will not only be unfair to other readers, but it will also be difficult to explain to Shueisha—you two have to keep your mouths shut, understand?"

"We know!" Misae and Yume answered in unison, their faces beaming with joy.

Mengya even knelt down on the tatami mat and reached out to pick up the top Doraemon manuscript. Meiya also came over, and the two sisters, head to head, flipped through the pages one by one.

"Wow! Nobita actually used the Anywhere Door to go to Antarctica! And he even played with penguins!" Mengya's voice was full of amazement as she pointed at the penguins on the drawing: "Sukkomi! Doraemon's thermal jacket is so cute!"

“Look at this ‘Midnight Diner’, the owner actually made oyakodon for the customers, and the customers cried and said, ‘It tastes just like my mom’s…’” Misae’s voice softened, and her fingertips gently brushed over the oyakodon on the drawing: “Brother-in-law drew it so gently, it makes me want to eat.”

"And this! Yusuke actually used Spirit Gun's new technique!" Mengya suddenly raised her voice, her eyes widening: "My brother-in-law is such a good drawer! I can already picture the fight!"

Hiroshi Nohara sat beside them, sipping green tea, and watched the two sisters huddled together, completely absorbed in their manga. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Sunlight fell on their hair, gilding it with a light gold. Mengya would occasionally clap her hands excitedly because of the plot, while Meiya would softly marvel at the delicacy of the visuals—this feeling of having one's work genuinely appreciated was more joyful than any praise.

His confidence and vanity quietly surfaced, and his fingertips gently caressed the rim of the teacup.

Although most of these stories come from memories of past lives, it is something to be proud of to be able to present them with my own paintbrush and to have the people around me like them so much.

I couldn't help but think of the original authors from my past life—Yoshihiro Togashi of Yu Yu Hakusho, Fujiko F. Fujio of Doraemon, Yaro Abe of Midnight Diner… If they hadn't created these wonderful stories, I wouldn't be able to convey so much warmth through comics in this world.

"I don't know if you can hear me when I say thank you..." His tone was full of sincerity.

Yes, very sincere.

"Hiroshi! Hiroshi! Come down here quickly!"

Just as Hiroshi Nohara was lost in thought, Koyama Takasaya's voice suddenly came from downstairs, sounding both hurried and cheerful: "Masaya and Isshin are back! Isshin said he has something to tell you!"

Hiroshi Nohara put down his teacup and stood up: "I'll go take a look. You guys take your time looking at it, but don't mess up the drawings."

"I know, brother-in-law!" Mengya replied without looking up, still flipping through the manuscript of "Doraemon" in her hand. Meiya just waved her hand, her eyes completely glued to the drawing paper.

Hiroshi Nohara smiled, shook his head, and turned to walk downstairs.

As soon as I walked into the living room on the first floor, I saw Masaya Koyama and Isshin Fujiwara sitting on the sofa. Masaya was holding a cloth bag, which she must have picked up on her way back from school.

Fujiwara Isshin was wearing a navy blue suit and carrying a briefcase, looking like he had just finished get off work.

"Sister Masaya, Isshin-san, good afternoon." Hiroshi Nohara walked over, bowed slightly, and greeted them: "I just heard from Auntie that you were looking for me?"

"Good afternoon, Hiroshi-san." Fujiwara Isshin also stood up and bowed, speaking very politely: "Actually, I had something I wanted to confirm with you, and I just happened to drop Masaya-san off, so I came over."

Masaya added with a smile, "I was worried you were too busy drawing manga to see the pager, so I came straight over—by the way, Hiroshi, have you finished your manga? I think I heard Yumeya shout 'Wow, that's amazing' when I went upstairs."

"Just finished drawing it, all ninety chapters are done." Hiroshi Nohara sat down on the sofa next to him. "What did Isshin-san want to see me about? Is there a problem with the promotion for Kumamon?"

"No, no, the publicity went very smoothly." Fujiwara Isshin quickly waved his hand and took out a notebook from his briefcase: "Actually, I wanted to ask you when you plan to go back to Tokyo? There's something at the prefectural government that I might need to coordinate with you on, so I need to make arrangements in advance."

