The literary era since 1979

On Christmas Eve.

Keiko Matsuzaka wrapped a scarf to cover her neck full of strawberry marks, had her hair done in a Japanese-style bun that was typical of women, and wore a gorgeous kimono. She held Fangyan's hand without any hesitation. After all, almost everyone in Shochiku knew about the relationship between the two that was beyond friendship and had a negative distance.

The dialect did not prevent it. Instead of hiding it, it is better to be open about it. It is a standard in Japan for a literary giant to have a lover.

The only unexpected thing was that when everyone looked at Kurihara Komaki who accompanied him, there seemed to be something wrong in their eyes.

But soon, his attention was attracted by Okuyama Jun and the creative team of "Departures".

"Fangyan-san, thank you for giving me this precious performance opportunity, Arigato!"

Ken Takakura looks aloof and indifferent on the outside, but his tone is full of sincerity.

Fang Yan waved his hand. "Haha, you're welcome. Actually, since The Chase was broadcast in China, many Chinese directors have hoped to work with you, such as Zhang Yimou, who won the Berlin Golden Bear Award for Red Sorghum not long ago."

Ken Takakura said enthusiastically: "I have seen the movies he made and hope to have the opportunity to work with him in the future."

"I will tell him what you said. I believe he will be very happy. This can be regarded as the fulfillment of his dream."

Fangyan was surrounded by people and walked straight to the screening room.

Okuyama Rong followed him all the way, "Mr. Fangyan, since "Departures" is participating in the Berlin Film Festival, I wonder what Shochiku and Kadokawa Pictures need to prepare for publicity and public relations. If it's about money, please feel free to ask. Our president has specially approved a considerable amount of funds!"

"Well..."

Fangyan was surprised that there was no sign of Haruki Kadokawa among the crowd.

The internal screening of "Departures" was clearly initiated by Haruki Kadokawa and Okuyama, but the host didn't show up?
"Because of the recent volatility in the stock and foreign exchange markets, President Kadokawa had to stay at the company and handle the matter personally, so he could only send the vice president and his men as representatives." Okuyama Rong vowed, "But he said that he will be on time for tonight's Christmas Eve celebration and will not be absent."

"It doesn't matter."

Fangyan's eyes flickered, wondering if Kadokawa Haruki would fail in this economic bubble, would Kadokawa Lehiko have a chance to return to Kadokawa Shoten?

However, this thought only flashed through my mind. The surrounding lights dimmed, the screen gradually became brighter, and the movie began to play.

Fangyan took this opportunity to explain to the newbie Okuyama Rong the things to note about the Berlin Film Festival, such as the need for the film producers to communicate with the festival organizing committee on visas, invitation letters, accommodation, air tickets, screenings, etc., while also considering travel, food and accommodation arrangements.

Aoshan Rong promised seriously that he would definitely arrange the itinerary properly.

“The Berlin Film Festival is just our first stop.”

Fangyan nodded in satisfaction.

"First stop? Is there a next stop?"

Kurihara Komaki, Matsuzaka Keiko and others looked at each other.

"Of course, if we want to promote Japanese films to the world, it is far from enough to just show them at European film festivals."

Fang Yan said that if "Departures" is lucky enough to win the Berlin Golden Bear Award or the Special Jury Silver Bear Award, it will have a chance to win an Oscar. For example, "Rain Man", which is competing with "Farewell My Concubine" for the Oscar for Best Picture, was the winner of the Berlin Golden Bear Award last year.

Hearing this, everyone's hearts began to pound.

"So the Oscars are crucial. It will be a springboard for Departures to enter the Oscars."

Fangyan looked left and right, "Of course, the chances of competing for the Best Picture award like Farewell My Concubine are not great, but for the Best Foreign Language Film, Best Actor and Best Actress nominations, and Best Original Screenplay awards, we can try to get more nominations and win more."

The vice president of Kadokawa Pictures doesn't have high ambitions, but he would be very satisfied just being nominated for an Oscar.

"Mr. Fangyan, what should we do?"

Aoyama Rong's eyes were filled with more and more anticipation, and he seemed to have forgotten the movie that was being broadcast.

Fangyan then shared his experience in a concise and to the point manner. The more Matsuzaka Keiko and Kurihara Komaki listened, the more their eyes sparkled. They never expected that one day they would not only be able to step onto the stage of an international film festival like Berlin, but would even have the opportunity to step onto the Oscars ceremony.

While feeling moved, Keiko Matsuzaka's eyes were full of affection, and she couldn't help but scratch Fangyan's palm.

