I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 245, "Neon Flavors on the Tip of the Tongue," has finally premiered amidst much anticipation!

As the morning light of October 15th spilled over the rooftops of Tokyo, Hiroshi Nohara stepped into the "Future Manga Club" bathed in the pale golden light.

There was a Kumamon sticker that Misae had drawn herself on the glass door, with its paws making a crooked "welcome" gesture. As soon as you pushed the door open, you could smell the scent of markers all over the room.

Misae was lying on the long table coloring the Doraemon artwork, the blue robot cat's belly painted particularly bright. When she saw Hiroshi enter, she immediately jumped up, clutching a yellow marker in her hand: "Hiroshi-kun! You've come at the right time! I've finished drawing the new Kumamon manga, come and take a look!"

Hiroshi walked over and picked up the drawing—Kumamon was holding a bowl of soba noodles on the paper, with "Gunma Prefecture Limited" written next to it. The lines were much smoother than the last time.

He pointed to Kumamon's paws: "If the curves here were a little rounder, it would look more endearing, and the audience would like it more."

"Okay!" Misae immediately picked up her pencil to make corrections, the tip scratching on the paper. Suddenly, she looked up and blinked. "Hiroshi-kun, can you take me to the screening tonight? I want to see what Nomizu-san's sashimi looks like when it's filmed!"

"I have to meet with the people from Kanto TV tonight. I'll definitely take you next time there's a performance for an audience." Hiroshi ruffled her hair, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Remember to submit the manga to Shueisha on time. Don't always think about running off to other places."

Misae's face immediately fell, but she still nodded obediently: "Okay... then Hiroshi-kun, be careful on the road, and call me when you're done tonight!"

She followed Hiroshi to the door, waving until his car turned the corner, then retreated back inside. Turning around, she shouted to the other manga artists, "Let's watch TV together at the company tonight! We'll watch Hiroshi-kun's new movie! And we can order food delivery! I'll pay!"

"Hooray!" A cheer erupted from the Future Comics Club.

As Hiroshi's car pulled into the Tokyo TV parking lot, he saw a group of people standing at the entrance—Ichiro Hashimoto was holding the edited film, Takeshi Yamamoto and Kei Tanaka were chatting together, and even the usually quiet Shigeru Saito was standing to the side, clutching a camera bag.

To his surprise, Takada Toshihide and Asumi were also there, both dressed in formal suits, clearly waiting for him on purpose.

"Hiroshi-kun, we've been waiting for you!" Tanaka Kei greeted him first, his tone full of enthusiasm. "Let's skip upstairs and go straight to Kanto TV—Suzuki-san and the others are already waiting, the screening room and reporters are all arranged!"

Hiroshi paused for a moment, and Asumi explained with a smile, "I spoke with Suzuki-san on the phone yesterday, and he said that the veteran employees of Kanto TV all want to see the show broadcast in person. They even specially cleared out the largest conference room for a press conference. We'll head over now and arrive just in time for 3 p.m.

Takada Toshihide pushed up his glasses, his tone much gentler than usual: "The person in charge of Marui Soy Sauce will also be going to Kanto TV, hoping to finalize the details of the subsequent sponsorship during the press conference. You can think about the cooperation plan on the way."

"Okay." Hiroshi nodded.

The atmosphere inside the vehicles was exceptionally lively as the convoy drove towards Guandongtai.

Takeshi Yamamoto flipped through the brochure for "A Bite of Japan" and pointed to a photo of Masayoshi Nomizu pulling in his net: "I talked to the screenwriter of 'Tales of the Unusual' yesterday, and they both said they wanted to borrow this 'small people, big stories' approach. Maybe next time I can collaborate with Hiroshi on a food-themed episode."

Kei Tanaka immediately chimed in: "Viewers of 'Super Transformation' have also been asking if we could do a 'food imitation' special, where everyone can imitate a tuna auction or slicing sashimi—if Hiroshi-kun agrees, I'll start writing the proposal right now!"

Shigeru Saito, sitting in the back row, suddenly spoke up: "I tested the projection equipment on Kanto TV beforehand. It works much better than when we filmed 'Yamishibai' last time. The picture will definitely be clear at night."

Listening to their conversation, Takada Toshihide smiled slightly and whispered to Asumi, "I used to worry that the Tokyo faction and the Kanto faction wouldn't be able to unite, but now it seems that with Hiroshi-kun here, none of that matters."

Asumi nodded, his gaze falling on Hiroshi's back in front of him: "He never uses his position to intimidate people, he earns everyone's respect through his real abilities—look at Hashimoto-san, he betrayed him back then, but now he's still devoted to him, isn't he?"

