"I'm in Tokyo, and this is some kind of movie star comeback system?!"

Katsuji Nakamura chuckled in response:

"Yes, the Cultural Affairs Bureau asked us to record a segment showcasing our creative process."

Upon hearing this, Producer Shiraishi nodded slightly.

"The higher-ups are very concerned about the success of this drama this time."

"The ratings for 'Fate' are not ideal, we must turn things around."

As he spoke, he looked at Kitaoji and Shintaro Katsu, "With you big shots in charge, I feel much more at ease!"

Kitaoji and Shintaro Katsu smiled as they received praise from producer Shiraishi.

Shiraishi stood by the shoji gate, smiling and gesturing for everyone not to be so formal.

"Since we're reading together right now, let's continue. I'd also like to hear about the results of your polishing."

Katsuji Nakamura nodded in agreement, his gaze turning to Ken Watanabe.

As the lead actor in the series, Ken Watanabe calmly stepped forward, took the script handed to him by someone, and without hesitation, began to perform the scene from the previous one.

Before starting, he recalled the details of the performance by Yuki Sakamoto and Shintaro Katsu.

They started imitating the mannerisms of the Edo period.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he successfully caught Shiraishi's attention.

He already had a solid foundation in dialogue delivery, and he also used the Warring States style that Sakamoto Yu had refined, with deep and resonant pronunciation and appropriate pauses.

The lead actor's presence and the weight of history are perfectly presented.

So much so that even after he finished reciting the words, he still felt unsatisfied.

I even feel that his delivery of lines has improved.

After reading the passage, Baishi's eyes lit up, and he immediately raised his hand in a light praise:

"Great! This tone is so much more authentic than previous Taiga dramas."

Calm and composed, with an ancient charm, it perfectly captures Masamune's aura.

Watanabe-kun's skills are getting more and more solid!

Ken Watanabe's face lit up with joy upon hearing the praise.

He was chosen as the lead actor by Katsushi Nakamura despite the pressure.

The burden on his shoulders was extremely heavy.

Receiving affirmation from an NHK producer at this moment, the excitement and complex emotions I felt are hard for others to understand.

He knew very well that a small part of the credit for this was due to the rookie.

Ken Watanabe suppressed his joy, adopted a humble demeanor, and bowed to Shiraishi in gratitude.

This praise was well-deserved, and everyone present nodded in agreement.

Because the producer suddenly appeared, the reading session had to be moved to a different location.

This room was, after all, a temporary structure.

The group moved to a conference room inside the photography studio.

Producer Shiraishi is currently chatting with Shintaro Katsu, Kinya Kitaoji, and director Katsushi Nakamura.

Even the lead actor, Ken Watanabe, could only stand far to the side.

He's not qualified to break into that circle yet; he'll have to wait until this show airs before he can even get close enough to enter.

Like the other young actors, Sakamoto Yu waited quietly in the back row of the conference room.

In a short while, the on-set director, assistant director, director of photography, art director, and even production manager arrived.

Several actors' agents present also wanted to come in, but were stopped at the door.

The atmosphere in the conference room was quiet and solemn. No one spoke casually, and the actors all seemed a little reserved. Only occasionally could be heard from Shiraishi and the inner circle talking.

Sakamoto Yu raised his eyes and looked at the small core group in the center of the crowd.

His eyes revealed an undisguised ambition.

The scene and the atmosphere struck a chord with him.

"I'll stand at the very center of that circle sooner or later."

The reading continued, but the cameraman who was originally in charge of filming had been replaced, and the director of photography took over the camera himself.

The somber atmosphere was even more tense than during actual filming.

On site, a key passage involving diplomatic rhetoric among the Warring States period princes was presented, which is also a topic that the Agency for Cultural Affairs is likely to focus on during its inspection.

Producer Shiraishi and Shintaro Katsu, along with Kinya Kitaoji, sat in the front row, as if they were auditioning.

The pressure was far greater than that of auditioning.

After the actor playing the retainer finished reading, Kitaoji Kinya frowned slightly, and Katsu Shintaro shook his head gently, clearly feeling that it wasn't quite right.

The language is too modern, lacking the solemnity and sense of propriety of diplomacy during the Warring States period.

There was a half-second pause, and no one took the initiative to speak.

Shiraishi frowned slightly.

"How can they be so different?"

Shiraishi mentioned something to director Katsuji Nakamura:

"Watanabe-kun's delivery of those words was excellent; the people at the Agency for Cultural Affairs love that kind of thing. Let him demonstrate it then."

Shintaro Katsu and Kinya Kitaoji, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance.

