Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 466 Blue Ribbon Award, Sports News and Horse Racing Awards
The professionalism of the Japan Academy Film Prize is laughable!

A concise and to-the-point title, along with an equally simple question.

Author: Akira Kurosawa.

Akira Kurosawa disliked the Academy Awards from its inception.

I have absolutely no opinion of it!

So much so that when the Academy Awards came to present the award to Samurai Kage in 1980, Akira Kurosawa was particularly adamant.

No, I won't accept it, get lost. Even if I die of illness in France, I don't need you to give me an award!

Although Shintaro Katsu had some conflicts with Akira Kurosawa, his attitude on this matter was the same as Kurosawa's.

As a top actor in Japanese samurai films, it's an honor for your film academy awards to invite me to participate in an award ceremony, not for me. Therefore, I look down on you and will not participate in this worthless award.

Even though the news from the scene was suppressed, with so many filmmakers involved, word of mouth spread among them, naturally reaching many people in the industry as well.

Even though viewers consider "Reincarnation of the Demon World" a great film and its awards seem impressive, it's a different story for those in the industry.

Less than a week later, Akira Kurosawa submitted an article to the newspaper.

His words were just like his usual style, sharp and sarcastic, full of derogatory remarks.

First, let's talk about the film's design, then Gu Ming's performance, and finally, let's say that Gu Ming's lousy film is so bad that he wouldn't even watch it if he were paid. It's a complete waste of talent, and we should make a sword and spear film together instead.

but.

Even if it's terrible, Best Picture shouldn't be awarded to Demon Reincarnation. The existence of such an award is enough to prove that the Academy Awards are just a bunch of sham awards.

Anyway, Akira Kurosawa came from Toho, so he wasn't afraid of offending Toei.

Gu Ming then received several phone calls and met with some people shortly afterward.

Some came to comfort him or support him, while others talked about other things.

For example, Kurosawa Mitsuru at this moment.

"Furuya-kun, it's not easy for me to say this, but I'm doing this on someone's behalf, and I hope you can understand."

Looking at Kurosawa Mitsuru in front of him, Gu Ming did not blame him.

“You’re just working for someone else, I know that very well. So, please speak.”

Kurosawa Mitsuru bowed slightly.

"It's like this... I don't know if you'd be interested in becoming a contracted artist with Toei. President Okada said he's willing to invest in an independent studio for you, where you'll have absolute power, as well as film profit sharing and other rights, such as the right to speak on marketing and various aspects of pre- and post-production."

Gu Ming was delighted.

"Do you know how much Kadokawa Haruki wants to pay to buy me? Two billion yen. Although I have to pay him back four billion yen, the money will be paid in installments. I admit that President Okada Shigeru is very sincere, but obviously he is not sincere enough."

"Besides... you know very well where I spent those two billion. His offer would be more suitable for Mr. Ken Takakura or those actors, but for me, isn't it a bit lacking?"

Seeing Kurosawa's conflicted expression, Gu Ming pressed for an answer.

"Speaking of which, my movie that hasn't been released yet is distributed by Toei, right? If I don't agree, will Toei block my distribution?"

"No, that won't happen. The distribution department is independent of Toei. President Okada Shigeru has no power to interfere with distribution matters at will. Moreover, as long as it can make money, no matter how many conflicts there are, the president will not hinder distribution. As for this condition..."

Kurosawa scratched his head.

He actually felt that the offer was very sincere, but it wasn't enough for Gu Ming.

Independent studio?
Gu Ming has it himself!
investment?

Gu Ming borrowed a large sum of money precisely for this purpose!
As for things like the right to speak, etc.

People who invest in their own films naturally have absolute say in the matter. If joining Toei means their influence is diminished, then what's the point?

This led to one thing.

Conventional methods are ineffective against Gu Ming.

This is why Shigeru Okada insisted on doing so.

Ken Takakura was very profitable because he was an actor deeply tied to Toei Animation. He couldn't live without Toei, and Toei needed him; the two were interdependent.

However, Gu Ming is independent of Toei, and its revenue has been very good in recent years. This would make any president with a strong desire for control feel a little uneasy.

After seeing off Kurosawa Mitsuru, Tani Akira sat alone at his desk.

After pondering for a long time, Gu Ming decided to make a phone call first.

……

……

Furthermore, Japan actually has two prestigious film awards. One is the Japan Academy Film Prize, and the other is the Blue Ribbon Award.

The Academy Awards are jointly organized by several film companies, while the Blue Ribbon Awards are promoted by several major Japanese newspapers.

This naturally includes conservative newspapers such as the Sankei Shimbun and the Yomiuri Shimbun.

In 1960, several newspapers, led by the Sankei Shimbun, withdrew from the Blue Ribbon Awards and established a new award. However, just a few years later, the award was abolished due to its lack of authority, and the Blue Ribbon Awards remained vacant for a long period afterward.

The Blue Ribbon Awards were not revived until 1975, thanks to the efforts of the Blue Ribbon Restoration Committee, and the awards ceremony officially began in 1977.

The Blue Ribbon Awards, now back in operation, are no less prestigious than the Academy Awards, and in fact, their authority has increased after the withdrawal of biased newspapers like the Sankei Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun.