Hiroshi Nohara thought for a moment, then glanced at his watch—it was Friday. He had originally planned to finish organizing his drawings over the weekend and return to Tokyo next Monday, but since Fujiwara had asked, he figured he might as well go back earlier to avoid delaying his work at the TV station.

"I plan to fly back on Saturday night, and I can organize the artwork on Sunday so that I can go to Shueisha to submit the artwork on Monday. I can also check on the production department at the TV station."

"Leaving Saturday night?" Upon hearing this, Yoshiharu Koyama, who was sitting next to him, was the first to react. He put down his newspaper and said with a sigh, "Time flies! You've only been in Kumamoto for two weeks. It feels like we were just making tonkotsu soup together yesterday. Why are you leaving already? Aren't you going to stay a few more days? Yumeya said she wanted to take you to Mount Aso to see the scenery."

“Yes, Hiroshi.” Koyama Takaya came out of the kitchen carrying a fruit platter. Hearing this, he paused on the platter. “I was thinking of making your favorite horse meat sashimi on Sunday, and inviting Masaya and Isshin to have dinner together, as a farewell dinner—why not stay one more day?”

Maya nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with a hint of reluctance: "That's right, Hiroshi. It's rare for you to come to Kumamoto, and there are so many places you haven't been to yet. I told you about Kurokawa Onsen last time; the open-air baths there are especially comfortable, and you can even see snow when you go in winter. Although there's no snow now, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and it's particularly beautiful."

Fujiwara Isshin also expressed his regret: "I was thinking of inviting you to an izakaya next to Kumamoto Castle next week to try their grilled mackerel. I heard it tastes particularly authentic. It's a bit of a pity that you're leaving on Saturday."

Hiroshi Nohara felt a warmth in his heart as he saw everyone trying to persuade him to stay.

He smiled helplessly, "I would like to stay a few more days, but there are just too many things to take care of in Tokyo. On the manga side, Shueisha is waiting for the manuscripts to be scheduled, and the Doraemon anime adaptation still needs to be coordinated with the association; on the TV side, the script for the new episode of 'Tales of the Unusual' needs to be reviewed, and the casting for the live-action 'Midnight Diner' is also at a critical stage, so I really can't leave."

“Yeah, you’re much busier now than before.” Yoshiharu Koyama sighed, but then immediately perked up with pride. “But it’s no wonder, you’re a big shot on TV Tokyo now! I saw in the Asahi Shimbun last time that your film Seven Samurai won an award at the Kyoto Film Festival, and even Governor Koike personally went to congratulate you! And that Super Transformation show, my relative in Tokyo called last week to say that everyone in Tokyo is watching that variety show, even kindergarten kids are imitating the costumes!”

"That's right!" Koyama Koya leaned in, his voice full of pride. "Last time I went to the supermarket, the shopkeeper said to me, 'Your son-in-law is the director of "Midnight Diner," right? I read that manga every day, and I cry every time I read it. It's so heartwarming.' Hiroshi, you're the pride of Kumamoto now!"

Fujiwara Isshin nodded in agreement: "When the people in the prefectural government have meetings now, whenever cultural promotion comes up, they say, 'We should learn from Hiroshi Nohara's approach.' Governor Muto even said that your Kumamon design is more effective than the promotional advertisements that our prefectural government spent 300 million yen on. Now all of Japan knows about Kumamoto."

Hiroshi Nohara was a little embarrassed by the praise and quickly changed the subject: "This is all thanks to the team, not just my ability. By the way, Isshin-san, you just said that there was something to discuss with the prefectural government. What is it? If it's related to Kumamon, I should be able to take care of it before I leave."

Fujiwara Isshin then remembered the important matter, sat up straight, and his tone became serious: "Actually, Governor Muto wants to meet with you and invite you to lunch. He said that you are the biggest contributor to Kumamon's current popularity, and he must thank you in person. He also wants to talk to you about the subsequent IP development plan."

"Governor Muto wants to see Hiroshi?" Yoshiharu Koyama's eyes widened instantly, and the newspaper in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud." "That governor who governs the entire Kumamoto? He actually wants to see Hiroshi in person and have lunch together?"

