The literary era since 1979

The Japanese comics industry has a very deep connection with Shanghai Art Factory.

Many veteran animation masters were actually influenced by Shanghai Animation Studios’ animation and eventually embarked on the path of animation.

For example, Osamu Tezuka, known as the father of Japanese animation, decided to start creating animation after watching the 1941 Chinese animation "Princess Iron Fan", and eventually created classic animation such as "Astro Boy".

The same was true for Hayao Miyazaki. He had loved "Journey to the West" produced by the Shanghai Animation Studio since he was a child. This animated film left a deep impression on him and also prompted him to embark on the path of animation creation without hesitation. So when he heard that the Shanghai Animation Studio was in a deteriorating situation, he discussed with Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata and others for a night, and finally agreed to Fangyan's plan, making "Spirited Away" the first Sino-foreign joint animation film.

Furthermore, they took the initiative to propose that they could invite people from the Shanghai Mei factory to come to Studio Ghibli for study and exchange.

Fangyan was naturally more than happy to accept this request, and thanked Miyazaki and others for their kindness on behalf of the Mei Factory.

The next step is to tell the good news to the Kamisama Film Studio. Although Studio Ghibli and its big moneymaker, Tokuma Shoten, hold the film distribution rights for Spirited Away in Japan and enjoy a larger share of the box office revenue, Ming Tianxia and the Kamisama Film Studio will not suffer any loss.

Although Spirited Away is bound to not make much money based on the mainland film distribution and profit-sharing model, it does have overseas box office profit sharing. If it can be managed skillfully, it could win the Best Animated Feature Award at European and American film festivals, or even at the Oscars, and its box office will surely soar!

With this idea in mind, Fang Yan was full of enthusiasm when discussing the design and creation of "Spirited Away" with Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki.

The images of characters such as Yubaba, Chihiro, and Haku are vividly portrayed by Miyazaki's superb painting skills. Compared with the previous movies, they cannot be said to be exactly the same, but they are at least similar, with the only difference being the clothing styles.

As for the script writing, it won’t be too late to delay it until after “Kiki’s Delivery Service” is released.

After finishing all this and saying goodbye to Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki and others, Fang Yan returned from Studio Ghibli to Setagaya district in Tokyo. Luxurious villas passed by his eyes one by one, and finally his eyes fell on a three-story Japanese wabi-sabi style villa.

After selling a series of properties one after another, this villa is one of the few houses he has left in Japan.

When I pushed the door open, there was no one inside, but it was unusually clean and tidy.

The floor, shining brightly in the afterglow of the setting sun, showed signs of being cleaned by someone, but that person had not yet appeared.

Fangyan picked up the phone, but did not call Matsuzaka Keiko directly. Instead, he dialed the paging station as usual and sent a secret code for their tryst to Matsuzaka Keiko's pager. Then he went straight to the bedroom, washed up and rested.

The sky gradually darkened, and accompanied by a slight sound of a door opening, Keiko Matsuzaka, wearing a tight skirt, walked into the room.

I saw Fang Yan sitting in the living room, holding a pen and writing something on a piece of paper. His focused expression was really something I could never get tired of watching. So I took off my shoes quietly, stepped carefully on the ground with my black stockings-wrapped feet, tiptoed towards him step by step, and gazed at his profile affectionately.

Fangyan seemed to sense something, turned around and said subconsciously: "I'm back!"

"Oh Ka Yi Li (Welcome back)."

Keiko Matsuzaka also responded subconsciously, and then realized that the two of them had made a mistake and were saying each other's words.

With a "puff", the two of them smiled at each other, and the laughter filled the whole room, driving away the previous coldness.

Fangyan stood up suddenly and opened his arms. Matsuzaka Keiko understood what he meant and leaned forward to move closer.

She is worthy of being the prototype of the eldest sister's Tears of the Reincarnation in "Catwoman". She is beautiful, tall, and has a broad mind.

After washing with her pure natural facial cleanser, Fang Yan felt refreshed, and all the irritability that had accumulated during his creation just now was swept away.

"Are you hungry? Look what I brought you."

Keiko Matsuzaka placed the brocade box in her hand on the table and opened it layer by layer.

Inside was a luxurious sushi feast, including salmon, tuna, eel, fish roe, sea urchin, tempura,... Fangyan sorted out the manuscript papers and put them aside to avoid them being stained by the sauce.

"I'll go get two glasses and have some drinks tonight."

After getting a positive answer, Keiko Matsuzaka ran out briskly and quickly came back with the plum wine.

Fangyan waved his hand, and she understood what he meant. She opened her arms with a smile, and they hugged each other tightly.

A short separation is better than a new marriage. The long-lasting longing has turned into the strongest desire at this moment.

The two of them were very affectionate and confided in each other, but Fangyan was more of a listener while Matsuzaka Keiko was more of a speaker.

"I may not shoot as intensively as before, and will try to reduce the number of roles I take."

"Why did this happen suddenly? Did something happen?"

Fangyan frowned. The Japanese entertainment industry is quite different from the Chinese entertainment industry. Although they both like new things and dislike old things, and the new generation replaces the old generation, the shelf life of super popular older female stars is longer. Stars like Amami Yuki and Nagasawa Masami can still play the leading female role.

Logically speaking, Shochiku would not neglect a top-tier actress like Keiko Matsuzaka who is a star in the film, television and music industries!
"I took the initiative to ask President Okuyama because I wanted to squeeze out more time to spend on the agency's management affairs."

Matsuzaka Keiko curled her lips, "After all, it was you who proposed to set up this office, and it was you who nominated me to be the general manager."

Fangyan couldn't help but understand and stroked her cheek.

"That's fine. If you come across a script that interests you, take it. If you're not interested, just put it aside and protect your feathers."

"I think so too."

Keiko Matsuzaka talked about her plans, such as preparing to identify and train more new generation idols like Takuya Kimura and Shizuka Kudo.

Fang Yan said, "It sounds like President Kadokawa and President Okuyama have given you a lot of authority."

"It's all thanks to you being behind me."

Keiko Matsuzaka said with tenderness on her face that Okuyama Yu and Kadokawa Haruki had always been very proud of Fangyan, and when "Farewell My Concubine" won the Oscar for Best Picture, they couldn't get close to Fangyan in person, so they had to compromise and try to please her to maintain their friendship.

"They're not giving me face, they're just coveting my script!"

Fangyan smiled.

"Yes, not only do they covet your script, but it would be best if this script could allow them to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival or the Best Picture at the Academy Awards, just like Farewell My Concubine." Keiko Matsuzaka looked proud.

Fang Yan said: "You are really greedy."

"If they knew you were in Tokyo now, they would definitely come to visit you as soon as possible." Keiko Matsuzaka said that when the news that "Farewell My Concubine" won the Oscar for Best Picture reached Japan, Okuyama Toru even thought of flying to China to meet Fangyan in person.

"Well, let's talk about this later. The most important thing now is to eat, especially to eat you."

The two had a delicious and romantic dinner, and as expected, dazzling sparks flew between them.

The strong and indissoluble affection spread with the fragrance of heather, and it lasted for a long time. (End of this chapter)