Chapter 180: 《the Tale Of Hachiko》 Wraps Up! Signs Of Economic Crisis Begin To Emerge!
《The Tale of Hachiko》’s filming work, under Hiroshi Nohara’s near-obsessive perfectionism, finally reached its conclusion.
The rising and setting sun at Shibuya Station, the changing seasons in the Akita Countryside, everything was like a carefully sculpted scroll, leaving an eternal mark on the film.
Everyone in the film crew was exhausted but exhilarated; they knew a movie worthy of entering history books had quietly been born.
Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano, these two second-class directors who once prided themselves on their experience, were now like they had been reborn. From initial doubt to later amazement, and now to genuine respect, it was as if they had undergone a long period of training.
When Hiroshi Nohara announced “that’s a wrap,” both men simultaneously let out a long breath of relief. That sense of liberation, mixed with an indescribable sense of accomplishment, made them feel light enough to float away at any moment.
Returning to the Tokyo Television Production Bureau, their first stop was Managing Director Toshihide Takada’s office.
After all, Toshihide Takada was the leader who had promoted them.
Pushing open the door, the familiar scent of sandalwood incense and coffee hit them, slightly relaxing their taut nerves.
Toshihide Takada was sitting behind the desk, toying with a steel pen in his hand. His deep eyes flashed with a barely perceptible scrutiny when he saw Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano.
“You’re back.” Toshihide Takada’s voice was flat: “《The Tale of Hachiko》 wrapped?”
“Yes, Deputy Director Takada, we’re back.” Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano bowed in unison, their tone respectful.
“It wrapped.” Kouta Asano added. His face, usually wearing a friendly smile, now showed a trace of unprecedented fatigue, but deep in his eyes leaped an excited glow.
Toshihide Takada nodded, gesturing for them to sit.
His gaze swept over their slightly haggard yet spirited faces, a playful arc tugging at his lips: “After spending so much time with Hiroshi Nohara, you look like you’ve gained some insights?”
Hearing this, Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano exchanged a glance, seeing the same bitter smile in each other’s eyes.
“Deputy Director Takada, we really have gained insights.” Soji Ashikaga sighed, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery: “We’ve thoroughly understood now—Minister Nohara… no wonder he’s called a ‘monster’!”
“‘Monster’?” Toshihide Takada’s eyebrow arched slightly. He set down the steel pen, leaning forward a bit, his eyes showing thick interest. “Oh? Tell me more. From what I see, this kid is just young and handsome—nothing special.”
His words sounded like teasing, but deep in his tone hid a curiosity about Hiroshi Nohara.
He had lost too many times.
Even now, he wanted to know what kind of person that legendary monster really was.
Perfectly, these two directors he had sent to integrate into Hiroshi Nohara’s circle could now give him answers.
Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano couldn’t help but smile bitterly at his words.
They knew Deputy Director Takada was giving them a chance to vent the shock they had accumulated over this time.
“Deputy Director Takada, we really underestimated Hiroshi Nohara.” Kouta Asano spoke first, his chubby face full of incredulous shock. “We used to make movies by starting with a script, then storyboard, then filming. But Minister Nohara… he doesn’t play by the rules at all!”
“Oh?” Toshihide Takada’s interest grew stronger.
“He… he draws the movie like a manga!” Soji Ashikaga took over, his tone trembling with disbelief. “From the initial outline to the script to the final storyboard, he builds it all like drawing manga! Every scene, every lens, every character’s expression, even the shifts in light and shadow—he sketches them all out in advance with a brush, stroke by stroke!”
“That’s no storyboard script—it’s a complete movie manga!” Kouta Asano added excitedly, even standing up and gesturing animatedly. “We just had to film exactly as he drew in the manga, like… like copying frame by frame from a movie that’s already been shot!”
“And his control over details is downright obsessive!” Soji Ashikaga stood too, his eyes filled with fanatical respect. “He can spot at a glance which lens has a problem, which actor’s emotions are off, which set needs adjustment. He always gives the most precise guidance right away—even Hachiko’s fur color, the professor’s glasses style, he specified them all!”
“What amazed us most was…” Kouta Asano lowered his voice, a hint of confusion in his tone, “we could feel that Minister Nohara doesn’t actually know traditional filming theory. He hasn’t studied professional cinematography composition, editing techniques, or those obscure film theories from director programs.”
“He… he’s completely relying on an almost instinctive intuition to make movies!” Soji Ashikaga continued, his eyes full of confusion and shock. “He’s like a born filmmaker, using his unique ‘manga thinking’ to make movies vivid, deeply moving! We even wondered if he… if he came back from the future?”
