Japanese Entertainment: From special effects actor to action superstar

Chapter 545 Establishment of the Killing Array Masters Association
Ookahara, whose surname is Ookahara and given name is No, is an actor with Toho Company.

However, he was just a suit actor under Toho.

Toho once had many projects, but before the so-called bubble burst, due to the encroachment of other companies on its film business, Toho's business contracted and many projects were cut. Actors like Taiko Haruno, who were not good enough, and who did not have representative works like Haruo Nakajima, could not be replaced.

At thirty years old, Okawara looks like he's fifty.

After seeing the news in the newspaper, Daheyuanye thought about it for a long time.

It took a very, very long time!
He didn't have any particular likes or dislikes towards Akira Furuya, but Ogawara was a big fan of Akira Kurosawa and Tatsuya Nakadai.

Although Akira Kurosawa did not offer his support this time, Tatsuya Nakadai did speak on his behalf; otherwise, Okawara would not have come to this place.

bookstore.

Just by listening to his name, you can tell it's completely out of character!

Although this bookstore is the regional flagship store of Kadokawa Bookstore and covers a considerable area, at this moment, both the store itself and the small plaza outside, used for reading and resting, were already packed with people.

Even though many people were just there to watch the spectacle with handheld cameras.

Faintly, the Great River Plain heard a commotion coming from the front row.

"coming!"

"They're all out."

"That's Akira Furuya..."

Dahe Yuanye, being a manual laborer, quickly climbed up the lamppost, grabbed the scaffolding used for maintenance, and looked into the crowd.

From here, you can see several people standing on the balcony on the second floor of the bookstore.

"Got it! That guy is from Toei Animation. Shinichi Chiba and Yasuaki Kurata have both gone abroad! And there are quite a few others too."

At a glance, Taigahara could roughly recognize them; they were all people who frequently acted in various sword and action films in Japan.

Although Shintaro Katsu, the famous sword-fighting film star, was not present, his brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama, did.

Upon seeing Tomisaburo Wakayama, Ogahara was momentarily excited. Even knowing that the other could not see him, he still waved happily.

Tomisaburo Wakayama!
A Japanese sword-fighting film actor from the 1970s, he starred in the well-known film "Lone Wolf and Cub". Although not at the level of Shintaro Katsu, he was still a very well-known actor in Japan.

However, Akira Furuya was not found in the Oogawa Plain.

Shinichi Chiba spoke first.

"Since the concept of suicide squads was popularized from sword-fighting films to all film genres, for a long time, we suicide squad actors in Japan have not received the treatment we deserve!"

Kurata Yasuaki added: "Therefore, we have taken the liberty of contacting you all to initiate the establishment of this 'Assassination Array Master Association,' with the aim of giving assassination array masters the social status they deserve!"

Tomisaburo Wakayama said, "Directors have awards for directing, composers have awards for composing, and anime animation has its own awards. However, action actors don't have their own permanent awards. All the honors are just extras!"

Dahe Yuanye looked around at the crowd, but didn't find Gu Ming among them.

"Where is that guy, Akira Furuya? Wasn't he supposed to be the initiator? Tch, could he be a fraud?"

Just as Dahe Yuanye was thinking this, he suddenly saw the door on the first floor of the bookstore being pushed open from the inside.

For a moment, the breathing of the Great River Plains seemed to stop.

It's Akira Furuya! That guy didn't come out from the second floor, but came to them from the first floor.

Clearly, this was not a pre-arranged plan, because even the people on the balcony looked down at the lobby on the first floor in astonishment.

Gu Ming quickened his pace and finally stood before everyone.

"Gentlemen!"

"I am Akira Furuya."

Chiba Shinichi was slightly taken aback and was about to speak when the microphone went silent.

He looked to the side and saw a Kadokawa Shoten employee standing there, waving his hand.

Sorry, the microphone is broken!
Shinichi Chiba instantly moved closer to the railing and looked down at the first floor.

Akira Furuya on the first floor was still speaking.

"All words are useless and redundant at times like this. I just want to say one thing."

"About two weeks ago, one of our actors, Dennis, had an accident while researching car stunts, which also injured another actor from the same period, Hiroyuki Sanada!"

“I went to the hospital to visit them. Dennis held my hand and cried to me. He said, ‘Brother Gugu, I can still fight. Please don’t give up on me.’”

“I said, I won’t give up on you, because you’ve joined the agency, so we’re brothers, and I’ll definitely heal you!” “Later I was thinking, if even the most valued actors in our agency have to worry about losing their performance opportunities because of injuries, then what about the others, the other actors, all kinds of action stars?”