"Mr. Fangyan is absolutely right! I'll do as you say!"

Aoshan Rong slapped his thigh, extremely excited.

Everyone was also inspired, their eyes were burning, staring straight at "Departures", their minds already full of imagination that the film would shine at the Berlin Film Festival, and even make a big splash at the Oscars, thus rehabilitating the reputation of Japanese films that had been silent internationally for many years.

………………

After the movie started, the sky gradually darkened.

As the lights came on, Fang Yan, Matsuzaka Keiko and others got on the special car arranged by Okuyama Rong and headed for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.

As soon as we entered the banquet hall, we saw young and beautiful boys and girls standing at the door, welcoming visitors as if they were welcoming guests.

The dialect swept across the faces, including familiar famous actors such as Kimura Takuya and Kudo Shizuka, as well as some unfamiliar faces that seemed familiar, such as Nakayama Miho, who was originally the heroine of "Love Letter", and Suzuki Honami, who has a sweet and mature sister style.

"These are all good seedlings that I personally screened and selected, and they are no worse than me in every aspect."

Matsuzaka Keiko smiled and said, "Can you help me see if there is any potential for it to become a big star?"

“They are all pretty good.”

Dialect looked from left to right, and then lowered her voice to ask her to focus on cultivating male and female artists such as Miyazawa Rie and Fukuyama Masaharu.

Just as the two were chatting and laughing, Haruki Kadokawa, who had been absent from the internal preview, arrived late, apologized repeatedly, and drank three cups as a punishment.

Fang Yan narrowed his eyes and said, "President Kadokawa doesn't look too good. Is there something wrong with Japan's stock market or foreign exchange market?"

“It’s just a technical adjustment.”

Haruki Kadokawa disagrees. Despite the depreciation of the yen and the decline of Japanese stocks in recent days, he believes that these are just temporary shocks. Japan's financial market is generally stable and improving, and will rise again sooner or later, and the Nikkei 225 index may even break 4 points.

Seeing his confident look, Fang Yan and Matsuzaka Keiko looked at each other and did not give him a kind reminder like they did to Suzuki Shunjiro.

Because the thought that just flashed through his mind appeared again. It was obvious that Kadokawa Haruki would suffer a big setback in this bursting of the Japanese economic bubble. It was possible that Kadokawa Pictures and Kadokawa Shoten would be hit hard. At that time, could he secretly add fuel to the fire and let Kadokawa Koyomi come back like a "savior" to save the situation? He could also take the opportunity to integrate brands such as Dengeki Bunko into Kadokawa Shoten, thereby taking control of the entire huge entertainment publishing group?

In this way, he could become a major shareholder of the top five bookstores and film companies in Japan!

…………

It’s a pity that Haruki Kadokawa’s prediction was completely wrong and it was not a technical adjustment at all.

In the new year, the Nikkei 225 Index plummeted in just one day, and fell by more than 1000 points, which was more exciting and terrifying than the Shanghai Composite Index falling below 3000 points. Panic quickly spread and gradually reflected in the stock market and foreign exchange market. More and more stockholders sold their stocks, coupled with the depreciation of the yen and the reduction of national debt. The triple blow dealt a comprehensive blow to Japan's bubble economy. The national economic support that had already overdrawn the future became vulnerable, and the entire Japanese economy might have the possibility of a complete collapse.

Television stations of all sizes reported the news almost immediately, and even Tokyo TV stopped broadcasting cartoons.

Because "as long as Tokyo TV is still broadcasting cartoons, the world has not yet ended", but now the end of the world seems to have come.

On the first day when the stock market began to crash, Suzuki Yoko immediately called Fangyan and expressed her gratitude profusely:

"Teacher Fang, thank you for your reminder, otherwise our whole family would really be finished."

"Did your father sell all his stocks?"

Fangyan gladly accepted it. If it weren't for his kind advice, all the property of Suzuki Yoko's family might have been trapped in the Japanese stock market. With the bursting of the bubble, the stocks previously worth tens of millions of yen might have evaporated to at least 40 to 50 percent, resulting in a huge loss.

Perhaps, there will be one more Suzuki Shunjiro in the special seats for lying on the tracks and standing on the rooftops. Who knows.

"After listening to your advice, my father originally planned to invest in some unpopular stocks, but I always remember that you asked me to give him more advice before leaving." Suzuki Yoko secretly felt lucky, "Fortunately, I did what you said, and my father was willing to listen to your advice."

"You're welcome. As the saying goes, good advice is hard to persuade a damned person. Thanks to you for listening to my advice."