Koyama Takaya almost dropped the fruit platter in his hands, quickly placing it on the table. His voice was full of disbelief: "My God! Governor Muto is usually so busy. Last time the prefectural government held an event, we had to book him a month in advance to cut the ribbon. And now he's actually asking to see Hiroshi? That's amazing!"

Masaya covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise: "I met Governor Muto once when I was working part-time at the prefectural government. He was very serious and spoke to people very formally. Now he's actually inviting Hiroshi to dinner? That's too surprising!"

Hiroshi Nohara was also taken aback.

He originally thought that after Kumamon became popular, the prefectural government would at most send a publicity minister to make contact, but he didn't expect that the governor would personally want to meet with him.

But on second thought, it makes sense—Kumamon not only boosted tourism but also made Kumamoto famous throughout Japan. As the top leader, Governor Muto would definitely want to personally thank him and, incidentally, cultivate a good relationship.

"It's definitely because of Kumamon."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded, his tone very certain: "Governor Muto said in a meeting yesterday that the number of tourists to Kumamoto has increased by 40% compared to last year, and the income of hotels and souvenir shops has doubled. This is all thanks to you. He also specifically told me that I must meet with you before you leave, even if it's just for half an hour, to thank you in person. If you don't have time, he said you can adjust your itinerary."

"Of course I have to go!" Yoshiharu Koyama said immediately, picking up the newspaper from the ground. His tone was very serious: "Governor Muto personally invited me. This is no ordinary dinner party; it concerns your reputation! Our family's farewell banquet can be held anytime, but you absolutely cannot refuse to meet with the governor!"

“Yoshiji is right.” Koyama Takaya chimed in, “You’re a director at TV Tokyo now, and you’re on good terms with Governor Koike. It’ll be good for you to get along with Governor Muto in the future. Besides, he genuinely wants to thank you. If we refuse, it would make us seem inconsiderate.”

Maya nodded in agreement: "That's right, Hiroshi. This is such a rare opportunity. Governor Muto rarely meets outsiders in person, but he's taking the initiative to meet you now, which shows that he values ​​you highly. You must go."

Seeing everyone saying the same thing, Hiroshi Nohara smiled and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't go. Being able to talk to Governor Muto about IP development would be good for the future development of Kumamon, and it would also help Misae's Mirai Manga Company get some cooperation opportunities. It's a good thing."

"That's great!"

Fujiwara Isshin immediately smiled and took out his phone: "I'll call Governor Muto's secretary right now to confirm the time and place for lunch tomorrow. How about noon tomorrow? The place is 'Sakura no Sato' izakaya next to Kumamoto Castle. It's a quiet place with local specialties."

“No problem, I’m free tomorrow at noon.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded: “I can organize my drawings tomorrow morning, see the governor at noon, pack my bags in the afternoon, and then fly back to Tokyo in the evening.”

“I’ll contact the secretary now.” Fujiwara Isshin stood up, took his phone, walked to the window, and dialed the number. His tone was very respectful: “Hello, is this Secretary Kobayashi? This is Fujiwara Isshin… Yes, Hiroshi Nohara has agreed to meet tomorrow at noon… Is 'Sakura no Sato' alright at 12 o’clock?… Okay, okay, I’ll let the izakaya know in advance… Please tell the governor thank him…”

Yoshiharu Koyama watched Fujiwara make a phone call, then looked at Hiroshi Nohara, and couldn't help but sigh, "Hiroshi, you're really different now. When you first went to Tokyo, I was worried that you'd be bullied there by yourself. Now, even the governor of Kumamoto personally invited you to dinner and talked to you about cooperation. You've really made something of yourself."

"It's all good luck, I just happened to have a good opportunity." Hiroshi Nohara smiled, picked up a strawberry, and put it in his mouth.

It's sweet, just like my current mood.

Sunlight streamed in through the living room window, falling on everyone. Fujiwara Isshin hung up the phone, walked over with a smile, and said, "My secretary said Governor Muto is especially happy and wants to arrive at the izakaya half an hour early to have a good chat with you about IP development."

"Great!" Koyama Takaya immediately clapped his hands: "Then I'll get up early tomorrow morning and make you a bento box so you can take it with you on the way—and I'll also pack you some strawberry daifuku so you can eat them on the plane."