A moment later, Bei Dalu Xin also spoke:

"Actually, Watanabe-kun's words and tone just now were figured out by a younger colleague, and we were just following his style."

"Oh? Was it a consultant hired by the production team for guidance?"

Shiraishi subconsciously assumed that the person was a professional who had been hired.

"No, it's an actor in our group."

Katsuji Nakamura understood Shintaro Katsu's meaning and, following the conversation, casually glanced in the direction of Sakamoto Yu.

"Hmm, is that so? These young people nowadays are truly formidable."

Shiraishi Producer followed the line of sight.

Shintaro Katsu gave Sakamoto Yu a look.

Sakamoto Yu was taken aback.

The four men's eyes fell on where the young actor was sitting.

This left them looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Sakamoto-san, come up here and demonstrate a scene."

It was unclear which of the four people gave a greeting.

Yasuko Sawaguchi looked at Yu Sakamoto with expectant eyes.

She reached out and patted him gently. "They're calling you. Go quickly."

Sakamoto Yu paused for a moment, then quickly stood up.

Sakamoto walked up to the four people, and Nakamura Katsuji handed them the script.

"In the scene between you and Katsuki-kun just now, you'll play Toyotomi Hideyoshi and act opposite Watanabe-san."

Sakamoto Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, nodded, and steadily accepted the gift.

He first bowed to Shiraishi and the others, and then politely bowed to the lead actor, Ken Watanabe.

He then stepped back slightly, leaving the main stage entirely to Ken Watanabe.

As a supporting character, he stood in the side corner.

After Watanabe Ken nodded in acknowledgment, Sakamoto Yu began:

"Masamune! How dare you be late? Do you really think that the land of Oshu is yours to rule alone?"

When this emphasis appeared, producer Shiraishi raised his eyebrows slightly.

That's just right.

Although he is not an actor by nature, a good performance can be recognized even by the audience.

Not to mention his vision as a producer.

Although the lines and characters are different, compared to the actor mentioned earlier, Sakamoto Yu's version is clear and articulate, with appropriate pauses, and lacks the casualness of modern spoken language.

What's even more amazing is yet to come.

After Ken Watanabe finished reading his lines, Yu Sakamoto, playing Toyotomi Hideyoshi, let out a cold laugh:

"If I kill you today, the 620,000 koku of Sendai will belong to someone else."

Behind his words, the angry and threatening tone immediately gave Ken Watanabe a perfectly timed sense of oppression.

It is neither too strong nor too weak.

This only served to ignite his fearless composure.

"If Your Highness kills me, the soldiers of the Date clan will fight to the death..."

Shiraishi and the others in the audience could clearly see that Ken Watanabe's performance was getting better and better, even more focused than before.

Producer Shiraishi's gaze was fixed on Ken Watanabe on stage.

The actors and staff below were also completely engrossed in watching.

However, everyone knows why Ken Watanabe was able to act so smoothly and with such tension.

The key lies with that young man standing in the corner of the stage, silently stirring his emotions.

Yasuko Sawaguchi sat among the actors, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"That's amazing..."

Producer Shiraishi remained silent throughout, his face showing no joy or happiness.

Shintaro Katsu nodded slightly, a smile of approval on his lips, thinking to himself: This child never disappoints.

Katsuji Nakamura saw this and remembered it in his heart.

If there's an opportunity in the future, we can try to collaborate.

Finally, the demonstration ended.

After reciting his last line, Sakamoto Yu slowly stepped aside.

He took a deep breath and glanced sideways.

He quickly glanced at the people below the stage.

He never imagined that a single encounter would land him a major production and propel him to instant stardom.

That's not realistic.

I just hope to leave an impression on them.

Perhaps I'll remember him when I have a role to play.

Producer Shiraishi nodded in satisfaction, and then instructed Nakamura:

"That's enough for today, so as not to delay your filming."

Katsufumi Nakamura stood up and waited to the side.

Kenya Watanabe also came over.

Then, everyone saw Shiraishi whisper a few words in Nakamura's ear.

Katsuji Nakamura nodded repeatedly, indicating that he had made a note of it.

Not long after, producer Shiraishi turned and left the conference room.

As soon as he left, Katsuji Nakamura looked up at Yu Sakamoto and waved to him:

"Sakamoto-san, come here for a second."

Sakamoto Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly walked over.

"Producer Shiraishi has high hopes for you."

Katsuji Nakamura said with a smile,

"He hopes you can take charge of the collaborative guidance of the production team, specifically controlling the contemporary feel of the dialogue."

Have your agent come over later. We need to discuss additional compensation, and your contract also needs to be revised.