As soon as the car turned into the parking lot of Kanto TV, we saw Suzuki Seito standing at the entrance with a black wooden cane, surrounded by several senior executives including Yamada Takashi and Fujishita Ken. Matsui Yuichi was also carrying a video camera, obviously to record this scene.

"Hiroshi-kun! Takada-kun! Asumi-kun!" Suzuki Kiyoto quickly approached, his cane tapping crisply on the ground. "Come with me, the meeting room and screening room are ready, and the reporters have already signed in downstairs. The press conference will start promptly at three o'clock."

He led the group into the building. On the poster boards on both sides of the corridor, there were still old posters of "Yamishibai" and "Seven Samurai". Suzuki Seito pointed to one of them: "This was put up last year when Kanto TV was going through the most difficult time. It was to encourage young people to give full play to their talents like Hiroshi Nohara. Who could have imagined that we would be able to make a film like 'A Bite of Japan' now?"

Takashi Yamada followed behind, adding with a smile, "That's right! Last time NHK came to film a documentary, they filmed for three days and still couldn't get anything out of it, but Hiroshi-kun finished it in a week, and filmed it so meticulously—our Kanto TV has finally regained its reputation!"

Upon entering the largest conference room, a long table had already been set up, with water cups printed with "Neon Flavors" on them. A camera was already set up in the corner, pointing at the podium in the center.

Fujishita Ken sidled up to Takada Toshihide and patted his arm: "Takada-kun, don't worry about the writing fees. Although our Kanto TV station isn't as rich as it used to be, the red envelopes we give to reporters and film critics are definitely substantial, much better than the empty 'travel expenses' from the city TV station!"

Takada Toshihide raised an eyebrow: "Oh? I was worried that your budget wasn't enough. After all, the city TV station reportedly gave every reporter a high-end cosmetics set for Kamiki Shunsuke."

"What's the use of that?" Suzuki Seito sat in the main seat, took a sip of tea, and spoke with a hint of arrogance. "We rely on connections! Yamada-kun is a college classmate of the film review editor of the Asahi Shimbun, and Fujishita Ken has drunk with reporters from the Tokyo Entertainment Weekly. These people understand content and won't write nonsense just because of some small favors—besides, the quality of our film speaks for itself, why would we need to buy good reviews?"

Hiroshi Kimura adjusted his round-framed glasses and took out a list from his briefcase: "I've already spoken to all the reporters who came. When asking questions, prioritize the humanistic details in the film, such as Mr. Nomizu's fishing heritage and Mr. Sato's soba noodle making skills. Try not to mention the municipal TV station, so as not to lower our status."

"Losing value?" Fujishita Ken rubbed his beer belly and scoffed. "The city TV station is the one losing value! Instead of showing good local culture, they insist on promoting idols like Kamiki Shunsuke—last time he filmed a soy sauce commercial, he couldn't even distinguish between 'brewed' and 'blended,' and he said 'Anyway, they're all salty.' Variety shows made by people like that can only fool young girls!"

Yuichi Matsui, carrying his camera, couldn't help but chime in: "Last time I went to Gunma to film a soba noodle shop, I overheard the people from the city TV station telling Sato-san that they wanted him to cooperate with Shunsuke Kamiki in staging a 'father-son reconciliation' scene. Sato-san immediately kicked them out—we're filming a real story, they're filming fake sentimentality, how can they be the same?"

As he watched everyone chatting away, Asumi smiled and said to Hiroshi, "Look, now the people at Kanto TV treat 'A Bite of China' like their own child, even more so than we at Tokyo TV."

Hiroshi nodded, his gaze falling out the window—Kanto TV's building, though old, had a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere; in the corridors, one could still see veteran employees greeting each other, unlike Tokyo TV, which exuded a sense of workplace alienation. He suddenly understood that what Suzuki Kiyoto meant by "rediscovering motivation" was never about equipment and budget, but about everyone's unwavering commitment to "good content."

"Everyone, the reporters are almost all here." Takashi Yamada glanced at his watch and stood up. "Let's go to the screening room next door and let the reporters watch the film first. After they've watched it, we'll hold a press conference. That way, they'll have something to write about."

The group followed him into the screening room. As soon as they opened the door, they saw a number of people sitting inside—reporters from the Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, as well as several familiar film critics. Saeki Akira was also there, and when he saw Hiroshi enter, he smiled and raised his glass. The screen in the screening room was already drawn, and tea and snacks were laid out on the table next to it, clearly prepared with care.

Kiyoto Suzuki stepped forward, cleared his throat, and said, “Thank you all for attending the advance screening of ‘A Bite of Japan’ today. This film was spearheaded by Hiroshi Nohara and produced in collaboration with TV Kanto and TV Tokyo. It tells the stories of ordinary people in Japan, and I hope you will enjoy it.”

