mchenry-crisis.org Chapters 1423 and 1432: Don't try to emulate Naoki-san too much!
Chapters 1423 and 1432: Don't try to emulate Naoki-san too much!
Chapters 1423 and 1432: Don't try to emulate Naoki-san too much!
The entertainment industry hasn't had such explosive news in a long time!
The male and female leads of the currently airing Monday night romance drama are actually dating, and they've even been photographed in intimate poses!
The rumors about Masaharu Fukuyama and Yukiko Okada spread like wildfire, from the entertainment industry to the entire Japanese mainland, with a momentum that was in no way inferior to the previous two top idols!
The fans of the two popular celebrities immediately started arguing. Among those who disapproved, one group said, "My little white rabbit is naive and has been deceived by a scumbag," while the other said, "My brother is handsome and dashing; he's clearly a little vixen who's deliberately trying to seduce me."
"My Yukiko-chan is so innocent and sweet, this is her first time transforming her image. How could she possibly be a match for a scumbag?!" "She's still too naive!" "Hurry up and see through this scumbag's true colors, and get back on your feet!" "Don't be fooled. No man is good!!" "."
"It must be Yukiko Okada playing the innocent girl to seduce my brother!" "My brother has been through countless romances, never getting involved with anyone. How could he let a mere vixen jeopardize his career?!" "This paparazzi photoshoot might even have been orchestrated by their agency!" "Yeah, yeah, they've completely abandoned all shamelessness to create a CP (couple pairing)!"
Of course, there are also those who are optimistic about the couple, believing that a handsome man and a beautiful woman are a perfect match and neither of them is at a disadvantage in their relationship. Moreover, watching it together with "Full House" makes it even sweeter!
"They're a perfect match! A match made in heaven!" "A love between equals!" "They're both popular celebrities, what's wrong with them falling in love?" "Who knows who'll really get the better of them!" "I don't care about anything else, I just want to see sweet romance!"
A chaotic battle ensued, with endless debates.
If Weibo and the internet existed in this era, there might be a dozen or so trending topics every day, which could really entice fans to storm each other's topic circles.
Another group consisted of mere spectators, who stood on the shore and casually offered their opinions.
"What's going on?!" "Why are all the top female idols in Japan dating?!" "They're really neglecting their duties!" "Is it so hard to work properly?!"
However, such influence is not limited to the fan base and onlookers; more real-world impacts are rapidly emerging.
Japan is even more demanding of women; shortly after the scandal broke, Ken-On immediately received calls from advertisers.
"We hope that Ms. Yukiko Okada will step forward to refute the rumors and maintain a positive image."
As a top female idol, Yukiko Okada was favored by clothing brands due to her previous sweet and innocent image, and became the spokesperson for Issey Miyake's spring/summer collection. When the scandal broke, naturally, she was the first to inquire.
"If subsequent news reports negatively impact our brand image, we will have to reconsider our choice of spokesperson."
That's already quite a strong statement, considering this is business.
After saying a lot of nice things, Hanami Kagami sighed again after hanging up the phone.
Just then, Yoshiaki Tanaka walked in:
"Hanami Yukiko-chan is back!"
Then Hanami saw Okada Yukiko, who was wearing glasses and had her head down, walk into the office. She looked somewhat panicked, and her eyes were bloodshot after she took off her glasses.
"Hana-mi-san"
Just as Okada Yukiko was about to say something, Hanami Kagami interrupted her, immediately asking:
"Putting everything else aside, is it true that Yukiko-chan is dating?!"
"."
Unexpectedly, her company president was so direct. Yukiko Okada paused for a moment, then nodded without further concealment.
"Yes, I am indeed dating Zhi-kun!"
"."
Although he had expected it, Hanami Kagami felt as if his brain had been punched when he heard this answer. After taking a few deep breaths, Hanami Kagami still asked with a sliver of hope:
"Can we break up?!"
"."
Yukiko Okada looked up at Hanami Kagami with some surprise, then shook her head firmly.
"Private Marseille"
".well."
A deep sigh echoed in the office, casting an autumnal bleakness over the once vibrant early summer sunlight. Looking at 21-year-old Okada Yukiko, Hanami Kagami murmured to himself:
"I knew it. Girls this age are all love-struck!"
At this moment, Tanaka Yoshiaki, who had been waiting patiently on the sidelines, could no longer wait and spoke up:
"Hana-mi-san, don't dwell on things you can't change. What's more important now is to contact your fellow tree enthusiasts about how to deal with this!"
"A large number of media reporters have already gathered at the entrance of the firm!"
"It's very likely that news of Kiko-chan's return has already spread!!"
"..." Hanami Kagami nodded. "Mm."
I'll make a call.
Hanami Hutton paused for a moment. She had originally intended to call Inada Masami, but at the last minute, she called someone else instead.
"Give it to Yoshimura Otomo!"