Mengya came downstairs at some point, carrying a Doraemon drawing. Hearing this, she immediately came over and said, "Mom! I want to make lunchboxes for Brother-in-law Guangzhi too! I can make rice balls and draw Doraemon on them!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at Mengya's earnest expression. The laughter in the living room, the sound of cherry blossoms outside the window, and the sound of Fujiwara Isshin's pen scribbling as he recorded the itinerary all blended together, creating the warmest scene of a Kumamoto afternoon.

Looking at everything before him, Hiroshi Nohara suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction—to have been transported to this world, to have met such wonderful family members, to have created works that are loved by others, and to have been able to do something practical for Kumamoto, perhaps this was his greatest fortune.

"Oh, right, brother-in-law!" Mengya suddenly remembered something and held up the sketch in her hand: "I was just watching 'Doraemon' and Nobita used the bamboo copter to take Shizuka to see the cherry blossoms. It was so beautiful! What do you think, once the animation is made, can we hold a premiere under the cherry blossom trees in Kumamoto? We can invite Kumamon to come too, it will definitely be a lot of fun!"

"That's a great idea!" Hiroshi Nohara nodded with a smile. "Once the animation is finished, we'll discuss with the prefectural government about holding the premiere at the Sakura Park next to Kumamoto Castle, so everyone can come and see Nobita and Doraemon's adventure."

"Yay! That's great!" Mengya jumped up excitedly, grabbed her artwork, and ran upstairs. "I'm going to tell my friends in the school's comic club right now, so they can look forward to it too!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh as they watched Mengya run upstairs.

The sunlight grew warmer, casting a sweet glow on the strawberries and grapes in the fruit bowl on the table.

Hiroshi Nohara knew that his meeting with Governor Muto tomorrow would be the best way to end things before he left Kumamoto, and that there were many more things waiting for him and many more stories to create after he returned to Tokyo.

This is probably life.

There are warm farewells, an anticipated future, and a group of people around you who are genuinely happy for you.

...The morning light of Saturday slanted through the wooden lattice window of the Xiaoshan family's living room and onto the low table, making the neatly arranged breakfast look especially warm and inviting—the white rice was steaming hot, with light brown Japanese pickles on the side, the golden-brown fried eggs with slightly charred edges, the sausages cut into small flower shapes, and a dish of stir-fried komatsuna, its vibrant green color making it look very appetizing.

Hiroshi Nohara was dressed in a dark gray suit with a tie that he had taken out of his suitcase yesterday.

Meeting the county magistrate is always a formal occasion, so one cannot be too casual.

He walked to the low table, sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite of komatsuna. The crisp and tender texture with a hint of soy sauce flavor made him nod in agreement: "Auntie's cooking is still so good. This komatsuna is even better than the ones in Tokyo izakayas."

"Eat more if you like it." Koyama Takaya came over with a bowl of miso soup, placed it in front of him, and said with a smile, "I added extra tofu for you. You have to meet the governor today, so you need to eat more to have energy."

Hiroshi Nohara took the soup bowl and took a sip.

The salty and savory flavor of miso mixed with the soft and tender tofu slid warmly down his throat, making him sigh with comfort: "It really is warm, much more comfortable than drinking coffee in the morning."

"Hiroshi." Koyama Yoshiharu, sitting opposite him, put down his chopsticks, his expression suddenly turning serious. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "When you meet Governor Muto later, you absolutely mustn't be rude. The governor is the official in charge of Kumamoto. It's rare to even see him normally, so you have to be polite and not act like you're talking to family. If you don't know what to say, just listen more and talk less, understand?"

"Uncle, I understand." Hiroshi Nohara nodded with a smile, and was about to say something more when Yumeya suddenly burst out laughing.

The little girl, dressed in pink pajamas and chewing rice, mumbled, "Dad, you're too nervous! Hiroshi's brother-in-law has met so many high-ranking officials in Tokyo. Last time, I heard my second sister say that he attended a cultural festival with Tokyo Governor Koike. Governor Muto may be powerful, but it's not like it's the first time my brother-in-law has met such important people. How could he be impolite?"

