The literary era since 1979

Nightfall, Kanagawa.

After Fangyan finished his book signing event in Tokyo, he took the Shinkansen to the next stop.

After putting my luggage away, I called the office of President Shochiku, and soon the voice of Okuyama Takeshi came through the receiver.

The two exchanged a few polite pleasantries at first, and then talked about the double success of "The Ring" in terms of box office and reputation. They immediately started talking and couldn't wait to shoot the second part of "The Ring". Of course, they hoped that "Love Letter" could be filmed by Shochiku.

"President Okuyama, aren't you afraid of being tired by shooting two shows at once?"

Fangyan said half-jokingly.

“I’m not afraid of being tired, I’m just afraid of being idle.”

Okuyama Yung complained that Shochiku had produced fewer films this year and had only made 24 films together with Toei, Toho and Nikkatsu. If it weren't for the critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as "The Ring", the film industry would probably have suffered losses like its kabuki, symphony and opera businesses.

"After all, times have changed."

Fang Yan said that the highly vertically integrated studio system such as Shochiku, Nikkatsu, Toei and Toho can no longer keep up.

Okuyama Rong sighed, and suddenly remembered that Fang Yan had been in the Chinese mainland film industry, the Hong Kong film industry, and the American Hollywood. He was knowledgeable and experienced, and seemed to have found a savior. He said anxiously: "I wonder if Fang Yan has any good suggestions for the development of our Shochiku?"

Fangyan said bluntly: "If you ask me, the first thing is to abandon the studio system."

Ao Shanrong was stunned. "Mr. Fang Yan, can you elaborate on it?"

"President Okuyama must also be aware that the Shochiku studio system is no longer up to date. Daiei's bankruptcy and reorganization is a fact."

There is a seriousness in the dialect. Not to mention that today's Hollywood has long since abandoned the vertically integrated studio system and thrown away all baggage. Directors, actors, screenwriters, etc. are all managed by agencies such as WME and CAA. Even Hong Kong film companies are moving in this direction.

For example, Golden Harvest’s producer system and Cinema City’s producer center system.

Even Shaw Brothers, which was on the verge of shutting down and selling itself due to its adherence to the studio system, began to reform towards a producer-centered system under his influence.

"That means we have to lay off employees, which is very difficult to do."

Okuyama Jun was not unaware of the drawbacks of the studio system, but the corporate culture of their Japanese film company was very different from that of Hollywood and Hong Kong. They practiced a vassal culture, where employees could be promoted from soldiers to military commanders as long as they were loyal. The emphasis was on "loyalty! Honesty!"

"if it is like this……"

Fang Yan deliberately pondered for a while, "I guess President Okuyama must have heard of Cao Cao's 'Iron Chain Links'?"

Okuyama Rong shouted "Hi". As an avid fan of the Three Kingdoms, how could he not know about the Battle of Red Cliff!

"Does Fangyan-kun mean to have Shochiku and other companies work together?"

"It's not that we advance and retreat together, it's just that we complement each other's resources, share risks, share interests, and achieve win-win cooperation."

Fang Yan said, "Take Love Letter for example. Has President Okuyama ever thought of using this as an opportunity to collaborate with other companies to produce a film?"

"Since Fang Yanjun said that, I guess you have a suitable partner in mind, right?"

When Okuyama Tadashi was wondering whether it was Toei or Toho, he unexpectedly gave an unexpected answer: Kadokawa Pictures!
As expected, Kadokawa Shoten had no good intentions in hosting the book signing event for "Love Letter". It turned out that they wanted to obtain the adaptation rights for "Love Letter"!
"President Okuyama, don't you think Kadokawa Pictures is the most suitable partner for Shochiku right now?"

Fangyan smiled and said.

Okuyama Rong asked, "Why is this?"

The dialect explained succinctly that among the five companies, Daiei went bankrupt and reorganized, Nikkatsu reduced production and stopped operations, and Shochiku was currently unable to take care of itself, so how could it have the spare energy to help others? Toho and Toei were too strong, and Shochiku would gradually lose the dominant position in the cooperation no matter which one it linked with.

But the collaboration with Kadokawa Pictures is different. Not only can Shochiku take the initiative, but it can also use Kadokawa Pictures' advantages such as idol film production capabilities and resources for adapting best-selling novels into movies to inject new vitality into Shochiku. The key is that both Kadokawa Pictures and Shochiku lack projects that can make big money.

It just so happens that Kadokawa Pictures is short of people, and Shochiku is short of money.

"What Fangyan said makes sense."

