I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 82 Neon Shock! The entire series achieved a 20.3% viewership rating!
The oppressive silence was more weighty than any hoarse roar, weighing heavily on the hearts of every member of Iwata's classroom.

Takada Shunying didn't say anything else. He just used his bottomless eyes to calmly scan his subordinates one by one, who usually claimed to be the elites of the Tokyo faction.

Wherever that gaze reached, everyone subconsciously lowered their heads, like a group of lambs trembling under the watchful eyes of a tiger.

"Iwata-kun." After a long time, Takada Toshihide's voice sounded again.

The voice was so calm without a trace of emotion, but it made Iwata Masao's body tremble violently.

"The third season of your 'Anzhiju' will be aired at 10:30 pm, right?"

"Hi! Yes, Deputy Director!" Masao Iwata quickly bowed and answered, his voice trembling with fear.

"Very good." Takada Shunying nodded. He picked up the glass of sake in front of him, which had already cooled down, and shook it gently. The clear liquid drew graceful arcs on the wall of the glass, as if he was appreciating a work of art.

"I hope it can give me a...surprise."

After he finished speaking, he drank the wine in the glass, then slowly stood up and straightened his suit which had a slight wrinkle.

"I have other things to do, so I'll leave first. You guys, celebrate properly."

He turned and left. His back did not show any anger, but rather a disappointment and indifference that was enough to freeze a person into ice.

Because as the executive deputy director, there is really no need for him to be here.

The outcome has been decided.

Since the winner has already been decided, what's the point of being here or not being here?

"Crack—"

It was not until the heavy door of the box was closed again, blocking out the noise from the outside world, that Masao Iwata seemed to collapse. His legs went limp and he fell heavily back onto the tatami.

"It's over..." He muttered to himself, and his face, which always had a bit of arrogance, now looked dead.

He knew that Takada Toshihide's last words were not encouragement, but a final ultimatum.

If the ratings of the third season of "Dark House" are any good, there won't be a single acceptable number.

If he fails to achieve a sufficiently outstanding result, what awaits him will be a reckoning that is even more terrifying than failure itself.

Of course, everyone knows that "An Zhi Ju Season 3" cannot surpass "The Wonderful World of Tales".

After all, the schedule is different.

What's more, even though it was broadcast in a prime time slot, it reached a 10% viewership rating within five minutes of its launch, plus an estimated final viewership rating of 18%.

It's already in the secondary yellow zone.

It's not even the first tier level.

It's already...

It’s the level of prime time!
You know, a 10% viewership rate in the first five minutes of a prime-time show and an 18% viewership rate after the entire episode is over are both pretty good numbers.

Now they are facing only a second-rate program.

What to fight with?

What to fight for?

What's the comparison?!
"Section...Section Chief..." Hashijitaro's voice was hoarse as if it had been polished with sandpaper. He looked at Iwata Masao, his bloodshot eyes filled with helplessness and fear. "What...what should we do now?"

"What should I do?" Masao Iwata suddenly raised his head, and a ferocious look like a trapped beast appeared on his iron-blue face. He grabbed the bottle of wine on the table and took a big gulp. The spicy liquid burned his throat and ignited the last bit of madness in his heart.

"Wait! Wait for our show to air!"

He roared, "I don't believe it! I just don't believe it! We have the reputation of the first two seasons! We have the most loyal audience base! That Nohara Hiroshi, he was just taking advantage of the situation and came up with a grandiose twist ending!"

"This kind of thing is fresh to see once, but you'll get tired of it if you see it too many times!"

"The ratings are only this high for the first episode! With so many episodes to come, I don't believe he can maintain these ratings! We are the true kings! The true continuation of the classic!"

His words were more like self-hypnosis than morale-boosting.

But no one responded to him.

There was still dead silence in the box.

……

In stark contrast to the despair in this high-end izakaya in Ginza, the office of [Hiroshi Nohara Special Production Team] is currently immersed in a sea of ​​triumphant carnival.

"20.3%! Final ratings! 20.3%!!"

Deputy Director Ming Rihai almost stood up from his seat, holding in his hand the report that had just been faxed from the data center. His always elegant and calm face was now filled with undisguised ecstasy and excitement!
Without hesitation, he opened the door of his office and came to Nohara's classroom with his secretary who was still waiting for him.

Tell them the news.

As the deputy director, he is certainly qualified to know the ratings immediately instead of waiting for the next day.

Suddenly the entire Nohara classroom was in an uproar.

"We...we broke the record! We broke the highest ratings record for a prime-time slot in nearly ten years!!"

"No! Not in the last ten years! Probably in the last twenty years!"

The entire office was instantly filled with thunderous cheers!