Listening to their descriptions, the playful smile on Toshihide Takada’s face had long vanished, replaced by deep contemplation and… bitterness.
He slowly leaned back into the chair back, exhaling a long breath that seemed to carry away all his stubbornness and unwillingness.
“As expected… just as I thought.” Toshihide Takada murmured to himself, his voice tinged with self-mockery. “No wonder a 23-year-old kid could make something like 《Seven Samurai》. Turns out, he’s not making a movie—he’s… drawing a movie!”
He shook his head with a bitter smile, his gaze turning to the vast Tokyo Bay outside the window, his eyes deep with bitterness.
“Looks like Director Sakata was wise to tell me to drop the factional prejudice and cooperate with him.” Toshihide Takada sighed lightly, his tone helpless yet filled with heartfelt recognition of Hiroshi Nohara’s immeasurable talent.
He turned his head, his gaze falling back on Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano, helpless yet expectant.
“So, Ashikaga-kun, Asano-kun.” Toshihide Takada sighed: “What we should do now seems to be learn from him, embrace him, and help him succeed?”
He paused, his tone growing earnest: “Cooperate well with him, assist him. He wants not just your experience, but your loyalty and execution. If you can do that, maybe your lives will change because of it. Maybe you’ll follow him to a better future.”
Soji Ashikaga and Kouta Asano sighed and nodded, saying nothing more.
But their eyes were still full of shock.
They never imagined that Managing Deputy Director Takada, once the leader of the “Tokyo Faction,” would say such things!
They chatted briefly some more.
Looking at Toshihide Takada’s calm face that seemed resigned, they thought of Hiroshi Nohara’s excessively young face. Their hearts, already thoroughly conquered by Hiroshi Nohara’s talent, rippled with fanatical waves.
They admired strength.
Or rather, Japanese People admired strength.
And Hiroshi Nohara was the strong person they willingly followed.
From this moment, their life trajectories would change completely.
They would no longer be “Tokyo Faction” directors mired in factional struggle, but new selves under Hiroshi Nohara, striving for Tokyo TV’s future and the rise of Japanese culture.
Toshihide Takada looked at their fanatical expressions, a faint helpless smile finally appearing on his face.
He knew these two had also been convinced by Hiroshi Nohara.
In just about two weeks.
They had been won over by Hiroshi Nohara’s talent.
He could even foresee that soon, Hiroshi Nohara would stand at the peak of the Japanese cultural circle in an unbeatable posture, shining with his unique light even in politics, business, and every field.
“Sigh, a monster is a monster.” Toshihide Takada leaned back in his chair, pursing his lips but saying no more.
Just let it be.
After so many setbacks, he was a bit tired too.
Since Hiroshi Nohara was so talented, Tokyo Television Station would surely develop better in the future.
As the Production Bureau’s Managing Deputy Director, wouldn’t he share in the leadership credit?
Takada couldn’t help but smile.
Though the smile was a bit bitter.
But thinking of Hiroshi Nohara’s despair-inducing talent, and the soon-to-release 《The Tale of Hachiko》 that was so powerful even Governor Koike expressed support, he chose a calm mindset.
……
After the movie wrapped, Hiroshi Nohara didn’t choose to rest.
He shut himself directly in the office, diving into tense post-production editing work.
Like a solitary artisan, he rearranged and combined those emotionally charged films on the editing table, giving them new life. Every lens, every segment of music, every rhythm control condensed his obsessive pursuit of perfection in movies.
He knew post-production editing was the key to a movie’s ultimate success or failure.
He wanted this 《The Tale of Hachiko》 not just deeply moving, but a classic to endure for centuries!
In the office, only the faint hum of editing equipment and Hiroshi Nohara’s occasional soft sighs. On the screen before him, Hachiko’s loyal figure, the professor’s warm smile, the changing seasons at Shibuya Station—all were given perfect presentation in his hands.
He even personally selected the movie’s music, perfectly integrating those melodic, sorrowful, or hopeful tunes with the images, pushing audience emotions to climax after climax.
When the final frame was edited and the last note synced perfectly with the image, Hiroshi Nohara exhaled a long breath.
That breath carried post-battle fatigue, yet was filled with indescribable satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.
He leaned back in the chair back, gazing calmly at the just-completed 《The Tale of Hachiko》 finished film on the screen.
He succeeded.
This movie, refined and amplified by him, was more perfect, more moving, more heart-stirring than any version in his memory.