Fangyan's mouth corners slightly raised.

"Father and mother said that they will invite you to their home for dinner after the storm is over."

There was gratitude in Suzuki Yoko's tone.

After repeatedly declining, Fangyan saw that he couldn't refuse anymore, so he had to agree.

"How is the situation at Yuhikaku?"

"It's a mess."

Yoko Suzuki said that because the president and vice president were addicted to financial speculation, they poured a lot of money into the stock market, foreign exchange market and real estate market. They lost all their money, which seemed to shake the foundation of Yuhikaku. Fortunately, it did not affect the daily work such as signing publishing contracts.

However, the situation of unrest, low morale, and turbulence and chaos had to be dealt with by Shunjiro Suzuki.

"Then we can get together again when your father is done with his work."

Fangyan is not in a hurry. This year's Berlin Film Festival will be held on February 2th. Before that, he will live in Tokyo for a long time.

After hanging up the phone, he quickly got out of bed, yawned, and staggered to the bathroom.

"Aha~"

As soon as she heard that she had a chance to win an Oscar, Keiko Matsuzaka has been asking for it like crazy these days, and his legs are a little weak now.

While squeezing the toothpaste, he accidentally saw himself in the mirror, looking tired and with bags under his eyes. He said with a painful thought: "I have been hurt by alcohol and sex in recent days and have become so haggard. From now on, I will quit drinking!"

After washing up, I walked towards the kitchen and saw Keiko Matsuzaka wearing an apron and making breakfast.

Compared with his haggard look, the other person was full of energy and radiant. It turned out that all women were fairies who could absorb yang to replenish yin.

"Dan, did you sleep well last night?"

Seeing Fangyan's dark circles, Matsuzaka Keiko smiled smugly, walked up to him, hooked her arms around his neck, leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Do you want to try coming here? I heard it would be more exciting that way..."

Fang Yan said sincerely: "You are so sexy!"

Why are you wearing Pinru's clothes?
"So do you like it?"

Keiko Matsuzaka had a charming smile on her face, her eyes were blurred, and her breath was as sweet as orchid.

Although Fangyan touched her back, he sternly changed the topic to Japan's bubble economy.

He really didn't have a drop.

Now the only thing that remains tough is my mouth.

I have no more ammunition. Apart from talking nonsense with her, I can’t do anything else.

Matsuzaka Keiko was successfully led astray. She patted her chest covered with red marks and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I have to thank you for that. It really turned out just as you predicted."

"Have you converted all your savings and the money from selling the house into US dollars?"

Fang Yan rested his chin on her shoulder, and a faint fragrance emanated from her hair.

"Except for daily expenses and emergency needs, everything else has been converted into US dollars as you requested."

Keiko Matsuzaka smiled and said, "I also advised my parents, relatives, and Xiaojuan to do the same. I guess my phone will be blown up soon with calls expressing gratitude everywhere." Then she turned her head and said, "After all, we don't have to follow the depreciation of the yen."

"Not only will it not depreciate, but it will appreciate."

Fang Yan helped her turn off the fire. According to his and Bai Ruoxue's speculation, the Japanese yen will change from the original 120 to 1 against the US dollar to 130 or even 140. This exchange rate difference alone is no less than shorting the Nikkei 225 index futures.

"Ah."

Keiko Matsuzaka still had doubts in her mind. All the properties under their name were cleared out, except for the office building. Aren’t they afraid of depreciation?

You should know that since January, the Japanese stock market ended its five-year bull market. This stock market crash became the beginning of the domino effect of the Japanese economy. In particular, January 1 was known as the darkest day in the Japanese stock market. The stock market plummeted by 5%, affecting real estate.

Land prices collapsed and the real estate bubble burst completely. Families who bought houses at high prices not only saw their assets shrink, but even had "negative assets."

However, what is even more tragic is that the house price dropped to less than half of the purchase price, and the loan has not been repaid yet.

Those who do not speculate in stocks or real estate are not spared either. If a bank goes bankrupt overnight, their savings in it may also be wiped out.

"Those office buildings are all in prime locations in Tokyo, so their value won't drop much. Besides, I won't sell them. I only rent them, not sell them!"

Fangyan pecked her cheek and said, "Now you're going to be the landlord's wife."

"Then you are the landlord."

Keiko Matsuzaka turned around and slowly squatted down.

Fangyan shuddered suddenly. A man must never say no. If he has cannonballs, he must go for it. If he doesn't have cannonballs, he must go for it with real guns and swords.

As the saying goes, when two meet on a narrow road, the bravest wins! (End of this chapter)