Kenji Sato and Takeshi Yamamoto, two veterans who have seen a lot of ups and downs, both have flushed faces at this moment.

Trembling with excitement.

Breaking 10% in five minutes.

The whole episode is over 20% complete!

What is this concept?
What level is this?
What level is this?!

They know it clearly!
This is invincible! This is unrivaled in the world! This is number one in Tokyo!

No.

This is a neon first!

Kenji Sato and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto clenched their fists, not knowing what to think. Their faces flushed as they looked at the old brothers around them who looked similar to them, breathing in the air in big gulps, as if they were so excited that they could hardly breathe!
"We did it! We really did it!"

"Section Chief Nohara! You are God!"

Everyone was cheering, everyone was shouting, everyone was breathing heavily, adrenaline was secreted, and they were so excited!

They looked at the young man who had been smiling calmly from beginning to end. His eyes seemed to be looking up at a god that they had just created with their own hands and was emitting a thousand-foot-long light!
"Everyone calm down."

In this frenzied ocean, Nohara Hiroshi's voice was like a clear spring, instantly calming the restlessness in everyone's hearts.

He walked over to the TV that was still on and checked the time.

10:28 pm.

"Alright everyone, the real trial has just begun." A meaningful smile curved his lips. "Let's enjoy the third season of 'Anshiji Residence' brought to you by our 'excellent colleague', Iwata Classroom."

These words instantly made the office quiet.

Everyone had a smile on their face as if they were looking forward to a good show.

On the TV screen, the familiar opening credits, with a bit of weirdness and old-fashioned feeling, appeared on time.

However, when the story officially began, everyone's brows subconsciously frowned.

The picture is no longer the familiar masked Kamishibai uncle.

Instead, there was a young Onmyoji wearing a hunting robe, holding a talisman, and looking righteous.

The content of the story surprised everyone.

It is no longer those urban legends that come from life and are terrifying when you think about them carefully.

It is a story about an evil ghost with a green face, fangs and black air coming out of his mouth, who is chasing down several high school students who accidentally enter an abandoned shrine.

Finally, at the critical moment, the handsome Onmyoji descended from the sky, chanting incomprehensible incantations, and with a glittering golden talisman, utterly annihilated the evil spirit. "..."

When the four large characters "Evil spirits, retreat" filled with a middle school atmosphere appeared on the screen, the entire Nohara classroom fell into an eerie silence.

Then, a burst of laughter, enough to blow the roof off, filled with contempt and disdain, broke out!

"Hahahahaha! What the hell is this?!"

"Exorcising demons? Do they think this is a filming of 'Young Onmyoji'?!"

"Oh my god, they actually turned 'An Zhi Ju' into this weird urban ghost battle show? This is simply the biggest insult to the original work!"

Even the usually calm Kurosawa Eiji couldn't help but shake his head at this moment. A look of regret and a mixture of laughter and tears appeared on his face, which always looked a bit serious.

"What a waste! What a waste!" He sighed. "They simply don't understand. The horror of 'Dark Zhiju' stems from the unknown, from the abnormalities of everyday life. Once the 'ghost' is materialized, and can even be eliminated, all its horror disappears."

Nohara Hiroshi just watched quietly with a knowing smile on his face.

He knew that the war was over.

……

At the same time, on the top floor of Tokyo TV, in the luxurious box overlooking the entire city night view, the atmosphere was completely different from the relaxed atmosphere in Nohara's classroom.

This is the real power center of Tokyo TV.

Nobuhiko Sakata, Director of the Production Bureau, is having a regular dinner in a harmonious atmosphere with several directors of the same level, including those from the News Bureau, Sports Bureau, and Overseas Bureau.

Nobuhiko Sakata always has a friendly smile on his face, but his eyes, which occasionally narrow, gleam with the sharpness of a superior.

"Director Sakata, I heard that your production department has a new and remarkable person recently."

The head of the News Bureau, a seemingly capable woman, held a glass of red wine in hand and jokingly said, "It's 'Anshiji' again, 'Yu Yu Hakusho' again, and now 'The Strangest Tales of the World' coming out, it's got all the young people in Tokyo in a state of turmoil. You've really created quite a bit of buzz for our News Bureau."

"Hahaha, it's just a little fight, sorry to have made you laugh." Sakata Nobuhiko waved his hands, his posture was humble, but the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.

Just then, his secretary walked in quickly and whispered something in his ear.

The smile on Nobuhiko Sakata's face froze instantly.

Then, that smile seemed to be injected with new fuel, becoming brighter than ever!
He slowly put down his glass, cleared his throat, and announced to everyone present in a casual yet boastful tone:
"Everyone, I just received the news."

