Chapter 121: Saotome Zaibatsu Returns To Neon! Hiroshi Nohara’s Layout Continues!
“Minister, this is the latest data summary for the national auditions.”
Kei Tanaka, the variety show section chief who had long since transformed, respectfully placed a thick report, like a battle report, on Hiroshi Nohara’s desk.
His face was currently radiating excitement.
“As of twelve last night, the total number of people nationwide who registered for the 《Super Change Change Change》 auditions has officially surpassed 500,000! Among them, the number of registrations from Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka even exceeded that of the Tokyo headquarters! This… this is simply… insane!”
Hiroshi Nohara calmly flipped through the reports filled with astonishing numbers, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
He knew exactly why.
It had to be said that the people in the Kansai region, i.e., the Osaka region, were more pragmatic due to their business dealings.
And they also enjoyed performing more.
The people in Kanto and Tokyo, on the other hand, seemed to place a bit too much importance on their status, always keeping up appearances when out and about, in simple terms, they were a bit pretentious.
However, the Kanto region and the Tokyo metropolitan area were, after all, his territory.
It didn’t matter if they maintained their appearances.
Ultimately, the meat was still within his pot; it was all the same no matter how he ate it.
The reason Hiroshi Nohara was holding auditions was because he needed to keep the audiences from other regions firmly in his grasp.
The good news coming from the Kansai and Osaka regions was indeed worth celebrating.
This was a great start.
“Very good.” Hiroshi Nohara nodded, his gaze shifting to another document, which contained the operational report for Misae’s startup “Future Manga Company.”
The report was written by Misae herself, her handwriting delicate and displaying a certain seriousness unique to a young girl.
It detailed the five new manga assistants hired in the half-month since the company’s establishment and their ongoing work on coloring and filling pages for 《Doraemon》 Volume 1.
Everything was prospering and steadily advancing according to the blueprint he had planned.
“Ring ring—”
The internal telephone on the desk rang, and it was Yō Kitagawa’s voice, clear and articulating with precision: “Minister, Mr. Masato Tadokoro from Shueisha is here and requests to see you.”
“Mm, let him in,” Hiroshi Nohara arranged.
Before long, Masato Tadokoro practically jogged in. The face that always carried a hint of fatigue was now dominated by an almost fanatical excitement.
“Minister Nohara!”
He even forgot his manners and directly placed a magazine, still exuding the fresh scent of ink, respectfully on Hiroshi Nohara’s desk: “Look! The latest issue of 《Weekly Shonen Jump》! Your 《Doraemon》, serialized in its first chapter, the reader survey’s approval rating… 98.7%! It has broken all records for the first chapter of a new work since 《Jump》’s inception!”
He paused, as if about to announce even more weighty news, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: “Also! Editor-in-Chief Torishima has personally decided! 《Yu Yu Hakusho》’s Dark Tournament Arc will be featured as the main attraction for 《Jump》 in the latter half of the year, with a super deluxe edition volume! The cover… will be drawn by you personally!”
This was already the treatment of a star performer.
“Mm, thank you very much.” Hiroshi Nohara simply smiled calmly, as if all of this were only natural.
He looked out at the sky, dyed golden by the autumn sunlight, and on the grand chessboard already spread out in his mind, all the pieces were in their rightful positions.
Television dramas, variety shows, animation, manga…
Four seemingly parallel battlefronts converged quietly in his mind, ultimately pointing towards the cultural empire named “Hiroshi Nohara,” which would make the entire Neon Country take notice.
Hiroshi Nohara and Masato Tadokoro chatted a bit longer. The latter knew he was busy and took his leave.
“Minister, here is today’s newspaper.”
At this point, Yō Kitagawa placed a neatly folded 《Asahi Shimbun》 beside his hand.
Hiroshi Nohara casually opened it and his eyes fell on the headline report—
【The Saotome Zaibatsu announces: The group’s headquarters will officially relocate from New York, USA, to Neon Country Tokyo within the year. The new headquarters will be located in Setagaya Ward…】
Saotome…
That surname, like a subtle embroidery needle, lightly pricked his memory, already enshrouded by countless pieces of information.
He felt like he had heard this name somewhere before.
“Ai Saotome? Little Ai?” Hiroshi Nohara raised an eyebrow, instantly recalling the scheming heiress, who would have a romantic route with his destined son, Shinnosuke Nohara, seemed to be surnamed Saotome.
Moreover, she was the legitimate daughter of the Saotome family and the sole heir to the Saotome Zaibatsu.
This surprised him a little.
As time gradually moved closer to the start of the plot, it was unexpected that various plot characters would begin to appear.
This made Hiroshi Nohara feel a bit uneasy.
