Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 510 Cheers to Our Friendship
Was Hiroyuki Sanada sincere, or was he planning to assassinate Akira Furuya in person?
Of course, it's from the bottom of my heart!
He's not crazy, there's no way he would fight with Gu Ming.

He doesn't want to go to heaven!
Hiroyuki Sanada's decision to switch allegiances was a well-thought-out one.

In 1982, which is this year, Hiroyuki Sanada was invited to Hong Kong to star in a movie called "Ninja of the Dragons". This movie is considered a terrible film by today's standards, but it did well at the box office because of the star-studded cast.

—And Hiroyuki Sanada is cheap now.

In Hong Kong, Hiroyuki Sanada discovered something incredible.

It turns out that his master, Shinichi Chiba, had no fame whatsoever overseas!

Even Kurata Yasuaki, whom Chiba Shinichi didn't care much about, was more famous overseas than Chiba Shinichi.

In 1982, also this year, Hiroyuki Sanada had another film contract. The film was called "Dotonbori," a drama that tells the story between a beautiful 30-year-old woman who still has her charm and a 19-year-old male student.

The male student was none other than Hiroyuki Sanada.

The 30-year-old woman is Keiko Matsuzaka...

Keiko Matsuzaka subtly implied at the time: "You want to be an action actor? Why are you hanging out with Shinichi Chiba? Wake up! Don't you understand who the best action actor in Japan is right now?"
Well, even though Tani Akira always avoided her, Matsuzaka Keiko still harbored a little bit of resentment.

Reflecting on what has happened so far, Hiroyuki Sanada pondered.

Indeed!
Shinichi Chiba is quite famous in Japan, but he's not well-known overseas.

Shinichi Chiba actually helped his acting career quite a bit, but the various films he starred in were getting further and further away from Hiroyuki Sanada's original vision.

In addition, as a contracted actor with Toei, Shinichi Chiba had to follow Toei's arrangements in many things, which made him less free.

Gu Mingcai took a group to Cannes, France this year, and the farthest place he has ever been in his life is Hong Kong...

The farthest place Chiba Shinichi took him was Kyoto.

It was only then that Hiroyuki Sanada made up his mind.

Let's find a different driver!

After waiting for several days, Sanada Hiroyuki was overjoyed to finally see Zhen Zidan: "Dan, what happened to her?"

Zhen Zidan lowered her head, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Stop talking!

He hadn't seen Gu Ming for several days. After finally finding out from someone, he learned that Gu Ming had gone to Osaka with Kadokawa Haruki and Jackie Chan for casting!
"Alright, don't be discouraged. I'll find another opportunity to talk to Brother Gu when he gets back! Bye!"

Zhen Zidan stepped on the gas and sped away, leaving only exhaust fumes behind.

Hiroichi Sanada coughed violently.

It's so painful! It's so painful! How could something so painful happen!
That motorcycle was a Honda, not a Harley.

But it's also very expensive!
……

……

Gu Ming wasn't playing a trick on anyone; he really went to Osaka.

Haruki Kadokawa is a very good marketer; he can make movies and sell books without any problems.

So his casting slogan this time is: Japan and Hong Kong, two major stars join forces to cast actors!

You could be the next star!

Our first stop wasn't Tokyo, it was Osaka.

According to Haruki Kadokawa, Tokyoites are worldly-wise and easily swayed by slogans. They won't be moved until we travel around Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya and return. We're using this tactic to generate buzz before filming even begins!
Gu Ming was shocked after hearing this.

Haruki Kadokawa then said to him with a mysterious expression, "Furuya-kun, do you know why your movies aren't popular enough? Just being able to make movies isn't enough; you also need to know how to generate buzz! Maybe he can't make movies, but he's good at marketing, and that's enough!"

"So, this is the itinerary for this trip."

Gu Ming recounted the events to Cheng Long, then shrugged and said, "I never imagined that you were supposed to come to Japan to rest, but you ended up having to go to Osaka to work."

"Osaka is pretty good too, why don't I go and have some fun? I'm just going to make an appearance, and I'll just relax for a couple of days after the casting is over."

Cheng Long didn't care; on the contrary, he felt that he had learned something new from this incident.

So it turns out you can generate buzz beforehand!
Gu Ming nodded solemnly.

"Let's get back to work. After the promotion is over, I'll take a short break in Osaka. Come to think of it, I have a few friends in Osaka."

Takamine Keiji still hasn't been brought in. He refuses to leave Hoshino's office and his old employer. Gu Ming can't just knock him out with one blow, so he has no choice but to put his matter on hold for the time being.

“But I know a kid in Osaka. We’ll go to Osaka first, and then…” Gu Mingfang stopped after saying a few words and looked out the window.

For some reason, it's so noisy outside!
Gu Ming looked at the train conductor, who bowed apologetically.

"Sorry, I'll go check on it right away."

As he spoke, he jogged to the train connection area and dialed a landline.

From a distance, Gu Ming could see the train conductor's expression change from bewilderment to hesitation, then to shock, and finally to extreme terror.

A dozen seconds later, the train attendant clasped his hands in front of his knees and jogged back.

"Mr. Furuya! And Mr. Cheng! I'm so sorry, this train might be delayed. Well, there are just too many people outside, they're so enthusiastic, the train police can't handle it all, they've already rushed onto the platform! If the train stops at the station, there might not be a way to get off, so I'll have to trouble you two to get off one stop earlier!"

Gu Ming: ?
Haruki Kadokawa has arranged yet another damn thing!

Cheng Long got up, then sat down again.

He looked at Gu Ming, and two streams of tears welled up in his eyes.

Wow.

Enviable treatment!
He's very popular in Hong Kong now, but he's never enjoyed the kind of treatment where fans trample over train stations like this.

The reason is simple: Hong Kong is a small place with too many celebrities, so everyone is used to seeing them.

Whenever Cheng Long thinks of this, he can't help but slap his thigh excitedly.

He wasn't envious of his brother driving a Land Rover, because he also had one.

But his brother flies a Boeing 747!

……

……

Suck!

Haruki Kadokawa took a sip of tea and casually dialed a phone number.

"Well, did Furuya-kun and the others get off the train? They already got off? Hmm, I'm not surprised. Quickly spread the word among the people that they got off one stop early. Tell them that Furuya-kun got off early, and if we don't go soon, he'll ride off on horseback!"

After hanging up the phone, Haruki Kadokawa took out a small mirror and looked at his face.

Ugh!
How can he be so talented!

Many times, Haruki Kadokawa felt that he was captivated by himself.

It doesn't matter if a man is old and ugly; the most important thing is that he is talented.

Besides, he is so talented.

—And he's neither old nor ugly.

Is a preliminary selection considered marketing?

How could that be! Ordinary people don't participate in the auditions, and the people who watch movies and the people who act in them are not the same group. The auditions have limited impact on them!

This is the real marketing tactic.

During Akira Furuya's audition period, crazy fans blocked Osaka completely!
In fact, most famous actors have many fans, but when the fans don't organize themselves, there won't be any airport greeting activities, so they seem to have little popularity.

Unless someone organizes it.

Haruki Kadokawa swore an oath to heaven.

He really didn't make any arrangements; he just informed the local fan groups in Osaka about Tani Akira's arrival.

Everything, everything was arranged spontaneously by local fan groups in Osaka!

Suck!

Haruki Kadokawa took another sip of tea.

He raised his teacup and, through the mirror, toasted in celebration.

Cheers to our friendship!

(End of this chapter)