The literary era since 1979

"Mr. Fangyan."

Kadokawa Kojihiko explained seriously that Kadokawa Bunko would distinguish its books by the color of the waistband on the exquisite packaging.

For example, the waistbands of mystery novels are basically black, also called "black ribbon books", while pure romance novels like "Love Letter" which are mainly aimed at a large number of young readers are "blue ribbon books".

Fangyan listened quietly. When he heard that Kadokawa Shoten planned to separate Kadokawa Bunko and operate it independently, focusing on commissioning works from famous authors and novelizing films and TV dramas, and that the business would be extended to games, light novels, and comics in the future, his brows could not help but frown.

"Cough cough!"

When Kadokawa Haruki heard his brother talking about his unrealistic plan again, he immediately interrupted and said, "Don't get me wrong, Fangyan-kun. We haven't reached a unified consensus internally on whether to expand into light novels and comics."

Then he glared at Kadokawa Koyomi and said, "The most urgent task for Kadokawa Bunko right now is to find an influential, well-known, and literary novel to be the first work released after the independence of the bunko, and to make a good start..."

"So you're into Love Letter?"

Fang Yan said, "But if I agree to cooperate with you, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to Vice President Suzuki and Yuhikaku."

Haruki Kadokawa solemnly guaranteed that as long as he agreed, Kadokawa Shoten would negotiate with Suzuki Shunjiro and Yuhikaku to work out a win-win solution for all three parties. After all, Kadokawa Shoten was the first company in the Japanese publishing industry to launch the "bunko strategy."

"Let me think about it."

Fangyan neither agreed nor refused.

Kadokawa Haruki gladly accepted it, and then there was a knock on the door. The store manager outside reminded him that the book signing event would be held in 5 minutes.

The three of them walked out of the lounge, and just as Kadokawa Lehiko was about to move forward, Kadokawa Haruki grabbed his arm firmly and pulled him hard.

"Big brother?"

"Why did you just bring up your ridiculous light novel library ideas in front of Fangyan-kun?!"

"I think……"

"Do you know that you almost delayed my important event?"

Kadokawa Haruki frowned and scolded, "Fang Yanjun's Love Letter has the potential to win the Naoki Prize, the Kawabata Yasunari Literature Prize, and the Izumi Kyoka Literature Prize. How could a great writer like him agree to have his novel reprinted in a library that publishes comics and light novels! That would be a degradation of one's own standards! You are not only humiliating Fang Yanjun, but also destroying the reputation of our Kadokawa Bookstore!"

"I'm sorry, brother. I didn't think it through."

Kadokawa Toshihiko was so frightened that he bowed deeply.

Haruki Kadokawa snorted coldly, "My stupid Ou Duoduo!"

"I beg you to understand the concept of running a library first. If we really develop into light novels, comics, games and other childish things as you want, I'm afraid that after we lose Tokuma Shoten, we will lose Hitotsubashi Publishing, and then we will have nothing to lose!"

"..."

Kadokawa Koyomi opened his mouth, but seeing that his elder brother was angry, he closed it and suppressed his frustration and thoughts. He had originally planned to ask his elder brother to allow him to set up a pilot light novel library at Fujimi Shobo, a subsidiary of Kadokawa Shoten.

I even had a preliminary idea for the name, either "Fuji Fantasia Bunko" or "Dengeki Bunko".

"Snapped!"

Kadokawa Haruki patted his shoulder and said, "Don't think too much about it now. At the reception tonight, join me in toasting Fangyan-kun a few more times and try every possible way to convince him to cooperate with us and give us the rights to reproduce and adapt Love Letter into a film!"

"Hiyi."

Kadokawa Koyomi sighed, feeling as if he was being suppressed by his elder brother and unable to fulfill his ambitions.

………………

The book signing event was packed with people, with long queues forming, and everyone had at least one copy of Love Letter in their hands.

Some are students walking in groups of three or four, some are young couples, and some are single men hanging out alone.

However, most of them are young Japanese women who call themselves members of the "love letter clan", that is, they love the novel "Love Letter", want to talk more seriously about love and how to live better with men, and even hate the "three wallets" theory.

It took Fangyan half an hour to sign the contract. His wrist was a little sore, but he was happy despite the pain.

Because every time I sign a book, I can hear something like "royalties received" in my ears, which immediately makes me excited.

After the book signing event came to a temporary end, the next step was the readers' exchange meeting.

At the meeting, readers raised question after question, both about "Love Letter" itself and some derived from the novel.

"Fangyan-san, if I ask you to define pure love novels, what do you think it would be?"

"Aesthetic pure love novels should weave an idealized 'utopia' of pure love, without involving desire, material, class, or even life and death. It is just a simple and profound love story between a man and a woman, just like first love, light but unsatisfying."

Fang Yan half-jokingly said: "Of course, most of the endings end in tragedy. After all, the most unforgettable love is the one that cannot be achieved!"