“I hope I don’t go back to the original plotline,” he couldn’t help but purse his lips.
“Hmph, another puppet installed by the US, now seeing which way the wind is blowing and preparing to come back to snatch the fruits of labor.”
Just then, a disdainful snort came from the doorway.
It was Kei Tanaka, who had returned.
He had clearly also seen the news Hiroshi Nohara was reading in the newspaper, and a look of disgust appeared on his face.
“Minister, please don’t be fooled by the glamorous appearances of these people.” He walked to Hiroshi Nohara’s side and lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret not meant for outsiders: “This Saotome family is not a good thing.”
“Oh?” Hiroshi Nohara became interested.
“Their family’s ancestors made their fortune by trading in arms. In modern times, they seized the opportunity of the post-war US support for our Neon Country’s economy, earning a fortune by supplying oil and logistics to the US forces stationed in Japan. Later, they directly moved their entire family to the United States, becoming the most loyal hounds of those Wall Street vampires, specifically helping them harvest domestic Neon Country companies in the financial market.”
Kei Tanaka’s voice was filled with suppressed contempt: “Now, seeing our Neon Country’s economy growing larger and larger, these guys, with their noses sharper than dogs, have transformed themselves again, returning under the banner of ‘returning to their homeland and building their hometown.’ Frankly speaking, they must be up to no good!”
These words were full of the most basic class hatred of the common people, yet they also revealed a cruel reality.
A lackey controlled by the United States.
Returning now.
Something big was definitely about to happen!
“Is that so?”
Hiroshi Nohara looked at the photo in the newspaper of the current head of the Saotome Zaibatsu, Matsusuke Saotome, whose face in the photo smiled amiably, and in his clear eyes, a flash of understanding flickered.
It seemed the economic crisis was indeed imminent.
Otherwise, as Kei Tanaka had said, how could the Saotome Zaibatsu, as a US representative or, rather, a white glove, return to Neon Country on the eve of an economic crisis, before the economic bubble burst?
One must know that when an economic crisis arrives, it is a good opportunity for those who control foreign capital to buy at the bottom.
And Japan was a fat sheep that had been nurtured for who knows how many years since World War II.
All its meat was incredibly delicious.
Who knew how many wolves were eyeing it, wanting a share!
……
A month later, Tokyo had already entered autumn.
The wind carried a hint of crisp coolness, blowing away the last traces of midsummer’s restlessness, leaving only the sky’s high and clear blue, like well-polished glazed ware that had been washed by water.
The sign for 【Hiroshi Nohara · Independent Production Department】 had long since become a silent landmark on the seventeenth floor.
This was no longer just a department; it was more like a rapidly operating, independent kingdom full of miracles and legends.
“This is insane…”
Asumi looked at the freshly released September ratings report in his hand, a sense of absurdity and shock appearing in his eyes.
He held the already burnt-out cigarette between his fingers.
Ash rained down.
He seemed completely oblivious.
On the report, three curves, like three dragons breaking free from all restraints, coiled at the top of the data graph in a brute and unreasonable manner.
《An Shizhi》 Season 4, after the “correction of distortions” in Season 3, saw both its reputation and ratings rebound, ultimately stabilizing at a terrifying high of 15%.
For a late-night anime, this was already a legend worthy of entering the history books.
《World of the Strange》 Season 2, like an unshakeable mountain, steadily, even with a hint of arrogance, maintained its ratings at a peak of 22%, leaving all prime-time rivals breathless.
Keiko Matsumoto’s 《Yesterday’s Cherry Blossoms》, the God of Love, had concluded, and a different program, already scheduled for the prime-time slot in the first half of the year, had taken its place.
A heartwarming project program about a child and a single mother.
However, its prime-time ratings were only 18%.
It was completely suppressed by 《World of the Strange》, unable to even catch its breath.
The first-class director’s face would turn black every time he heard the ratings.
And the most terrifying was 《Super Change Change Change》, which had just concluded its first season broadcast.
Final episode ratings—29.8%!
This number, like an invisible heavy hammer, struck the hearts of every television professional.
It not only broke all records in Neon Country’s variety show history but also, in an almost humiliating way, declared to the entire industry that in the realm of “entertainment,” Hiroshi Nohara was the undisputed, sole king.
Terrifying ratings that almost broke 30%.
While it was true that variety show ratings were generally high.
But this high.
It was too outrageous!
“He single-handedly supports half of our Production Bureau.”
Asumi exhaled a long breath, a mix of tobacco smoke and shock, and a wry bitterness, bordering on a smile and a cry, appeared on his refined face.
However, when his gaze fell upon the public opinion report for the grand “nationwide audition” for 《Super Change Change Change》 Season 2, that bitterness transformed into deep confusion.