She put down her chopsticks and deliberately pouted, "Only you, Dad, are putting on airs like a middle school dean of students, acting like you're meeting the principal, not the county magistrate."

"You girl!"

Yoshiharu Koyama's face flushed instantly. He put down his chopsticks and was about to slam his fist on the table when he said, "What do you mean by acting like a dean of students? What's wrong with being a dean of students in a middle school? That's an important position for cultivating the future of the nation! Governor Muto is the prefectural governor, and he's in charge of the lives of millions of people in Kumamoto. How can you compare him to an ordinary big shot? You kid, you have no manners at all!"

"Alright, alright, Yoshiharu, why are you arguing with the child?" Koyama Takaya quickly pressed his hand down and said helplessly, "Mengya is still young and doesn't understand these things. Don't be angry with her. Besides, Hiroshi knows what he's doing. He's always been steady and won't make any mistakes."

Mengya stuck out her tongue, shrank her neck, and dared not speak again.

At this moment, Maya and Misae came downstairs and overheard this. Maya couldn't help but laugh and say, "Dad, Yumeya is right. Hiroshi does often deal with high-ranking officials in Tokyo. Last time, when 'Seven Samurai' won the award, he even talked to officials from the Ministry of Education about the creative process. He must know how to get along with the governor."

Misae nodded in agreement, sat down next to Hiroshi Nohara, and handed him a tissue: "That's right, Uncle. Hiroshi-kun is so composed even when reporting to Director Sakata, he'll definitely have no problem meeting the governor—don't worry, have a good breakfast, or it'll get cold."

Yoshiji Koyama wanted to say something, but seeing everyone siding with Hiroshi Nohara, and glancing at his almost cold rice, he could only mutter, "Anyway, the dean of students is very important... cultivating students' manners is crucial..."

Upon hearing this, even Hiroshi Nohara, who had been silent until now, couldn't help but laugh. He picked up a piece of sausage and handed it to Yoshiji: "Uncle is right, etiquette is indeed important, no matter who you meet. But don't worry, I will definitely be careful in a moment and won't embarrass the Koyama family."

Yoshiji Koyama took the sausage, his expression softening slightly. He snorted, "That's more like it."

Breakfast ended in such a lively atmosphere. Hiroshi Nohara put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, stood up and said, "Uncle and Aunt, Masaya-nee, Misaya, Yumeya, I have to go now, don't keep the governor waiting."

"Wait, here are the car keys." Yoshiharu Koyama took out a bunch of silver keys from his pocket and handed them to Hiroshi Nohara: "I just filled up that old Toyota yesterday. You can drive it there. It's hard to park near the prefectural office. When you get there, call Isshin and ask him to come out and pick you up."

"Thank you, Uncle." Hiroshi Nohara took the keys, said goodbye to everyone, and then turned to leave.

The engine of the old Toyota hummed on the quiet street. Hiroshi Nohara gripped the steering wheel, watching the cherry blossom trees flash by outside the window. Pink petals would occasionally drift down onto the car window and fall off with the slightest touch.

The streets of Kumamoto are much quieter than those of Tokyo. There aren't as many skyscrapers or hurried office workers, and even the convenience stores on the roadside exude a relaxed vibe.

About twenty minutes later, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government Building came into view.

The off-white building is solemn and dignified. Next to the stone lions at the entrance, there are two life-sized Kumamon plush toys, which attract passers-by to stop and take pictures.

Hiroshi Nohara found a parking space, parked his car, and took out his phone to call Isshin Fujiwara: "Hey, Isshin-san, I'm at the prefectural government building."

"Okay, Hiroshi-san, I'll come out to pick you up right away!" Fujiwara Isshin's voice was hurried on the other end of the phone, as if he was walking quickly.

Less than two minutes after hanging up the phone, Hiroshi Nohara saw Isshin Fujiwara and a middle-aged man in a dark blue suit walk out quickly.

The man was probably in his fifties, with neatly combed hair and a calm smile on his face. He was none other than Yamada Ichiro, the publicity manager of Kumamoto Prefecture, whom I had met once before.