Okuyama Rong's eyes lit up, but his brows frowned again, "But Shochiku and I have to abide by the Five Society Agreement..."

Fangyan smiled and said, "The Five-Company Agreement has not kept up with the times. Doesn't President Okuyama want to set new rules himself?" The topic started with the "iron chain" between Kadokawa Pictures and Shochiku, and then went on to various novel ideas including the "joint agency". Okuyama Rong became more and more excited, and gradually began to seriously consider the possibility of cooperation between the two companies from his resistance to cooperating with Kadokawa Pictures.

The night sky became darker and darker, and the moonlight became brighter and brighter.

The next day, Fangyan brought good news to Kadokawa Lehiko.

After careful consideration, Okuyama Jun prepared to report the cooperation between Shochiku and Kadokawa Pictures to the chairman and then hold a meeting to discuss it seriously.

"Really!"

Kadokawa Leyan was extremely excited and held Fangyan tightly with both hands, "That's great, Fangyan-kun, on behalf of the Kadokawa family, thank you! Thank you!"

Just as the two were chatting and laughing, the store manager hurried over, and Haruki Murakami and his wife appeared at the book signing event.

Fangyan was very surprised: "Haruki Murakami?!"

"This Murakami-kun is incredible."

Kadokawa Leyohiko introduced him. Since his official debut with his first work "Hear the Wind Sing" which won the Gunzo Newcomer Literature Award, he has been shortlisted for the Akutagawa Ryunosuke Prize and the Noma Literary Newcomer Award. Last year, he won the Tanizaki Junichiro Award for "The End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland".

Fangyan was eager to try, "Then I must meet him."

Kadokawa Lehiko laughed out loud: "See you! We must see you! I guess Murakami-kun came to the bookstore just for you."

After receiving the instructions, the store manager immediately invited Haruki Murakami and Yoko Takahashi from the lobby of the bookstore to a secluded lounge.

Fangyan and Haruki Murakami simultaneously cast scrutinizing glances at each other, looking each other up and down while shaking hands and saying hello.

After a polite exchange of commercial praise, Murakami Haruki got straight to the point, holding Love Letter in both hands:
"In this novel, Fangyanjun uses poetic language to express the pursuit and regret of pure love by young boys and girls..."

"Yes, just like what it says on the jacket, this is a '100% romantic, beautiful, pure love novel'."

Fangyan took a sip of tea.

Haruki Murakami asked again: "But why do I feel that in this pure love, there is a sense of sadness, beauty, mystery, and a hint of ambiguity?"

Fangyan clapped his hands, "That's right, Murakami-kun, you are the first person to point out that there is ambiguity hidden in "Love Letter"."

"Really?"

Haruki Murakami was very surprised and asked why.

Fang Yan said: "This is the conclusion I have drawn based on my long-term observation of Japan. There is an 'ambiguous' culture in Japan."

After this was said, Haruki Murakami, Koyomi Kadokawa, Yoko Takahashi and others were all curious.

Fangyan said: "Let me use Natsume Soseki's "Memories of a Moonlit Night" as an example. A couple is on a date on a moonlit night. The man wants to say "I love you" to the woman next to him, but such a straightforward expression would be very abrupt if the woman does not mean it. So, at this time, the man will not say "I love you" or "I like you", but..."

"The moonlight tonight is so beautiful."

Haruki Murakami blurted out.

Fangyan nodded, "Then, if a woman is interested, she will not reply with 'I love you' or 'I like you', but will respond very subtly with 'Yes, the moon is so beautiful, and the wind is so gentle'. At this time, if a man wants to hold a woman's hand, she will definitely not refuse."

Takahashi Yoko agreed, "Indeed, even now, when men and women express their love verbally, they rarely use such straightforward words as '愛してる' (I love you). At most, they use a lower level of '好きです' (I like you)."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "Because the expression of 'I like you' can avoid the awkwardness of both parties. Although the meaning of the two expressions is actually the same, both are a confession of love, but it is a very smooth social skill. No matter what you talk about, you don't say it in a final way, leaving room for yourself and enough face for the other party. Everyone should think about it. This is also true when you are confessing your secret love."

Haruki Murakami suddenly realized, "It is precisely because of this way of thinking about people and things that the relationship between men and women appears ambiguous and vague, and it is hard to explain, just like the male Fujii Itsuki hides his love for the female Fujii Itsuki in the sketch he drew with a library card."

Seeing that they were chatting enthusiastically and looked like they wished they had met each other earlier, Takahashi Yoko silently poured tea for everyone.

This is the first time I’ve seen my “cynical” husband so excited! (End of this chapter)