"I started out as a suit actor. In August, when Tokyo was at its hottest, even the coldest air conditioning on set couldn't stop me from sweating profusely. Many times, I felt like a showerhead sitting there, with every pore on my body sweating. I said I wanted to rest, but I didn't have time to rest. The filming schedule was very tight, so we could only keep filming."

"Over the years, I've often wondered if choosing the path of a Killing Array Master was a mistake?"

"The one who was thrown to the ground was an assassin, the one covered in bruises was also an assassin, and the one who was thrown from several stories high was also an assassin. Perhaps for various reasons, we can never stand on the stage like other actors and become idols admired by people. We can't be Mr. Ken Takakura, nor can we be Mr. Toshiro Mifune, but we are also human beings, and assassins are also human beings!"

"If I had a choice, I would hope that when we are thrown to the ground, we can get the pay we deserve, and when we do all kinds of dangerous stunts, when we jump off rooftops, when we sit on galloping horses and motorcycles, we don't have to worry that we will never have another chance to do it."

"So I found Mr. Shinichi Chiba, and we tried to contact all sorts of friends. There is no Killing Array Master Association in Japan. But today I say, we do!"

"Many friends advised me not to, that I shouldn't do it, that doing this would offend a lot of people, that the supervisor wanted cheaper stunt actors, and that big stars needed cheaper stunt doubles."

"But I'm determined to do it! No one is giving us funding, that's okay, I'll ask my friends for donations, and if that's not enough, that's fine too!"

"I am planning my next movie, called Onimusha, and I am announcing it here today, in front of everyone, all the media reporters and all my friends in the Satsujin."

"I am willing to donate 20% of the revenue I receive from the 'Onimusha' rations to the future Assassin Masters Association to maintain it!"

"No official support? No problem! If someone withholds your payment, the association will take legal action for you! If you get injured while performing dangerous stunts, the association will help you seek compensation!"

"Because from today onwards, we are no longer unknown killing formation masters, we are no longer lonely killing formation masters!"

"I am ashamed that I did not do these things sooner, but I will not do so again. I hope you all will consider this matter carefully!"

After Gu Ming finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the crowd and did not look up for a long time.

As he gripped the lamppost, Dahe Yuanye felt a tightness in his throat for no apparent reason. He swallowed, but it was to no avail.

It was hot and throbbing, as if something was about to burst forth.

He could think of many things: every summer he spent sweating profusely as a suit actor, falling and getting bruised and battered time and time again, and his name never even appearing in the credits.

Because it wasn't until 1969 that Japan began adding the names of assassins to subtitles.

Moreover, they are killing formation masters, not killing formation actors.

Because a Killing Array Master is equivalent to a martial arts instructor, or at least a manager, while a Killing Array Actor is just an actor, a bit player.

He has experienced having his pay deducted or not being able to find performance opportunities many times.

As for the days spent standing on the awards stage, Dahe Yuanye has never experienced or seen such a thing.

No one will award a killing array master.

Not before.

What's next?
Dahe Yuanye frantically scratched the back of his neck, as if there was something ticklish there.

From now on, we'll have it!
Off-site, flashes went off, and the clicking of camera shutters filled the air. All the photos captured it all.

People bowing in respect, people standing on the second floor, and people looking around in confusion.

Oogawa Haruno loosened his collar. At this moment, Oogawa Haruno felt that he had to do something.

He jumped down from the streetlight, parted the crowd, and kept moving forward. Everyone seemed to sense what he was about to do, making way for him and watching him with hopeful yet nervous expressions.

The Great River Plains thus came into view before everyone.

Gu Ming raised his head and looked at the vast river and plains before him.

He wasn't tall, had a slight hunchback, and his hands and feet had very fine pores with an unhealthy whiteness from being soaked in sweat—a consequence of wearing leather suits for many years.

Dahe Yuanye introduces himself: "I am Dahe Yuanye."

Gu Ming nodded: "Yes, Mr. Okawara."

"I want to join the Assassin Masters Association!"

Dahe Yuanye took a deep breath and repeated the sentence.

"I want to join the Killing Array Masters Association!"

Gu Ming turned his face and looked up at the people on the second floor.

"Mr. Okawara, welcome to the Assassin Masters Association! However, the association has not yet appointed a president or officers. On behalf of all members of the Preparatory Committee of the Japan Assassin Masters Association, I welcome you as the first person to join the association!"

"All members who join the Killing Array Masters Association can hold free elections, and all presidents and officers can be elected!"

Dahe Yuanye clenched his fist.

Sure enough, needless to say, he naturally sided with Akira Furuya. Otherwise, would he have sided with Ōkawara?
(End of this chapter)