After he finished speaking, he nodded to the projectionist, and the lights dimmed instantly. The sound of waves first filled the entire projection room—the Chiba pier in the morning mist, the hands of Masayoshi Nomizu untying the boat ropes, the shouts of bidders during the tuna auction. Scene after scene unfolded on the screen, and the reporters who were originally talking quietly gradually quieted down, even the sound of pens falling on notebooks became much softer.

When the scene cut to slow motion of Masayoshi Nomizu slicing sashimi, Akira Saeki couldn't help but exclaim, "This shot is absolutely amazing! You can even see the texture of the tuna. It looks even more tempting than the sushi I had at the Ginza sushi restaurant last time!"

The reporter next to him immediately looked up at him, but he was completely oblivious, his eyes fixed on the screen. It wasn't until the end of the film, when Masayasu Nomizu said, "We eat whatever the sea gives us, we can't be greedy," that the screening room was quiet for a few seconds, and then burst into enthusiastic applause.

When the lights came back on, Toshihide Takada stepped forward and said with a smile, "Now it's time for questions. Please feel free to ask anything you have to say."

A reporter from the Asahi Shimbun stood up first: "Nohara-kun, what was your initial motivation for making this documentary? Why did you choose to start with seafood from Chiba?"

"My initial intention was to let everyone see the people behind the food." Hiroshi took the microphone and spoke in a calm tone. "Many people only think that sashimi is fresh, but they don't know that fishermen have to go out to sea at dawn and auctioneers have to get up early to set prices. It is the efforts of these people that give food warmth. I chose Chiba because the fishing industry here has preserved many traditional methods. Nomizu-san uses wooden boats to catch fish and selects tuna according to old rules. These are things worth recording."

Another reporter asked, "I heard that Shunsuke Kamiki on the city's TV station also has a new variety show airing tonight. Do you think your documentary can beat his?"

The atmosphere in the screening room instantly became a little tense after these words. Just as Suzuki Kiyoto was about to speak, Hiroshi interrupted, "I don't think this is a matter of 'winning'. Kamiki-san's variety shows have their audience, and my documentaries have my viewers. As long as everyone can create content that satisfies the audience, that's a good thing."

Saeki Akira immediately stood up and said to the reporters, "Let me say something fair! I've seen the sample footage of Kamiki Shunsuke's variety show, and it's all staged interactions. Even eating ramen requires ten takes. How can it be as real as 'A Bite of China'? The look in Nomizu-san's eyes when he's pulling in the net, the focus of Sato-san when he's grinding buckwheat flour—these can't be acted out. Tonight, my review will definitely give 'A Bite of China' a perfect score!"

His words made everyone laugh, and the previously tense atmosphere instantly eased. The questions that followed all revolved around the details in the film, and no one mentioned the municipal television station anymore.

After the press conference, the head of Marui Soy Sauce approached Hiroshi and handed him a cooperation proposal: "Nohara-kun, we'd like to sponsor your upcoming filming. We'd like to not only include product placement in the film, but also collaborate with Nomizu-san to launch a 'Limited Edition' soy sauce—what do you think?"

“Okay.” Hiroshi took the proposal and quickly flipped through a few pages. “But the advertisements can’t disrupt the rhythm of the film. They have to blend in naturally. For example, if there’s a bottle of soy sauce in Nomizu-san’s fish shop, there’s no need for a close-up.”

"No problem!" the person in charge immediately agreed. "We'll contact Yesui-san tomorrow and try to launch the product next week!"

As everyone packed up to leave, Suzuki Kiyoto took Hiroshi's hand, his voice full of emotion: "Hiroshi-kun, thank you. It's been a long time since the Kanto TV station has been this lively. The last time we had a scene like this was twenty years ago when we were filming 'Kanto Fishermen's Song'."

"It's the result of everyone's hard work," Hiroshi said with a smile. "Next time we film a wagashi shop in Kyoto, we'll need the help of people from Kanto TV."

“Come to us anytime!” Takashi Yamada immediately patted his chest. “You can use Saito-san’s lighting and Matsui-san’s filming techniques as you please! We at Kanto TV may not have much else, but our experienced staff are reliable!”

As the sun set, everyone left the press conference and went outside the Kanto TV station to get something to eat.

Asumi looked at the streetlights gradually lighting up outside the window and said to Hiroshi, "Let's not go back to TV Tokyo tonight. Let's tell our families that we're working overtime, and see how the ratings are tonight. We can also hold a celebration party after it's over!"

Hiroshi smiled and nodded: "Alright then."

"Long live!" and the others cheered.

After all, they also wanted to know how well tonight's episode went, especially since it was Hiroshi Nohara's first documentary, and they were quite curious about the final viewership ratings.

