Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 499 Preparing for the Cosmic Hero Festival

Japan is a very special country that has long had its own standards. For example, equipment that is used internationally cannot be used in Japan.

While the rest of the world was using touchscreen phones, Japan was using flip phones—also touchscreen, but flip-phones.

While the whole world was switching to USB flash drives, Japan was using floppy disks.

While it's not as bizarre as using thousands of floppy disks to install Windows 10, Japan does indeed use floppy disks in various aspects of life.

Therefore, Japanese festivals are also quite unique.

International Children's Day is June 1st, but in Japan, Children's Day is May 5th.

May 5th is too late, but Gu Ming can make it to another festival.

'Sea Festival'.

According to artificial intelligence.

Japan's Marine Festival falls on the third Monday of July.

Sea Festival (海の日)

Japan is surrounded by the sea, and this system was established to express gratitude for the blessings from the ocean and to pray for a prosperous maritime nation.

Before 2003 (Heisei 15), this day was July 20th.

As a statutory holiday, children also get a day off on this day.

"For the first time, let's use the date of the Sea Festival. After that, we'll use May 5th. To do that, I need to do some things in advance, such as preparing the festival exhibition content, making models, ordering toys from Endai, contacting surrounding shops, and contacting the Metropolitan Police Department to close roads, etc."

Undoubtedly, this will cost a lot of money, and there's no guarantee that the investment will be recouped.

However, Gu Ming believes that as long as the brand image is achieved, the profits will eventually be made back.

When Disney was so poor that it was drawing mice in its garage, it never thought that it could recoup its costs by drawing so much ink.

Gu Ming plans to take this opportunity to do two things: prepare for the festival and build a brand image.

Secondly, this festival serves as a platform to showcase the new technologies that Wan Gu has mastered.

If setting a story in the computer world is considered innovative, then their special effects matrix built with dozens of computers is definitely true innovation!
But now, the first thing Gu Ming needs to do is make a phone call to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Japan is very wary of private gatherings! Let alone thousands or tens of thousands of people, even a few dozen people gathering together requires extra attention!

……

……

"The Cosmic Hero Festival of Ten Thousand Valleys? What a piece of junk!"

The moment Wan Gu'ao saw the TV commercial, he couldn't help but swear.

What is this? What the hell is this?!
Actually, he felt very proud when he received the ratings report.

Just like Wan Gu Ao's hostility towards Wan Gu Yi, he always believed that he was capable, but Wan Gu Ying Er refused to value his talent.

This time, he proved his strength.

Especially when the ratings report for the second episode came out, Gridman's ratings soared to 12%, while our friends at TBS said that Ultraman Leo's ratings dropped to 15%. Although the drop was not much, the difference between the rise and fall was obvious.

But now.

When Wan Gu'ao saw the advertisement on TV, he couldn't help but swear.

"All they do is engage in these crooked and unethical practices. Instead of thinking about how to improve viewership ratings and the quality of their work, they're running around holding some kind of 'Cosmic Hero Festival' to rake in money. I think Wan Gu will be finished in their hands sooner or later!"

Wan Gu'ao straightened his tie, somewhat annoyed.

If it were him, he would at least carefully plan a date! This thing in front of us looks like a makeshift, temporary troupe!
What a tacky dandy!

Moreover, whether it was out of provocation or something else, the advertisement actually landed on Fuji Television.

“I said, isn’t that because they got advertising fees? Of course Fuji TV will air ads if they get advertising fees.” Sinbot comforted Wan Gu’ao: “At least the ratings are already excellent.”

"All right!"

Honda Ishiro tapped the table, interrupting Manya Ao's outburst.

"Didn't they say they were going to start some kind of Wan Gu Space Hero Festival? And they're even selling tickets at Saizeriya and Tokyo convenience stores, as well as '91viedo'? Let's go buy a few tickets too."

Honda Ishiro held up one finger: "Let me see what that kid has done to my old friend's company!"