"Hiroshi-san, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Fujiwara Isshin walked over quickly and said with a smile, "I was just confirming the governor's schedule with Minister Yamada, which took a while."

Yamada Ichiro extended his hand and shook hands with Nohara Hiroshi. His hand was firm, and his smile was sincere: "Hiroshi-san, it's nice to see you again. We parted in a hurry at Sakura no Sato last time, and I didn't have a chance to properly talk to you about Kumamon. I didn't expect that Kumamon would become so popular all over Japan so soon. It's all thanks to you."

"Minister Yamada, you're too kind." Hiroshi Nohara smiled and shook his head. "The popularity of Kumamon is the result of the joint efforts of the prefectural government and the television station. I only provided an idea."

"The idea is the most crucial thing."

Yamada Ichiro sighed, his tone full of emotion: "The prefectural government spent 300 million yen on advertising before, but few people remembered it. But your little bear design made all of Japan know about Kumamoto in just a few months. Last week, the number of passengers at Kumamoto Airport was 30% higher than the same period last year. Many people came specifically for Kumamon. Even the airport shops have set up a special Kumamon merchandise area, and they sell out every day."

Fujiwara Isshin added, "Yes, Hiroshi-san, yesterday I went to the supermarket next to the prefectural office and saw that even the packaging for horse meat sashimi had Kumamon printed on it. The owner said that sales have more than doubled compared to before—now, businesses in Kumamoto are almost treating Kumamon as their mascot."

The three chatted as they walked toward the county hall.

The corridors of the prefectural government building were carpeted in dark brown, so that even the sound of footsteps was barely audible. The walls were covered with photos of various scenic spots in Kumamoto, including one of Kumamon bowing in front of Kumamoto Castle with a cute and endearing smile.

When I got to the second floor, a young man in a light gray suit walked over quickly.

He looked to be around thirty years old, holding a notebook in his hand. Upon seeing the three of them, he immediately stopped and bowed, saying, "Minister Yamada, Mr. Fujiwara, and this must be Mr. Hiroshi Nohara, right? I am Kobayashi, Governor Muto's secretary. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Secretary Kobayashi, you're too kind." Hiroshi Nohara bowed in return, "It's kind of you to come all this way to pick me up."

“It’s my pleasure.” Kobayashi straightened up, apologetic. “I’m so sorry, Governor Muto had an extra meeting this morning about the development of guesthouses around Mount Aso. It will probably take another hour to finish. I’ve arranged a reception room for you next door. You can rest there and have a cup of tea. If Minister Yamada and Mr. Fujiwara aren’t busy, they can wait with you.”

"It's alright, it's only right that the governor is busy." Hiroshi Nohara said with a smile, "We can wait a while, no need to go to any trouble."

"It's good that Hiroshi-san understands."

Yamada Ichiro patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Ever since Kumamon became popular, Governor Muto hasn't had a proper rest. He has to work overtime on weekends to meet with people from various departments. Yesterday I told him to take a break, but he said, 'Now is a good opportunity for Kumamoto to develop, we can't be lazy.' He's a very honest person."

Kobayashi nodded in agreement, his tone full of admiration: "The governor really values ​​the development of Kumamoto, especially the opportunities brought by Kumamon. He told me yesterday that he must thank Nohara-san properly, saying that you are Kumamoto's 'benefactor.' Without your design of Kumamon, Kumamoto wouldn't have the popularity it has today."

"Secretary Kobayashi is exaggerating." Hiroshi Nohara quickly waved his hand: "I just did what I was supposed to do. It's mainly because the prefectural government's policies are good, and we were able to seize the opportunity to promote Kumamoto."

As the four of them talked, they walked to the door of the reception room.

Kobayashi pushed open the door, and the interior was simply furnished—a dark-colored sofa, a low table, a traditional Chinese ink painting of Kumamoto Castle hanging on the wall, and a small Kumamon plush toy on the table.

"Please come in." Xiaolin stepped aside to let them in. "I'll make you some tea. Please have a seat."

"Thank you for your help." Hiroshi Nohara said thank you and then sat down on the sofa with Ichiro Yamada and Isshin Fujiwara.