Those who know Hiroshi Nohara especially want to see just how far his talent can go!
……

At the same time, the atmosphere on Tokyo TV was like an overinflated balloon, so lively it was almost unreal.

In the grand conference hall on the top floor, the light from the crystal chandelier was dazzling. Nearly a hundred people were packed tightly in the audience, and camera lenses were pointed at the stage, with shutter clicks going off incessantly.

Unlike the professional atmosphere of the Kanto TV press conference, the media section here, in addition to regular media such as the Tokyo Sports newspaper, is mostly filled with tabloids like Weekly Gossip King and Celebrity Private Magazine. The reporters' notebooks even have stickers with Shunsuke Kamiki's image printed on them.

In the center of the stage, Shunsuke Kamiki wore a bright silver suit, his hair styled in an exaggerated way with hair gel, and the diamond ring on his finger glittered dazzlingly under the lights.

He tilted his head slightly, flashed a standard smile at the fans and reporters below the stage, and occasionally raised his hand to make a V sign, eliciting screams from the audience.

Kazuo Takahashi, standing next to him, wore a dark gray suit, a politician's smile plastered on his face, and held his speech notes in his hand, but occasionally glanced at the media below the stage, his eyes full of determination.

Several high-ranking officials from the city's broadcasting station were also seated on the stage, including director Takashi Sato, who had been poached from the Kanto TV station.

He was wearing a suit, his hands on his knees, but his brows were tightly furrowed. His gaze swept over the fans holding up signs that read "Jun-suke's husband," and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn down.

Sitting next to him was director Jun Yamada, who had also come from Kanto TV. He was fiddling with his pager, and the screen showed a message from a colleague: "Kanto TV press conferences are all mainstream media, this feels like a fan meeting." This made Jun Yamada feel very awkward.

At that moment, the press conference began.

"Dear friends from the media, thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the press conference for 'Shunsuke's Tokyo Wanderings'!"

Kazuo Takahashi was the first to stand up, his microphone emitting a slight static. "This variety show is a key project for the city's TV station this year, with strong support from the Kirin Group and the national idol, Shunsuke Kamiki, leading the show. It will not only take everyone to visit Tokyo's popular restaurants, but also showcase Shunsuke's many talents. I believe it will definitely become a dark horse in the prime time ratings this year!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shunsuke Kamiki immediately chimed in, his voice deliberately gentle: "I'm very happy to be involved in this project. To bring the best experience to the audience, we specially air-freighted ingredients from France and also invited a Michelin-starred chef to provide guidance—I will personally cook for each episode and sing a new song for everyone!"

The audience erupted in even louder screams. A reporter from "Weekly Gossip King" was the first to raise his hand, his voice shrill: "Kamiki-san! I heard you turned down a Hollywood audition for this variety show, is that true?"

Shunsuke Kamiki feigned surprise, covering his mouth before shaking his head with a smile: "While I have received offers from Hollywood, I'd rather bring good content to Japanese audiences. I care more about everyone's smiles than overseas stages—after all, my fans are all here!"

These words drew another round of cheers. Kazuo Takahashi clapped his hands in satisfaction, his eyes sweeping over the audience, but he didn't notice that Takashi Sato and Jun Yamada exchanged a helpless look.

Sato Takashi quietly leaned close to Yamada Jun's ear and whispered, "Look at all these media people here. They're all asking about Kamiki Shunsuke's private life. Not a single one of them is asking about the program's content. When we held the press conference for 'Kanto Fishing Port Diary' on Kanto TV, the people who came were all chief writers from Asahi Shimbun. They were all asking about the filming techniques and the humanistic significance—the difference is just too big."

Jun Yamada sighed, his fingers rapidly tapping on the pager: "Who says otherwise? I called my former colleagues from Kanto TV yesterday, and they said that when Hiroshi Nohara was filming a soba noodle shop in Gunma, he even calculated the rotation speed at which the owner ground the flour, just to capture the texture of the flour. And look at us here, Kamiki-san can't even tell the difference between tuna and salmon. Yesterday, while filming the noodle-cooking scene, he mistook miso soup for soy sauce, and we had to re-dub it in post-production—can this even compare to 'A Bite of China'?"

Suzuki Nanako, another editor poached from Kanto TV, chimed in, her voice tinged with shame: "I just saw a reporter from 'Celebrity Private Stories' asking Kamiki-san, 'Would you wear a swimsuit on a variety show?' If that were Kanto TV, he'd be kicked out long ago. What's the difference between us and those small TV stations that rely on vulgar content to grab attention?"