He could even foresee the sensation it would cause across Japanese society and the whole world upon release.
Hiroshi Nohara’s lips unconsciously curved into a satisfied arc, that heartfelt pleasure making him feel enveloped in warm light.
He picked up the mobile phone and pager on the desk, silent for half a month.
Over the past half month, to rush progress, he had almost isolated himself from the world. All calls and messages were selectively ignored.
Now, it was time to “unban.”
As soon as he turned on the mobile phone and pager, a tidal wave of alert sounds hit instantly!
“Beep beep—”
“Beep beep beep—”
The mobile phone’s message alerts and pager’s beeps wove into a unique symphony in the quiet office.
Hiroshi Nohara shook his head with a bitter smile.
He knew these were “greetings” from all sides.
He browsed casually, and sure enough, most were caring messages from friends and family.
“Hiroshi, heard your new movie started filming? The one about the dog? Keep it up, we all believe in you!” —From Misae’s younger sister, Masae Oyama, full of trust and expectation.
“Big bro Hiroshi! Is 《The Tale of Hachiko》 really being filmed? I’m super excited! When can I visit the set?” —From Mogae Nohara Oyama, brimming with a little girl’s excitement and curiosity.
“Hiroshi-kun, Happy New Year! 《Seven Samurai》’s box office is still rising! Director Sakata and Fujiwara-sama both think highly of the 《The Tale of Hachiko》 proposal! Our Publicity Department will fully support you!” —From Minister of Publicity Excellency’s secretary, with perfectly measured respect and fawning.
Hiroshi Nohara just smiled and nodded; he knew this was affirmation of his abilities and huge boost to his future career.
He kept scrolling, soon seeing a message from Omagari City’s mayor, full of official tone.
“Nohara-kun, hello! Heard you’re preparing 《The Tale of Hachiko》? Omagari City and Akita Prefecture fully support your proposal! If you need assistance with venues or resources, we’ll cooperate fully!”
“By the way, Nohara-kun, Akita Prefecture’s governor also highly praised your proposal. He commended your huge contribution to hometown cultural promotion! He even said if the movie needs it, he’s willing to personally endorse and promote it!”
Hiroshi Nohara’s lips curved into a satisfied arc.
This recognition and support from his hometown was quite important.
He kept scrolling, soon seeing a message from elder brother Hiroshi Nohara.
“Hiroshi, you’re amazing! Your 《The Tale of Hachiko》 proposal is genius! Omagari City and Akita Prefecture leaders are rushing to approve our loans! Now Nohara Family Co., Ltd. has over 500 acres of land bought, and with more loans coming, it’s expanding! Expected to reach 1,000 acres by mid-year!”
A satisfied smile appeared on Hiroshi Nohara’s face.
Effort had finally paid off.
These lands that seemed valueless now were a major fallback for the future, even a secret weapon to propel Nohara Family’s rise!
The reason was the economic bubble!
He clearly remembered Japan’s economic bubble started around 1991.
Real estate market gradually declined, then fully burst in August 1992.
Real estate collapsed, stock market crashed completely, most paper assets vanished.
Then Japan’s city economy fully collapsed, remaining economy forced back to countryside and locales to survive, letting agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives reach historical peak.
Thinking of this, Hiroshi Nohara’s eyes instantly deepened.
He knew this was a crisis, but even more a huge opportunity!
He would make Nohara Family Co., Ltd. a “survivor,” even “beneficiary” in this economic crisis!
He immediately composed a message and sent it to elder brother Hiroshi Nohara.
“Elder Brother, the country is regulating the economy now, but remember: agriculture is always the most resilient. So speed up, expand land by all means possible! Especially accelerate Akita Dog breeding!”
“After my 《The Tale of Hachiko》 releases, Akita Dogs’ value will skyrocket! Then we can recover more funds to buy more land!”
“Elder Brother, my goal is—at least 5,000 acres! Hope you work hard too! Don’t fear spending!”
After sending, he leaned back in the chair back, gazing calmly at the brilliantly lit Tokyo outside the window.
He knew an unprecedented economic storm was already brewing, soon to sweep all of Japan.
But he firmly believed, with his wisdom, foresight, and unyielding heart, he could lead Nohara Family to stand firm in the storm, even turn the tables!
He would make Nohara Family the “winner” in this economic crisis!
And even if they borrowed huge sums now.
After the economic crisis ends.
Currency devalues.
Repaying then would be a breeze!
PS: Everyone, please give opinions in the comments. With the massive updates, my brain’s a bit foggy. Can’t see the forest for the trees. Need your input…