"Eh!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the audience, but it was not because they thought the dialect was ridiculous, but rather that it made too much sense.

It is also too much, because when you think of the male Fujii Itsuki's "unrequited love", the female Fujii Itsuki's "unnatural death", and Watanabe Hiroko's "substitute literature", the intertwined fates of the three are more or less full of tragedy and regret, which is really tear-jerking.

As the exchange meeting was coming to an end, Fangyan took photos with readers, especially the "love letter readers".

"Kaka."

When the clerk took the last photo, Kadokawa Haruki, Kadokawa Lehiko and others came over and said while clapping:

"Mr. Fangyan, you've worked really hard today."

"We have already booked a table at Fukudaya. If you don't mind, please come and have a simple meal."

"Then I would be disrespectful."

Fangyan agreed, got in their car, and went to Kioi-cho in Chiyoda Ward together.

Fukudaya is a Japanese restaurant founded in 1939 and is a popular venue for banquets held by Japanese political and business circles.

Haruki Kadokawa booked a secluded private room with the door curtain wide open, allowing a full view of the bamboo, pine trees, potted plants and other vegetation in the courtyard.

"Boom, boom."

Water flowed down from above, and the hollow bamboo tube was gradually filled with water. The frightened deer then knocked on the stone bowl below, making a crisp sound.

"Ding."

Fangyan and Kadokawa Haruki clinked their glasses, drank the sake in one gulp, and then filled the bottle. Everyone ate and drank, and the atmosphere at the table was relaxed and harmonious.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Kadokawa Haruki finally spoke: "Mr. Fangyan, to be honest, the cooperation I discussed with you today was actually only one thing. There is another unwelcome request, but it is not related to Kadokawa Bookstore, but about Kadokawa Pictures..."

"President Kadokawa, are you talking about the movie adaptation of Love Letter?"

Fangyan picked up a piece of tempura and took a bite.

Haruki Kadokawa and Koyomi Kadokawa looked at each other and exchanged glances.

"We are all smart people. When I heard Kadokawa Pictures, I guessed it was related to Love Letter."

Fangyan secretly revealed that he had also heard some recent news about Kadokawa Pictures from other people.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Kadokawa Haruki simply laid it out on the table, "To be honest, Kadokawa Pictures has indeed encountered some major problems in its operations recently. The biggest problem is that our most popular idol movies are unsustainable, and we urgently need transformation and breakthroughs."

"Transforming from an idol movie to a pure love movie?"

Fangyan touched his chin.

"Hi Yi!"

Kadokawa Koyomi knelt on the mat, and together with Kadokawa Haruki, he placed his hands on his knees and bent down solemnly.

"Love Letter" can be said to have opened up a whole new blue ocean of romance novels. There is only this one best-selling pure romance novel on the market, and there has never been a pure romance movie in the film industry. If Kadokawa Pictures can be the first to shoot "Love Letter", it will definitely be able to make pure romance movies usher in a full-scale outbreak in the 70s just like the craze for girl idol movies in the 80s, and Kadokawa Pictures will be able to overcome the current huge crisis.

"I suppose you guys are aware of the Five Society Agreement?"

Dialect looks left and right.

"How could I not know? Kadokawa Pictures has suffered greatly since it entered the film industry."

Haruki Kadokawa's face suddenly changed and he smiled bitterly.

Kadokawa Koyomi explained that when Kadokawa Pictures was first established, it could only pick up the leftovers of the five studios. From directors to actors, to lighting technicians, almost all of them were people whose contracts were terminated or expired. Otherwise, they would not have devoted all their efforts to cultivating the "Kadokawa Three Girls".

"Luckily, Daiei suddenly went bankrupt, and the directors, actors, and screenwriters all went their separate ways, which allowed us to enrich our team."

Kadokawa Haruki frowned, "Could it be that Fangyan-kun has already decided to hand over the Love Letter to Shochiku?"

Fangyan raised his hand and said that he had a close relationship with Shochiku, especially Okuyama Rong, to whom he was a close friend and relative, like a brother.

Haruki Kadokawa heard the hidden meaning of "you have to pay more" and was surprised and happy. It's all about money, right? Just increase the money until he is satisfied!
"The price is secondary. The most important thing is that I have chosen Keiko Matsuzaka as the heroine of Love Letter."

Fang Yan shook his head and laughed, "She has to play the roles of 'Female Fujii Itsuki' and 'Watanabe Hiroko'."

"This... this is difficult to deal with."

Haruki Kadokawa was in a dilemma. The most domineering aspect of the Five-Company Agreement was that it held the power over the life and death of directors and actors.

Actors must get permission from the company before they can take roles outside of the company, and even if they can take the role, they can only take roles from five companies.

For example, Yamamoto Fujiko, the former "number one" of Daiei, wanted to shoot two movies for Daiei a year and two movies for other companies. This angered the then president of Daiei, who completely put her on ice, and she ended up with no movies to shoot in the entire industry.