“There’s something even worse.” Sato Takashi frowned. “Yesterday I went to the editing room and saw that in order to make Kamiki-san’s scenes more ‘perfect,’ they actually cut out all the restaurant owner’s scenes, leaving only the scene of Kamiki-san making a heart shape with her hands in front of the camera—this isn’t a food variety show, it’s clearly a personal photobook!”

Jun Yamada shook his head, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes: "Back in the days at Kanto TV, Seito Suzuki always said, 'The content must first be true to yourself before it can be true to the audience.' Now, for the sake of ratings, they've even lost their basic professionalism. Have you heard? Hiroshi Nohara's 'A Bite of China' has already secured a 20 million yen sponsorship from Marui Soy Sauce, and the Chiba Prefectural Government has even asked for sample episodes for cultural tourism promotion—we don't even have a decent advertiser here, except for the investment from Kirin Group. We still have to rely on the support of Shinki-san's fans to keep things going."

Nanako Suzuki looked down at the meeting agenda in her hand, which read "Next is the fan interaction session," and couldn't help but purse her lips: "I heard that Kanto TV has been reformed very well after merging with Tokyo TV—I should have known better than to come here in the first place. Now, I don't even have a chance to film a proper movie."

Sato Takashi patted her shoulder, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Let's wait and see. If the variety show's ratings aren't good this time, maybe Deputy Director Takahashi will wake up. What we can do now is try our best to edit the show properly, so that we don't get outdone by Kanto TV and lose even the last bit of face."

Just as whispers began to spread from the audience, Kazuo Takahashi suddenly raised his voice, pointing the microphone at the audience: "Dear media friends, do you have any questions for Mr. Shunsuke or our team?"

A reporter from Tokyo Sports raised his hand, and the question finally became somewhat "professional": "Vice President Takahashi, your station's variety show tonight will clash with Hiroshi Nohara's 'A Bite of Japan' on Kanto TV. What do you think are your station's advantages?"

Kazuo Takahashi cleared his throat, his tone laced with disdain: "I've heard of Nohara-kun's documentaries, but they're nothing more than old fishermen and old shops—the content is too outdated. Today's audiences prefer fresh and trendy content. Shunsuke-san's variety shows have food, celebrity interactions, and musical performances—this kind of diverse content meets the needs of modern audiences. Besides, Shunsuke-san has a huge fan base; the viewership contribution from his fans alone is enough to surpass any documentary."

Before he could finish speaking, Shunsuke Kamiki eagerly grabbed the microphone, his smile turning somewhat arrogant: "I think Vice Director Takahashi is absolutely right. I've seen clips of Hiroshi Nohara's films, and they're so dull, full of details that nobody's interested in. Our variety show is different; every minute has a highlight—I'll personally teach everyone how to cook trendy dishes, interact with fans through giveaways, and even reveal my views on love on the show!"

The fans in the audience screamed again. Kamiki Shunsuke's eyes were full of smugness. He paused, then suddenly raised his voice, as if deliberately telling everyone, "Besides, our variety show also has delicious food! It's much more interesting than those old-fashioned sashimi and soba noodles. I believe that when tonight's ratings come out, everyone will know what truly popular content is—I'll make Hiroshi Nohara taste the bitterness of defeat, and let him know that the charm of an idol is incomparable to his boring documentaries!"

These words were like a pebble thrown into water, silencing the audience for a few seconds. Even the tabloid reporters were stunned, never expecting that Kamiki Shunsuke would so directly provoke Nohara Hiroshi.

Sato Takashi and Yamada Jun's faces flushed instantly. Sitting on the stage, they felt extremely uncomfortable—they knew Hiroshi Nohara's abilities well and were also aware of the quality of "A Bite of China." Kamiki Shunsuke's words were simply self-humiliating.

"Mr. Kamiki, isn't your statement a bit too absolute?"

A reporter from the Yomiuri Shimbun couldn't help but ask, "Hiroshi Nohara's 'Seven Samurai' and 'Midnight Diner' have both received excellent reviews, and the pre-release buzz for 'A Bite of China' is also quite good. Are you really that confident you can win?" Shunsuke Kamiki's expression changed slightly, but he remained defiant: "Reputation is reputation, and ratings are ratings. Most of the viewers who like 'Midnight Diner' are middle-aged and elderly people; they're not the main audience for prime time. My fans are mostly young people aged 15 to 25, and they are the key to determining ratings—besides, Kirin Group will use all its resources to support me. What does Hiroshi Nohara have? He's just a small-time director at TV Tokyo."

Kazuo Takahashi quickly smoothed things over: "Shunsuke-san is just too confident, please don't misunderstand. We respect every colleague and look forward to healthy competition tonight—of course, we believe that 'Shunsuke's Tokyo Adventure' will achieve even better results."