“Hiroshi-kun, I still don’t understand.”
He looked at the young man leisurely sipping black tea opposite him: “The format of the first season has already been proven perfect. We used the most professional actors to present the most perfect creativity; it was a sure bet. Why… why insist on this nationwide audition? Letting a group of inexperienced amateurs on stage, this… this is too risky. What if… what if it goes wrong?”
These words echoed the sentiments of everyone in the industry.
They didn’t understand.
They truly didn’t understand.
In their eyes, Hiroshi Nohara’s actions were like a mine owner who had already struck gold, but suddenly abandoned the readily available gold to start cultivating anew in a vast, unknown wilderness.
It defied logic.
Hiroshi Nohara put down his teacup, his clear eyes twinkling with absolute confidence.
He asked, “Deputy Director Asumi, what do you think was the core of our success in the first season?”
“Creativity,” Asumi answered without hesitation.
“That’s right, creativity,” Hiroshi Nohara nodded. “But creativity can be exhausted. The fifty creations in the first season that amazed the entire Neon Country were hard-pressed from my barren mind. I can squeeze out fifty more, a hundred more. But one day, it will be like a well drained of water, never again flowing with a drop of sweet spring water.”
“And the nationwide audition is to find new sources.”
He stood up and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the urban landscape of Tokyo below, and calmly expounded:
“One person’s wisdom is limited, but the wisdom of millions is infinite. What I want is not a simple variety show. What I want is a platform, a platform that can ignite the purest imagination of all the people of Neon Country, that imagination suppressed by life and worn away by reality.”
“I want every ordinary person to become a source of creativity for our program. I want 《Super Change Change Change》 to become a creative empire with one hundred and twenty million screenwriters, never to run dry!”
Hiroshi Nohara spoke with resounding conviction, like lightning cutting through chaos, instantly illuminating Asumi’s mind!
He finally understood.
This young man was not simply producing a program.
He was constructing an ecosystem.
An unprecedented entertainment ecosystem that could self-circulate, self-generate, and self-evolve!
……
At the same time, in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka…
Those local powers who had once clamored to “besiege” Hiroshi Nohara were now miserably tasting a series of failures full of black humor.
They had invested immense resources, hired the best screenwriters, used the top-tier special effects, imitated the art style of 《An Shizhi》, and borrowed the plot twists from 《World of the Strange》.
But in the end, what was served were clumsy imitations, resembling the form but not the spirit, filled with the awkwardness of a superficial imitation.
“…No! Still no!”
Ichiro Iwaya, Deputy Director of the Production Bureau at Kansai Television Station, slammed the ratings report in his hand onto the floor, his ashen face filled with uncontainable rage: “Why?! We clearly learned all the elements, so why aren’t the viewers buying it?! They all say our stories don’t have ‘Hiroshi Nohara’s flavor’!”
Because the report clearly stated that their urban legend program’s ratings were only…
2.77%.
Although not bad.
For Hiroshi Nohara’s programs, however, this was practically a joke!
“‘Hiroshi Nohara’s flavor’…”
In the meeting room, a screenwriter responsible for scripts mumbled to himself, a look of profound, ghost-like fear appearing on his face, already sallow from sleepless nights.
“I… I think… I understand.”
His voice was dry and filled with despair: “We… we are lacking not creativity, not technology. What we are lacking is that man’s almost devilish, precise insight into the human heart!”
These words plunged the entire meeting room into a long silence.
They finally understood that they were not facing a simple competitor.
But a dimensional reduction attacker who had long since stood on a higher dimension, overlooking the entire game of chess in a way they could not comprehend.
……
In October, Tokyo’s autumn arrived like a silent painter, subtly coloring the sharp edges of this steel city with a touch of desolate gold.
Kanto Television Station.
As a directly affiliated subsidiary of Tokyo Television Station, it had long been like a dim satellite orbiting its mother star.
As the acquired party, they undertook the projects discarded by their parent company, Tokyo Television Station, broadcasting outdated dramas, playing an awkward role in this brutal war called ratings that was barely more than nothing.
Kiyoto Suzuki, the Head of Production who had been at Kanto Television Station for nearly ten years, had long since had all his sharp edges smoothed away by reality.
His life was like a morning drama with a pre-written script, bland, boring, and with an end that could be seen from a mile away.
He had originally thought that by becoming a second-class director, his reputation would allow him to make a difference at Kanto Television Station.
But all of that was an illusion.
After returning to Kanto Television Station, which he had longed for, Kiyoto Suzuki was completely immersed in an atmosphere of helplessness.
No right to produce high-level projects.
Insufficient funds.