After all, he and Yoshimura Otomo had met at the cherry blossom viewing party, so it would be easier for them to talk about it.
"Hi"
At this moment, Masaharu Fukuyama naturally returned to the Tree Friends Building, but the situation he faced was much more relaxed. The Japanese entertainment industry is very lenient towards male entertainers!
After greeting everyone, Masahiro Inada led him to his office on the top floor.
"Otomo-san, I've brought this guy with me!"
Yoshimura Otomo looked at Fukuyama Masaharu and sensed that the guy seemed a little nervous, but not like he was in deep trouble.
"The private Marseille Otomo-san has caused trouble for the tree enthusiasts!"
Masaharu Fukuyama's 90-degree bow rendered Otomo Yoshimura's scolding impossible to continue; that's the power of traditional skills!
"Fukuyama-kun, you..."
Yoshimura Otomo sighed.
Have you thought about what you're going to do next?!
"This"
Masaharu Fukuyama was somewhat puzzled. Shouldn't it be the tree friends who clean up the messes for entertainers like himself afterward?
Surely, surely your friends wouldn't want a rising star like yourself?!
"I will follow the firm's arrangements in everything!"
However, Masaharu Fukuyama wasn't a complete scumbag after all, he said sincerely.
"However, Yukiko-chan and I genuinely like each other; it's not just something we're casually playing around with!"
"Hmm, at least he has some sense of responsibility!"
Yoshimura Otomo looked at the young man in front of him with some surprise.
"Originally, I wanted to do what ordinary celebrities do: fool the media and delay things a bit, and that would be about it."
"But since you say it's the truth..."
Masami Inada then spoke up:
"Otomo-san, since that's the case, let's market you as a golden couple. We can use this opportunity to create some rumors about you two and push the popularity of 'Full House' to its peak!"
Perhaps pairing them up would generate even more buzz!
Yoshimura Daitomo neither agreed nor disagreed with his subordinates' suggestions.
"Forming a couple might be effective for generating short-term buzz, but Fukuyama-kun, whether you break up with Okada Yukiko or not, there will be consequences!"
"The shorter one was originally scheduled for you and Rie Miyazawa to star in 'I'm Sorry, I Love You,' but if you admit to your relationship, you might miss that opportunity!"
"!!"
Upon hearing this reality, both Masami Inada and Masaharu Fukuyama fell silent for a moment.
"I'm Sorry, I Love You" is an adaptation of Naoki Nagayama's best-selling novel, and it's definitely the next "Tokyo Love Story" and "Long Vacation". If he continues to act in it, Masaharu Fukuyama's status will definitely rise significantly in the entertainment industry!
Can young people's love withstand the test of practical interests?
Watching the young man's inner turmoil, Yoshimura Otomo even had a fleeting urge to witness his own struggle with human nature.
Fortunately, after spending so much time with Naoki Nagayama, Yoshimura Otomo is fundamentally kind-hearted.
"Okay, let's talk about this later!"
Yoshimura Otomo waved his hand.
"First, we need to unite with Ken-On and get through this storm of public opinion! Ya-min, have you made contact with Ken-On yet?"
Just then, the mobile phone on the desk started ringing.
"Drip drip"
Yoshimura Otomo paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Ha, they called from a private number."
The small circle of people attending the Yamazakura-in Cherry Blossom Viewing Party naturally has private phone numbers!
This is no longer just business!
"Moshi Moshi, this is Hanami Kagami."
"Haha, Hanami-san. I knew it would be you calling right now!"
In the office, Yoshimura Otomo didn't ask the two to leave. Instead, he gestured for them to be quiet and then sat down. He then sat in his executive chair and pressed the answer button on his mobile phone.
"Otomo-san, please don't joke around!"
Hanami He sighed on the phone.
"Now that you know the situation, let's think about what to do!"
Since they are all acquaintances in a small circle, there is no need for them to beat around the bush, saving a lot of scheming and infighting.
Yoshimura Daitomo didn't ramble on about anything useless:
"Hana-san, my idea is to unite and have the agencies ignore the artists' private lives! And to remain completely ignorant of the media's questions!"
"???!!! How can this be?!"
Hanami Kagami's first thought was this, but she quickly understood.
"Ah, I see. Neither admitting nor refuting."
"Yes, in that case, no matter what, the relationship between Masaharu Fukuyama and Yukiko Okada is just a romance between two young people."
Although both are popular celebrities in the entertainment industry, if their own agencies don't care, then the media and fans can't do anything about it!
"In that case, their image..."
"It's okay, such rumors will only increase their popularity and exposure in the short term!"
Yoshimura Daitomo laughed.
"Didn't you Ken-On go through Akina-chan and Naoki-san? Wasn't it like that back then too!"
Hanami was furious:
"You've got me really angry about this. Are you guys eyeing my female celebrity?! Is it a family tradition?!"
"Hahaha"
The atmosphere had become more relaxed at this point.
However, after uniting on this scandal, more practical problems continued to emerge.