"Hiroshi-san, what do you think is the best way to develop the Kumamon IP going forward?" Yamada Ichiro asked immediately after sitting down, "The prefectural government wants to create a Kumamon-themed tourist route, starting from Kumamoto Castle, passing through Mount Aso, and then to Kurokawa Onsen, allowing tourists to follow in Kumamon's footsteps and explore Kumamoto—what do you think of this idea?"

Hiroshi Nohara thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "This is a great idea. It can promote Kumamoto's attractions and make the Kumamon image more three-dimensional. However, we can add some interactive elements, such as setting up a 'Kumamon photo spot' at each attraction, where tourists can exchange it for a small souvenir after taking a photo. This would increase tourists' enthusiasm."

"That's a great idea!" Fujiwara Isshin's eyes lit up, and he immediately took out his notebook to write it down: "I was thinking about how to make tourists feel more involved. The idea of ​​checking in and exchanging souvenirs is perfect—we can have Future Manga Studio help design souvenirs, such as badges and keychains with Kumamon images of different attractions printed on them. They're sure to be popular."

"Yes, we can also have Kumamon make a short film at each tourist attraction."

Hiroshi Nohara added, "For example, at Kumamoto Castle, we can have Kumamon bow like a samurai; at Mount Aso, we can have it hold a small flag to remind tourists to be careful; at Kurokawa Onsen, we can have it soak in the hot spring with its head sticking out—showing such short videos on TV stations and at tourist attractions will definitely attract more people."

Yamada Ichiro nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Hiroshi-san's ideas are truly unique; he always thinks of the details. I'll report back to the governor as soon as I get back. If it can be implemented, our Kumamoto tourism industry will definitely reach new heights."

When Kobayashi brought in the tea, he overheard their conversation and said with a smile, "If this tour route can be developed, the governor will definitely be very happy. He previously said that he wants Kumamon to become Kumamoto's 'cultural icon,' not only popular in Japan but also to be promoted overseas—for example, by cooperating with travel agencies in Southeast Asia to have Kumamon's image appear in their brochures."

“Overseas promotion is also a good direction.” Hiroshi Nohara took a sip of tea, which had a light matcha flavor. “However, we can start with neighboring countries. These places are close to Japan, and tourists like cute images. We can open up the market first, and then slowly promote it to more distant places.”

The four chatted like this, from the development of Kumamon's IP to the promotion of Kumamon's culture, and then to future development plans. Time flew by.

About an hour later, Kobayashi's pager suddenly went off. He glanced at it, immediately stood up, and said, "The governor's audience has ended, and he's waiting for you in his office now. Let's go over there."

Hiroshi Nohara and the other two quickly stood up and followed Kobayashi to the governor's office.

There weren't many people in the corridor. Occasionally, you could see uniformed staff hurrying by, and everyone would bow to them – clearly, Secretary Kobayashi was with someone, and everyone knew they were going to see the governor.

As Xiaolin approached the office door, she knocked. A deep, steady male voice came from inside: "Come in."

Kobayashi pushed open the door and stepped aside to let them in. The office was simply furnished with a large desk, a bookshelf, and a huge map of Kumamoto hanging on the wall, with the locations of various projects marked in red.

A middle-aged man in a dark gray suit sat behind a desk, his hair slightly gray, but his eyes were very bright—it was Masao Muto, the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture.

"Governor Muto, hello." Hiroshi Nohara and the other two bowed in unison.

"Please sit down, please sit down." Muto Masao stood up, walked over with a smile, and patted Nohara Hiroshi on the shoulder: "Nohara-san, it's great to finally meet you. I've been wanting to have a good chat with you for a long time, but I haven't had the time. I'm so sorry."

"You're too kind, Governor. I should be thanking you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me," Hiroshi Nohara returned the greeting, his tone respectful yet relaxed.

After the four sat down, Masao Muto looked at Hiroshi Nohara and said with admiration, "Nohara-san, you are truly young and accomplished. I saw your profile before, and you were only in your early twenties, yet you were already a third-tier director at TV Tokyo, had your own production department, and your manga was a hit throughout Japan—and now you've designed Kumamon, helping Kumamoto gain wider recognition. You're truly remarkable."