Not even talent.
All there was was a life of boredom, a future of waiting to die, and a dazed crowd.
However, half a month prior, a transfer order from headquarters, like lightning that pierced the dead of night, had thoroughly awakened his long-dormant heart.
“The 《Super Change Change Change Audition Version》? We’re going to produce it?”
When Deputy Director Asumi personally handed him this proposal, Kiyoto Suzuki almost thought he was hallucinating.
He looked at the thin yet weighty proposal, his eyes, already dulled by reports and meeting minutes, filled with disbelief and shock.
He knew what 《Super Change Change Change》 meant.
It was a myth, a legend, the divine scepter Hiroshi Nohara used to overturn the entire era.
And now, this “scrap” of a myth, this “Audition Version” seemingly created to appease the losers, a consolation prize, had landed on him, a “second-class citizen”?
“Deputy Director Asumi, this… this isn’t appropriate, is it?” he stammered, trying to push away the hot potato: “Our Kanto Television Station’s resources… can’t compare to the main office at all. Such an important project, if… if we mess it up…”
After all, Hiroshi Nohara was the golden talent he had promoted himself.
He was doing so well now.
And it was being handed to him.
If anything went wrong, Kiyoto Suzuki would be ashamed of his tarnished reputation!
Kiyoto Suzuki now dared not say he had nurtured Hiroshi Nohara; he only said he had discovered a golden talent.
If he still said he had nurtured Hiroshi Nohara, he would be laughed to death.
“This is Nohara’s idea.”
Deputy Director Asumi merely patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with trust: “He believes in you. He said this program doesn’t need flashy packaging or top stars. It only needs to record the most real, most clumsy, and most brilliant moments of ordinary people.”
Thus, under the confused and bewildered gaze of the entire industry, 《Super Change Change Change Audition Version》, a program that sounded like a “loser’s compilation,” was scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 PM, a prime “garbage time” slot, and quietly premiered on Kanto Television Station.
Osaka, Kansai Television Station.
Ichiro Iwaya looked at the program schedule and let out a contemptuous scoff: “Hmph, out of ideas. It seems that kid’s creativity is about to be squeezed dry. To resort to using these commoners who can’t make it to the main stage is simply destroying his own foundation.”
However, they were all wrong.
They could not understand Hiroshi Nohara’s “ecological thinking” which was almost demonic and transcended this era.
As countless viewers on Saturday afternoon burst their sides laughing at Tokyo Television Station’s professional and perfect 《Super Change Change Change》 and were still wanting more, they were pleasantly surprised to discover that by simply pressing the remote control and switching to Kanto Television Station, the carnival of creativity… was still going on!
Instead of the precision of professional actors, there was the clumsy charm full of life from ordinary people.
They saw a middle-aged man trying to imitate Gundam with a cardboard box, only to trip over himself on stage and fall flat on his back, his genuine embarrassment drawing explosive laughter from the entire audience.
They saw two high school girls trying to imitate a “washing machine spin cycle” with their bodies, only to end up rolling on the floor laughing due to uncoordinated movements, their unadulterated youthful happiness infecting every viewer.
They even saw a white-haired old grandfather use the simplest puppets to perform a “first love shadow play” for his equally aged wife, a simple romance that brought tears of emotion to countless people amidst laughter.
Failure is also interesting.
Clumsiness is also cute.
Reality possesses invincible power!
After the first episode of the Audition Version aired, Kanto Television Station’s phone lines were almost jammed!
And when that freshly printed ratings report reached Kiyoto Suzuki, he looked at the glaring number that could stop his heart, and froze in place as if struck by lightning.
16.3%!
“Boom—!”
That number, like a real atomic bomb, detonated across Kanto Television Station and the entire Neon Television Industry!
“Did… did we… do it?” Kiyoto Suzuki stammered.
He was like a traveler who had trekked through the desert for decades and finally saw an oasis, letting out a long-suppressed cry of ecstasy.
He had won.
No, that man had won again.
In a way that they could not understand, yet had to worship, a god-like way.
Won!
Tokyo Television Station, seventeenth floor.
Hiroshi Nohara calmly looked at the report, a faint, carefree smile on his lips.
This was just the beginning.
The real trump card was still to come, in the yet-to-be-aired and already-hyped 《Super Change Change Change Season 2》!
Because Hiroshi Nohara had also received word that the pre-hyped 《Super Change Change Change Audition Version》 had attracted viewers from various regions who didn’t originally like Kanto TV or Tokyo TV, those with strong regional loyalties.
They wanted to see how their local actors, who had reached the finals and were recording variety shows at Tokyo Television Station, would perform.
Even inter-regional rivalries had been ignited!