"Mr. Fangyan, what you mean is that if we can convince Shochiku to lend us Keiko Matsuzaka, you might give "Love Letter" to Kadokawa Pictures for adaptation?" Kadokawa Lehiko said seriously.

"How is this possible!"

Haruki Kadokawa felt that this was simply impossible.

However, Kadokawa Koyomi disagreed. As long as Shochiku and Kadokawa Pictures could co-produce "Love Letter", nothing would be impossible!
Seeing that Kadokawa Haruki looked completely unconvinced, Fangyan suddenly reminded him that although there are still five companies competing for supremacy in the film industry, the studio system has been impacted by external factors such as the agency system, TV dramas and variety shows, and has begun to collapse.

"But the collapse of the studio system does not mean the liberation of actors. The world will still be ruled by the five societies."

Haruki Kadokawa frowned.

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Has Kadokawa Pictures never thought of replacing it?"

Kadokawa Haruki's heart was pounding, and he could hardly hide his excitement on his face. But after pondering for a while, he still insisted on his opinion:

"Replacing these old companies? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! With Kadokawa Pictures' current strength, it's impossible to do it no matter what!"

"Instead of replacing the five communities, what about replacing one of the five communities?"

Fangyan rolled his eyes. They couldn't beat Toho, Toei, Shochiku, Nikkatsu which had already reduced production and was on the decline, and Daiei which had already gone bankrupt and restructured. Kadokawa Pictures could at least defeat one of them. Then it could form a new alliance with the other four companies and continue to maintain the five-company agreement, wouldn't that be fine?
"Si Guoyi!"

Although Kadokawa Koyomi was not in charge of the film business, he was also very excited and couldn't help but praise it.

Haruki Kadokawa took a sip of his wine and to be honest, he had thought about letting Kadokawa Pictures join the five companies and form a new "six-company" alliance, but the problem was that Toei, Toho, and Shochiku had to be willing to lead Kadokawa Pictures, but what he got in return was only suppression.

“That’s because there’s a lack of a suitable opportunity.”

Fangyan couldn't help but complain in his heart that Japanese companies have the bad habit of both liking to monopolize and having the most to themselves, and Kadokawa Pictures has more or less been involved in this.

During the boom period when idol movies were popular, they only cared about eating the cake but were unwilling to share it. If they had helped Daiei, which was about to go bankrupt, or had cooperated with Nikkatsu and Shochiku when their business was not doing well, how could they have failed to make progress?
Even if they have to settle for second best, they can also join forces with Watanabe Entertainment, Johnny's, Hori Production and other agencies that are challenging the old film studios, and let them provide money and manpower, such as Akina Nakamori, Seiko Matsuda, and Miho Nakayama. Then there is no need to worry about not having popular idols available.
"Could the opportunity that Fangyan-kun was talking about be the Love Letter?"

Kadokawa Koyomi and Kadokawa Harunichi immediately understood each other.

Fangyan nodded and was willing to act as a matchmaker to bring Kadokawa Pictures and Shochiku together to shoot "Love Letter".

"Really?"

Kadokawa Leyan said excitedly, "Mr. Fangyan, if this can be accomplished, we really don't know how to thank you!"

Fangyan cast a meaningful look at them. By doing this, he naturally made them owe him a huge favor, especially Kadokawa Koyanagi. So he deliberately said that he did it more or less for Kadokawa Koyanagi's sake. Although the two had only met a few times, they felt like old friends from the first sight.

"Mr. Fangyan, I toast to you!"

Kadokawa Lehiko picked up the wine glass and poured wine for Fangyan.

"cheers!"

Fangyan then poured him a glass of wine. This is an unwritten rule of toasting at the Japanese table. The person receiving the toast should pick up his own glass, accept the other party's pouring, and then fill the other party's glass to show mutual respect. Otherwise, it would seem like he looks down on the other party.

Haruki Kadokawa watched the two of them drinking and chatting happily, but they left him behind, and glared at Kadokawa Koyomi in annoyance.

Fangyan may not understand the etiquette of Japanese toasting, but as a younger brother, don’t you know the rules either?
Then he thought that Fangyan was considering giving the reproduction and adaptation rights of "Love Letter" to Kadokawa Shoten entirely for Kadokawa Lehiko's sake. He felt that as the eldest brother, he was not as good as his younger brother, and as the president, he was not as good as the vice president, who was his subordinate. Did he still have any face left?
Even if "Love Letter" becomes successful in the future, where will he put his face!
The anger in his eyes grew stronger and stronger. He already disliked this brother who insisted on reading the light novel library and repeatedly went against his will. Now he felt even more resentful, like a thorn in his heart. What I give you is yours! If I don't give it to you, you can't take it away, Bakayaloo!
Looking at his gloomy brother on the left and his triumphant younger brother on the right, Fangyan raised a barely perceptible smirk at the corner of his mouth.

The plan goes through!
If you two brothers were friendly and united, how could I find a way to dig Kadokawa Koyomi to work with me? (End of this chapter)