"Regarding endorsements," "Advertising," "Promotional activities for the two," "..."
One by one, both sides put forward proposals based on consideration of each other's interests. Yoshimura Otomo and Hanami Kaku reviewed them and reached a consensus.
Further, more detailed cooperation was naturally handled by subordinates!
It was only at this moment that Yoshimura Otomo suddenly realized how convenient it was for Nagayama Naoki to be part of a group for cherry blossom viewing!
In an era where profit is paramount, how efficient it is to have a partner with whom you don't need to worry about deception or concealment when handling matters!
If the other party were Watanabe Productions, Johnny's, or similar organizations, both Ken-On and Kyuu would feel very uncomfortable at this time. After all, everyone is considering the interests of their own agency and artists!
"Okay. Let's leave it at that for now!"
Finally, Yoshimura Hirotomo pressed the end-of-call button and then said to the two people who had been listening,
"Mr. Yamin, Yoshiaki Tanaka will contact you later. You two will issue a joint statement!"
"Hi!"
As for Mr. Fukuyama
"Hi!" Masaharu Fukuyama immediately stood up.
"you"
Looking at Masaharu Fukuyama, Otomo Yoshimura vaguely recalled the first time he met Naoki Nagayama; they were both so young and energetic.
"Hey, when you go on dates with Yukiko-chan in the future, you have to keep it a secret! You need to talk to your manager beforehand. They'll create opportunities for you!"
"Learn from Naoki-san! He kept his relationship with Akina-san a secret so well back then!"
"."
Masaharu Fukuyama was at a loss for words.
However, Yoshimura Hirotomo hadn't finished speaking:
"However, you can't completely imitate Naoki-san. You're not as rich or powerful as him, and the paparazzi won't give you much face!"
"In any case, you'd better take care of yourself!"
".Hi!"
When Naoki Nagayama arrived at the Ginza office building, he saw more than one person discussing today's big revelation.
While the receptionist, Kanai Hiroka, and Nakayama Mamiko were chatting away, they saw Nagayama Naoki and, since they were quite familiar with each other, she asked him directly:
"Naoki-san, Masaharu Fukuyama and Yukiko Okada, is it true?!"
Naoki Nagayama smiled:
"You've taken all the photos!"
There's no Photoshop these days, so it's impossible to fake it.
"It really is true!" "They're really in love!" "Amazing!" "What about Aoyama Chikako?"
"."
Neither of them seemed to be fans of Masaharu Fukuyama; they were just talking casually without any particular emotion.
When Naoki Nagayama arrived on set, he was somewhat exasperated to see a group of men discussing the matter.
"You guys, it's just a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman in love, do you have to be so gossipy!"
"Hahaha~"
Hayakawa Katsu smiled and said,
"After all, he's a top idol!"
"Yeah yeah."
Yukio Nakayama nodded.
"We're wondering if this is just a publicity stunt. Naoki-san, you know that?!"
Naoki Nagayama stated directly:
"This is a trivial matter and won't bother me. But those two aren't just creating hype; it's for real!"
"Wow, it's true!" "This is amazing!" "But it's good, at least the last female idol has a good ending."
Yukiko Okada is the third generation of mainstream idols after Seiko Matsuda. After her, almost no one has the potential to carry the sweet and beautiful idol image.
In addition, with the idol industry gradually declining, Yukiko Okada has implicitly earned the title of "the last perfect idol".
Now that she's in a relationship, the perfect, top-tier female idol in people's hearts should be gone forever.
The first generation, Momoe Yamaguchi, married a good man and retired from the entertainment industry. The second generation, Seiko Matsuda and Akina Nakamori, also got married and had children, and reduced their public appearances. The third generation, Yukiko Okada and Shizuka Kudo, seem to be slowly fading away as well!
"You all sound so pitiful!"
Naoki Nagayama shook his head.
"Female idols won't disappear!"
"?"
Everyone looked over.
"But even in talent shows, there aren't any outstanding newcomers!"
Naoki Nagayama said:
"Isn't there a Yasuko Sawaguchi, the Toho Cinderella!"
"But..." "That shouldn't count as an idol, right?" "More like an actor."
Yasuko Sawaguchi, known as the last beauty of the Showa era, primarily pursued an acting career after her debut, rather than releasing songs, holding concerts, or organizing handshake events like typical idols.
"Alright, alright. There will be plenty of idols!"
Naoki Nagayama sat down to summarize.
"It will just be more down-to-earth!"
What is Akimoto Yasushi doing? Why hasn't he brought out Nogizaka46 and AKB48 yet?
Akimoto Yasushi, who was focused on recording an outdoor reality show, looked up, sneezed, and looked at the guests who were catching people in the mall. He couldn't help but shake his head.
"This is already the third edition of the live-action competition, and the hype is starting to wane!"
"Can we hand it over to someone else?"
"I just happen to have a new idea."
(End of this chapter)