But these words could not salvage the situation. The media members in the audience began to whisper among themselves, some quickly taking notes, clearly already planning tomorrow's headlines.

Some people were taking pictures of the stage. Although Shunsuke Kamiki was still smiling in the photos, his eyes looked somewhat flustered.

Sato Takashi whispered to Yamada Jun, "We're doomed. With Kamiki Shunsuke's words, tomorrow's newspapers will definitely make a big deal out of it. Not only will we offend Nohara Hiroshi, but we'll also give the city TV station a reputation for being 'arrogant and rude'—this isn't a press conference, it's practically destroying our own reputation."

Jun Yamada sighed and looked down at the message he had just received on his pager: "We have news from Kanto TV that the media scores for A Bite of China are out. All seven film critics gave it a perfect score. Akira Saeki even said that it is the best humanistic documentary in Japan in the last ten years. On the other hand, we are still trying to attract attention by provoking others."

Kamiki Shunsuke on the podium seemed to realize something was wrong. He stopped talking and just gave a stiff smile to the audience.

Kazuo Takahashi watched the atmosphere below the stage gradually cool down, feeling secretly anxious, but he could only bite the bullet and announce: "Next is the fan interaction segment. Please welcome five lucky fans to come up on stage and take a photo with Junsuke-san!"

As the music started, five fans wearing matching support outfits screamed and ran onto the stage to take pictures with Shunsuke Kamiki.

However, the media in the audience had lost their initial enthusiasm, and many began packing up their equipment, clearly having lost interest in the upcoming segment.

Looking at the farce unfolding before him, Takashi Sato suddenly recalled what Seito Suzuki had said back in Kanto TV: "Making content is like making sushi. The ingredients must be fresh, and the techniques must be solid. Being impatient for quick success will only ruin your reputation."

He couldn't help but look up at the window. In the distance, the Tokyo TV building was glowing warmly in the setting sun, and a sudden pang of regret arose in his heart.

If I hadn't left Guandong TV back then, I might be able to participate in a great project like "A Bite of China" now, instead of wasting my professional skills by being with a bunch of people who only know how to use gimmicks to grab attention.

After the press conference, Takashi Sato and Jun Yamada followed the crowd out of the conference hall.

In the corridor, Shunsuke Kamiki was surrounded by fans and reporters, while Kazuo Takahashi was busy dealing with them. No one noticed the two of them.

"What do you think the ratings will be like tonight?" Jun Yamada suddenly asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Sato Takashi shook his head, his tone heavy: "I don't know. But I do know that even if we win the ratings, we lose the reputation. Hiroshi Nohara's shows can stand the test of time, but our variety shows may be forgotten after next week."

The two walked in silence, the pale light in the corridor reflecting their weary figures.

In the distance came the sharp, shrill laughter of Shunsuke Kamiki, a stark contrast to the warm atmosphere of the Kanto TV press conference.

Meanwhile, at that moment, Hiroshi Nohara and his team were checking the projection equipment at Kanto TV.

Shigeru Saito squatted on the ground, adjusting the volume of the sound system, Yuichi Matsui was tidying up the film reels next to him, and Sakurako Honda was holding a notebook, confirming the evening's screening schedule with the reporters.

The atmosphere in the conference room was calm and orderly, with everyone looking expectant and showing no concern for the provocation from the municipal radio station.

Hiroshi looked out the window at the darkening sky, holding the can of tuna that Masayasu Nomizu had given him. He suddenly remembered what Misae had said at the manga club earlier that day: "Hiroshi-kun, no matter what others say, we believe your work is the best."

A slight smile appeared on his lips as he turned to the crowd and said, "Get ready, tonight, let's show the audience what truly good content looks like."

Saito Shigeru raised his head, his eyes filled with an unusual firmness, and nodded: "Don't worry, Hiroshi-kun, the equipment will definitely not have any problems."

Matsui Yuichi also said with a smile, "I've already called Nomizu-san, and he'll be watching on TV tonight. He even said he'd bring the fishermen along—we can't let them down."

The meeting room was softly lit, illuminating the earnest faces of everyone. Unlike the hustle and bustle of Tokyo TV, the calm and composure here were the best foundation for creating "good content."

……

Just after seven o'clock, the streets of Tokyo gradually quieted down.

At this time of day, the intersections in Shinjuku are usually crowded with office workers heading home, and the department stores in Ginza are still bustling with people. But tonight, many people quickened their pace, clutching their newly bought bento boxes, their eyes filled with urgency—they wanted to get home before eight o'clock, turn on the TV, and wait for "A Bite of Japan" to start.

The offices of TV Tokyo's production department were brightly lit.

Hashimoto Ichiro sat in the conference room.