"You flatter me, Governor. I was just lucky to have encountered a good opportunity." Hiroshi Nohara said modestly, "Works like 'Yamishibai' and 'Tales of the Unusual' are the result of the team's joint efforts; the popularity of Kumamon is also because Kumamoto has a good foundation, which allows the image to be accepted by everyone."

"Luck is also a part of strength."

Muto Masao shook his head and said seriously, "I watched the Kumamon promotional video before, as well as your suggestions for IP development to the prefectural government. I can tell that you know how to capture people's hearts. For example, Kumamon's wobbly walking style looks silly, but it makes people feel close to it; and the scenes in the video where it helps an old lady carry shopping bags and gives candy to elementary school students are very heartwarming—this kind of 'down-to-earth' image is more memorable than those aloof mascots."

He paused, picked up a report from the table, and handed it to Hiroshi Nohara: "Look, this is the statistics for last month. Our tourism revenue in Kumamoto increased by 50% compared to the same period last year, sales of local specialties increased by 45%, and even the employment rate increased by 2%—these are all chain reactions brought about by Kumamon. When I went to a meeting in the Hokkaido region before, the governors of other prefectures asked me, 'How did Kumamon become so popular?' I told them it's because we have a great creator, and they were all very envious."

"I'm happy to be able to contribute to Kumamoto." Hiroshi Nohara took the report and glanced at it—the data was indeed impressive, especially the occupancy rate of guesthouses around Mount Aso, which had increased from 60% to 90%. It was clear that Kumamon had a significant impact.

"Nohara-san, what are your plans for the future?" Muto Masao looked at him, his tone full of anticipation: "The prefectural government wants to cooperate with you long-term, such as having you serve as Kumamoto's 'cultural consultant' to help us manage the development of Kumamon's IP and the promotion of Kumamoto's culture—of course, don't worry about the compensation, the prefectural government will give you appropriate remuneration, and you won't be helping for free."

Hiroshi Nohara thought for a moment, then nodded and said, “Thank you for your trust, Governor. I am happy to serve as Kumamoto’s cultural advisor. However, I have work in Tokyo and may not be able to come to Kumamoto often, but I will try my best to make time to liaise with the prefectural government and communicate any ideas I have to you in a timely manner. In addition, I would like to recommend Mirai Manga to participate in the development of Kumamon’s IP. Their manga artists are very talented. They helped me color “Midnight Diner” before, and the details were handled very well. Letting them participate can also provide opportunities for young people in Kumamoto.”

"Future Manga Club? Is that the manga club that Misae-san has?" Muto Masao's eyes lit up. "I know this manga club. I heard Yamada mention it before. It's all young people, very energetic. Letting them participate is perfect. It can support local young people and ensure the quality of IP development. It's a win-win situation."

Yamada Ichiro also laughed and said, "Yes, Governor, I talked to Hiroshi-kun before, and he also had a lot of ideas about the Kumamon IP. He even said he wanted to draw a Kumamon comic that tells the history of Kumamoto. If it can be implemented, it can not only promote Kumamoto's culture, but also make the image of Kumamon more profound."

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Muto Masao clapped his hands, his tone cheerful: “Kobayashi, contact Misae-san in a bit and schedule a time to meet with the prefectural government’s publicity department; also, prepare Nohara-san’s cultural advisor appointment letter and send it to Tokyo next week, don’t delay.”

"Yes!" Xiaolin quickly agreed and took out his notebook to write it down.

Muto Masao talked a lot with Nohara Hiroshi, from the development of agriculture in Kumamoto to the planning of cultural industries and future economic goals. Nohara Hiroshi also offered his suggestions from time to time, such as combining Kumamoto's agricultural products with the Kumamon IP to make "Kumamon limited edition" strawberries and oranges, which could not only increase the added value of agricultural products, but also promote Kumamoto's specialties.

Before we knew it, we had been chatting for almost two hours.

"Well……"

At that moment, Muto Masao noticed a hint from his secretary, Kobayashi, and realized that it had unknowingly reached noon.

So he smiled and invited, "It's a rare treat to have such a pleasant chat with Hiroshi Nohara. Don't go back for lunch. I'm planning to ask Hiroshi for more advice over drinks!"

(End of this chapter)