Kobe Port, Japan.

As Gu Ming walked the streets of Kobe, there was a moment when he couldn't help but want to laugh.

Kobe! Haha, Kobe!

However, despite the laughter, Gu Ming hadn't forgotten why he came to Kobe.

After the Yomiuri Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun withdrew, the Blue Ribbon Award has long been sponsored by newspapers covering sports events, including newspapers under the Yomiuri Shimbun Group, but overall, it has lost its original focus.

Mainichi Sports, a subsidiary of the Kobe News Corporation, is one of the major sponsors of the Blue Ribbon Awards.

As luck would have it, Gu Ming knew such a person, or rather, Gu Ming had such a person on his notebook. He was a news editor under the Daily Sports newspaper.

In the 1950s, during the filming of Godzilla by Toho, they went to Kobe. It was there that Shigemitsu Mizoguchi, who was not yet the news editor at the time, met Eiji Mangaya.

Now, times have changed, and the former junior reporter has become a highly influential news editor.

Gu Ming came to Kobe specifically to meet with Shigemitsu Mizoguchi.

Kobe's specialty is, of course, the famous Kobe beef, and the place where Tani Akira met was a barbecue restaurant.

When Gu Ming arrived, Goukou Shigemitsu was already waiting inside.

Gu Ming quickened his pace.

"Mr. Mizoguchi, I'm so sorry!"

"No, I arrived too early." Shigemitsu Mizoguchi, a rather talkative middle-aged man, touched his sparse hair and laughed, "Receiving a phone call so suddenly was really unexpected, it startled me. I never thought that Akira Furuya would call me, and I didn't even know someone like Mr. Furuya."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down for a meal.

Shigemitsu Mizoguchi said, "I've been reading the newspapers lately, and they're quite interesting. Some people are questioning your abilities and professionalism, while other newspapers are supporting you. For every person who agrees, there's someone else who criticizes… It's really confusing for the average reader. But for us in the newspaper industry, it's different. Controversy means buzz, and buzz means news. From that perspective, I don't really care what happened to Mr. Furuya; I only know that you can increase readership for the news."

Gu Ming bowed slightly: "However, your newspaper covers sports news, right?"

"It is sports news, that's true, but sports news doesn't necessarily have to involve sports people."

Suddenly, Shigemitsu Mizoguchi changed the subject: "Does Furuya-kun know how to ride a horse?"

Gu Ming nodded naturally.

He really knows how.

I learned it when I was a stuntman, and later, when the opportunity arose, I specifically studied it again to obtain a dangerous stunt license.

I'm not a very good rider, but I have learned to ride.

“That’s fantastic.” Shigemitsu Mizoguchi clasped his hands together and said with a smile, “I know about Furuya-kun’s situation. Actually, the Blue Ribbon Awards has never agreed with the way the Academy Awards are conducted. We don’t have many luxurious venues and trophies here. The so-called award is just a certificate tied with a blue ribbon and a Pilot pen, which is why it’s called the ‘Blue Ribbon Award’.”

This was the first time Gu Ming had ever heard of this.

But Gu Ming was more concerned about another version of events by Mizoguchi Shigemitsu.

Is there any specific connection between receiving an award and a sporting event?
"Mr. Furuya, you must have heard of horse racing, right? Actually, horse racing has always been an important event! In the Japanese horse racing world, there's always been talk of the Three Great Championships: the Satsuki Sho, the Tokyo Yushun, and the Kikuka Sho. Winning any one of these races is something worth making a big deal out of. I've heard that Mr. Furuya is very athletic. How about you just casually win one of the Three Great Championships, so our newspapers will have something to report on? What do you say?"

Gu Ming: ?
What the hell is this?!

Gu Ming was somewhat troubled: "As for horse racing, I've never participated in any. Besides, I don't own any racehorses or training grounds."

“These things are easy to handle. Sometimes, some people are dazzling enough just by appearing on the field. Coincidentally, the Satsuki Prize is in April, so there's still time to train.” Mizoguchi Shigemitsu bowed to Tani Akira. “Actually, it's not necessary to win the championship. With your name, Furuya-kun, just appearing on the field and getting a decent ranking is enough to attract attention!”

Gu Ming couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He doesn't know much about horse racing!
Shigemitsu Mizoguchi bowed deeply: "As a deposit, Mainichi Sports will spare no effort to ensure that the Blue Ribbon Award is awarded to the rightful recipient. Of course, this cannot be called a deposit; rather than a kind of operation, it is more like the treasure has returned to where it belongs."

Gu Ming naturally returned the bow to Mizoguchi Shigemitsu in kind.

That was a very nice thing to say, and Gu Ming liked it very much.

"In that case, I will train hard before the new film starts shooting. As for the competition requirements, I am not very familiar with them, so I may need Mr. Mizoguchi to help introduce me."

“Of course! I know there are suitable racehorses and riding grounds, as well as professional jockeys. These things are easy to arrange.” Shigemitsu Mizoguchi chuckled and pushed the baking tray forward.

So, let's celebrate our victory by first trying Kobe's specialty, Wagyu beef!
(End of this chapter)