He glanced at the wall clock every now and then, his brow furrowed slightly, muttering to himself, "Check the subtitles one more time, there can't be any mistakes..."

Takeshi Yamamoto and Kei Tanaka didn't leave either. They sat on the sofa next to each other, holding canned coffee, but they weren't really interested in drinking it.

"Do you think the audience will like Nomizu-san's story?"

Kei Tanaka suddenly spoke up, his tone a little nervous, "I told my wife this morning that 'A Bite of China' would be airing tonight, and she specially bought tuna sashimi, saying she wanted to eat it along with the show."

Yamamoto Takeshi smiled, but still couldn't help looking at the clock on the wall: "Don't worry, Hiroshi-kun's films never disappoint. Last time, when 'Tales of the Unusual' aired the 'Midnight Bakery' episode, my mom cried for a long time after watching it, saying it reminded her of the old street where she lived when she was a child—'A Bite of China' is even warmer than that episode, it will definitely touch the audience."

Just then, Hiroshi pushed open the door and walked in, holding a freshly printed viewership forecast report.

"Don't be nervous, everyone," he said, placing the report on the table with his voice still calm. "We just received news that the pre-sale ratings in the Kanto region have exceeded 4%, which is higher than we expected."

Hashimoto Ichiro immediately leaned over, picked up the report, flipped through a few pages, and his eyes lit up instantly: "Really? Then we might be able to break 5%! That's even higher than the premiere ratings of 'Midnight Diner'!"

Hiroshi smiled and nodded, but still cautioned, "Don't let your guard down. What we need to do now is to ensure that tonight's broadcast goes perfectly."

Saito-san has already gone to Kanto TV to oversee the equipment, and Matsui-san is at Nomizu-san's fish shop, filming audience reactions—we can just wait here for good news.”

Meanwhile, in the Kanto TV projection room, Shigeru Saito was squatting on the floor, holding a screwdriver and carefully adjusting the projector's gears.

Suzuki Kiyoto stood beside him, leaning on his cane, his eyes full of expectation, asking every now and then, "Saito-kun, is the equipment okay? Don't let it break down at the crucial moment."

Saito Shigeru stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said confidently, "Don't worry, Suzuki-san, I've checked it five times, the film is warmed up, and the sound and picture are fine."

The door to the screening room was suddenly pushed open, and Takashi Yamada and Ken Fujishita walked in, carrying several insulated boxes.

"Thank you all for your hard work!" Ken Fujishita smiled as he placed the insulated box on the table. "This is tuna sushi that Nomizu-san specially had the fishermen deliver. It's still warm. Let's eat it while we wait for the broadcast to start."

Suzuki Kiyoto picked up a piece of sushi, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up instantly: "Nomizu-san's cooking is still the best! It's exactly the same as in the movie, so fresh!"

Takashi Yamada picked one up as well, and said while eating, "I just called Mr. Ishigami at the Chiba Prefectural Government. He said that none of the staff at the prefectural government are working overtime tonight. They're going home to watch 'A Bite of China.' He also said that he's going to organize a discussion in the prefectural schools tomorrow about the local culture featured in the show—our show is really becoming more and more meaningful."

Saito Shigeru watched the lively scene and a rare smile appeared on his lips.

He picked up a piece of sushi, slowly put it in his mouth, and suddenly felt that since filming "A Bite of China" with Hiroshi, he seemed to have rediscovered his passion for technology—no longer filming those boring local news stories, but filming content with warmth and meaning. This feeling made him more satisfied than any honor.

Meanwhile, in the seafood market of Chiba Prefecture, Nomizu Masayoshi's fish stall was brightly lit.

The shop was packed with people: local fishermen, regular customers, and many diners who had come all the way from Tokyo. Nomizu Masayasu, dressed in dark blue fishing pants, was wiping the counter with a rag, but his excitement was palpable.

"Mr. Nomizu, tonight's episode is sure to be a hit!" a regular customer said with a smile. "I watched the Asahi Shimbun this morning, and they said that the pre-orders for 'A Bite of China' are exceptionally high, even higher than the idol variety shows on the city's TV station!"

Nomizu Masayasu nodded with a smile, his eyes full of gratitude: "It's all thanks to Hiroshi-kun. If it weren't for him, how could so many people know the story of this old fisherman?"

Just then, Yuichi Matsui walked in carrying a camera, followed by Sakurako Honda.

“Nomizu-san, let’s film the audience’s reaction!” Matsui Yuichi said with a smile. “Hiroshi-kun specifically asked us to film how everyone looks while watching the film, so we might be able to use it in future promotions.”

Masayoshi Nomizu immediately called out to everyone: "Everyone, sit down and don't be shy. Just watch as usual. We want to show the whole of Japan the spirit of the Chiba fishermen!"