"The final ratings for our production department's half-baked S-rank project, 'The Wonderful World's Stories', were released on its first airing—"

He paused deliberately, enjoying the curious looks from everyone.

"20.3%."

"..."

If the atmosphere in the box was harmonious before, now it was like a depth bomb was dropped.

"Na...Nani?!"

"20.3%?! In the secondary prime time zone?!"

"Director Sakata, you... you're not kidding, are you?!"

All the directors present, without exception, lost their composure!
They know all too well what this number means!

This is no longer a simple success, it is a legendary achievement that will be recorded in the history of Tokyo TV!

It can even be recorded in the records of the Neon Broadcasting Association!

"Oh, I was surprised too."

Sakata Nobuhiko picked up his wine glass, his chubby face filled with Versailles-style distress. "Young people these days have increasingly bizarre tastes. But since this has been a success, it's a credit to our production department and to all of Tokyo TV. Come on, let's drink, everyone!"

Looking at Nobuhiko Sakata's ungrateful look, everyone present felt as sour as if they had eaten ten pounds of lemons, but they could only raise their glasses and give him the most sincere compliments.

"Congratulations, Chief Sakata! Congratulations, Chief Sakata!"

"Under your leadership, the production bureau is truly full of talented people. The future is promising!"

Nobuhiko Sakata accepted everyone's congratulations with a smile, but he was already very happy in his heart.

He doesn't care about the Kanto faction or the Tokyo faction. As long as he can produce results and make his position as the director of the Production Bureau more stable, or even move up to a higher position as a government official, that would be a great thing!

As for the young man named Nohara Hiroshi...

That handsome and calm face appeared in Sakata Nobuhiko's mind.

Perhaps, it is time to meet in person this lucky general who has made an unparalleled contribution to him.

……

The ratings storm created by "Wonderful Stories of the World" spread much faster than anyone imagined.

While Tokyo TV was still reeling from the shocking data, the shockwave had already crossed geographical boundaries and slammed hard into the faces of its competitors who were watching from the sidelines.

Osaka, Kansai Television (KTV) headquarters building, inside the production director's office.

Smoke billows.

Director Hiroshi Yamauchi, an industry tycoon known for his iron fist and sharp eyes, was staring intently at the replay of "The Touch of Horror" on the TV in front of him. For the first time, a solemn look appeared on his face, which was always as cold as an iceberg.

"check."

He slammed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, his voice icy cold without a trace of warmth:
"I don't care what method you use. Within three days, I need to see a very detailed report on this Nohara Hiroshi. His background, his resume, his works, his creative habits, even what he likes to eat and drink. I want to know!"

"besides!"

He raised his head, his hawk-like eyes sweeping over the silent subordinates in front of him:

"Immediately establish a special research group on 'Urban Tales'! Break down 'Anshigai' and this 'World's Wonderful Stories' frame by frame and analyze them for me! I want to know how they captured the audience's imagination! Why is this golden goose the Tokyo TV station has to monopolize?!"

……

Nagoya, Chukyo TV.

"Imitate! Imitate me now!"

The production director roared in the conference room, looking at his subordinates who had also been brought back to the company at night, spitting everywhere:

"I don't care if you copy or borrow from me! Next season, I must see a work similar to 'The Wonderful World' in our late-night slot! If Tokyo TV can do it, why can't we?!"

……

Fukuoka, Kyushu Broadcasting.

"The gap...is this the gap between us and the big stage?"

A white-haired veteran producer looked at the ratings report from Tokyo and sighed deeply, his eyes full of powerlessness and loneliness.

Even within the Neon Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), which always seems to be high and mighty, takes pride in producing Taiga dramas and morning dramas, and has always looked down upon the operations of commercial television stations, it caused quite a stir.

"This young man named Nohara Hiroshi is very interesting."

A senior director in charge of cultural programs looked at the report in his hand and pushed his glasses thoughtfully:
"His works may seem to be about ghosts and gods, but in reality... they are about the human heart. This creative technique of using a whimsical exterior to wrap profound social issues may be worth learning from."

……

Overnight, the name Hiroshi Nohara and the genre of "urban ghost stories" he pioneered, like a sudden tsunami, swept across the entire Japanese television industry.

For the first time, those big guys who used to be complacent and immersed in their own little piece of land were taught a lesson by a young man who was only 23 years old in the most arrogant and unreasonable way!
They realized that a brand new era full of unknowns and possibilities has quietly arrived.

And this fire called "Urban Tales" ignited by Hiroshi Nohara himself has just begun to burn across the entire Japanese television industry.

After all, a program in a relatively prime time slot has directly reached a viewership rate of 20.3%.

Already let everyone.

Must pay attention!

(End of this chapter)