Wan Gu'ao hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

This is all wonderful, but why are we giving each other money to buy tickets?
Can't we just sneak in without paying?
……

……

Gu Ming just returned from Endai's place today. He mainly discussed a batch of toy manufacturing with Endai, including some simple 'boxed egg' toys, some even simpler large-headed Q-version gashapon toys, stickers, sand paintings, and also specifically requested a batch of high-quality toys from their inventory.

Gu Ming even went to Nintendo to inquire whether they could make a game within two weeks, and the answer he received was—well! They really could.

For example, the famous Atari ET alien was created by a programmer in just two weeks.

Although the game was pretty bad, the fact that a game could be completed in just two weeks, containing all the necessary elements, demonstrates the capabilities of software engineers today.

If Nintendo were to outsource it, the process would be even more efficient.

However, it's impossible to achieve very high quality, but if you just want a simple interactive experience, then it's fine.

Moreover, such a game could not be officially released and manufactured in time; only a rudimentary main board could be made.

Gu Ming felt that it didn't matter.

He's just taking some playable items from this Space Hero Festival to make a relatively simple arcade game. He'll just borrow an arcade machine shell, cover it with Ultraman stickers, and throw it in the venue as a special edition game machine.

At the Wan Gu Company, Gu Ming was discussing the activities for the Space Hero Festival with Kinjo Tetsuo.

"Speaking of stage plays, I do have time, but if I were to appear in one, the appearance fee would be very high."

"Oh dear, can't you, Mr. Furuya, take care of your own business? We're all working for you."

"Since you've already said that..."

Gu Ming was about to agree, feigning reluctance, when Tanaka strode in.

"Brother Gugu, we have a guest."

Gu Ming looked up.

The guests.

Judging from this attitude, they don't seem like good guests.

“Wan Gu’ao and Xin Bote came together.”

Gu Ming understood.

"Guests... let them in. After all, it's their own home, we can't just kick them out."

Gu Ming waved his hand.

Let's go see the guests!

The group went out one after another and met Wan Gu'ao and Xin Bote outside the gate.

As always, the Thai guy, Sinpot, wore that flashy suit and collared shirt, with an equally ornate tie.

When he saw Gu Ming raise his hand, he instinctively dodged backward, afraid that Gu Ming would throw him out again.

"Furutani-kun, it's been a long time!"

Wan Guoao stepped forward, laughed heartily, and shook hands with Gu Ming.

Gu Ming said, "What a rare guest! I never expected you to come to Wangu."

"Of course I'm coming! I heard that the new show that Mr. Furuya personally prepared and participated in producing isn't doing very well in terms of ratings, so of course I have to come and see! What if the investors withdraw their funding? Maybe I can help clear things up and find a few more investors. After all, I'm also a member of the Furuya family!"

Gu Mingha smiled and said, "Then I won't trouble you, Brother Ao."

"It's alright, not troublesome at all."

Mango suddenly changed the subject: "However, I heard that Furuya-kun is preparing for some kind of Space Hero Festival. Could this be the old Mango Visit Day?"

Gu Ming smiled and said, "Otherwise what?"

"To actually sell this kind of event for money, Furuya-kun is really money-hungry, hahaha... Just kidding, don't mind him."

Wan Gu'ao said, "As an old friend, giving me two tickets shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Gu Ming's lips curled up, revealing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

Even if he refused, Wan Gu'ao would probably still buy tickets to enter, so it wouldn't matter if he got two tickets.

"Since Brother Ao has spoken, it's not impossible..."

Gu Ming held up one finger: "But! Impossible! You want to get in? You know the rules, you have to buy your own tickets! Brother Ao, what kind of person do you take me for? Just because the ratings are a little low, you come here to mock me, and then I'm going to give you a free set of tickets? Don't even think about it."

Gu Ming rolled up his sleeves, a sight that caused Xin Bo to take a few steps back and shield Wan Gu'ao in front of him.

"Gridman is a great work. I never thought you could create such an excellent work. If the Shinbo Production Company ever goes bankrupt, Wan Gu will acquire the copyright of Gridman."

Gu Ming waved his hand: "Our conversation ends here. Please feel free to visit Madam Wan Gu if you wish. You can save the rest of your words for Sinbot!"

(End of this chapter)