The people in the shop immediately sat up straight, their eyes glued to the television on the wall. Honda Sakurako took out her notebook and wrote down: "At 7:50, thirty people have gathered at the wild fish shop, all local fishermen and regular customers, their anticipation is extremely high..."

In the old town of Gunma Prefecture, Kosuke Sato's soba noodle shop was also packed with people.

Kenta Sato stood beside his father, holding a freshly printed "Satoya" brochure in his hand, looking a little embarrassed: "Dad, I took the day off from work today to come back and watch the movie with you."

Kosuke Sato paused for a moment, then patted his son's shoulder, his eyes a little red: "Okay, okay, let's watch it together, father and son."

The regular customers in the shop smiled and said, "Sato-san, your son has become so sensible! After watching the movie tonight, our old street's soba noodles will definitely be a hit. You'll have to hire a few more people to help out then!"

Kosuke Sato smiled and nodded, but his eyes were fixed on the television screen. He remembered what Hiroshi had said when he was making the film: "Sato-san, your persistence will let more people know the value of old crafts."

Now, he is finally about to see his story featured on television, and he feels both nervous and excited.

The atmosphere at Takahashi's home in Saitama Prefecture was exceptionally warm.

Keiko Takahashi served the freshly made oden and placed it on the coffee table in the living room. Kenichi Takahashi and his father sat on the sofa, holding beer in their hands and staring at the TV.

"Mom, will our family be in tonight's movie?" Kenichi Takahashi asked curiously.

Keiko Takahashi smiled and nodded: "Hiroshi-kun said that the third episode will feature our family's New Year's Eve dinner, so people all over the country can see the dishes my mom makes!"

Kenichi Takahashi immediately became excited: "Great! I'm going to tell my classmates and let them all see! Our family is going to be famous!"

Takahashi's father smiled and patted his son's head, his eyes full of warmth: "It's not that our family is famous, it's that more people should know about our ordinary family life. Hiroshi is a good director; he understands the hardships of ordinary people like us, and he also understands our happiness."

Time passed second by second, and the hands of the wall clock slowly pointed to eight o'clock.

On the streets of Tokyo, the sound of televisions could be heard coming from almost every window with its lights on.

In an izakaya in Shinjuku, the owner specially tuned the TV to Kanto TV, and the customers put down their drinks and stared at the screen; in a department store in Ginza, the staff also gathered in the rest area, waiting for the premiere of "A Bite of China".

In the Tokyo TV station office, Kazuo Takahashi sat at his desk, holding a viewership monitoring report, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

"What's going on? Why are the pre-order ratings so much lower than TV Kanto?" he yelled into the phone. "Where are Kamiki Shunsuke's fans? Didn't they say they'd be watching on TV?"

The voice of a staff member came from the other end of the phone: "Deputy Director Takahashi, according to our monitoring, many young viewers have switched to watching Kanto TV, saying they want to see if 'A Bite of China' is any good..."

Kazuo Takahashi slammed the phone down, threw the report on the table, and his eyes were filled with anger.

He recalled what Shunsuke Kamiki had said during the day, and a sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart—had he really underestimated Hiroshi Nohara and the power of this documentary?
In the conference room of Tokyo TV, the wall clock finally pointed to eight o'clock.

Hiroshi, Ichiro Hashimoto, Takeshi Yamamoto, and Kei Tanaka all stood up, their eyes fixed on the projection screen.

As the opening theme begins, the sound of waves gently drifts in, and the Chiba Seafood Market appears in the morning mist—the hand of Masayoshi Nomizu unties the boat rope slowly comes into view.

The conference room fell silent instantly. Everyone held their breath, staring at the screen. Hashimoto Ichiro gripped his laptop, his fingers trembling slightly.

Takeshi Yamamoto and Kei Tanaka forgot to drink their coffee, their eyes glued to the screen.

Hiroshi stood at the front, watching the scene of Nomizu Masayasu closing the net on the screen, and suddenly felt very calm.

From this moment on, those heartwarming stories and the perseverance of ordinary people will be seen by audiences all over Japan.

And this is his original intention in creating content—not for ratings, not for fame or fortune, but to let more people know that the warmth in ordinary life is the most precious thing.

On the screen, Masayoshi Nomizu's voice slowly came through: "We should eat whatever the ocean gives us; we can't be greedy."

No one spoke in the meeting room, but everyone's eyes were shining.

The Tokyo night view outside the window is exceptionally dazzling, but the light in the screening room is warmer than any other light—it illuminates the stories of ordinary people and also illuminates the future of the Japanese film industry.

"A Bite of Neon" has finally premiered amidst much anticipation.

P.S.: Still asking for more recommendation votes!
(End of this chapter)