mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 270 Trip to Hong Kong
Chapter 270 Trip to Hong Kong
Chapter 270 Trip to Hong Kong
With the final episode's spectacular conclusion, "Ultraman Tiga" officially came to a successful end to its television premiere across Japan.
Unsurprisingly, this tokusatsu drama not only broke viewership records but also generated a huge response across all sectors of society. After fully capitalizing on the initial success, Kitahara Productions immediately set its sights on the next huge profit pool—the physical DVD market.
Sitting in his office, Kitahara Shin looked at the videotape and VCD release plan submitted by Managing Director Ota, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
As a time traveler with memories of the future, he was all too aware of the boom and bust of the Asian physical DVD market during the decade or so from the late 1990s to the early 21st century. Especially in Hong Kong and the soon-to-be fully open mainland market, the rampant piracy of DVDs was a persistent problem that no film and television company could completely eradicate.
Since piracy cannot be completely eliminated, the only option is to focus on the "added value" of genuine CDs.
Kitahara Shin decisively revised the release plan. He demanded that the official disc set include not only never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage and actor interviews, but also a highly collectible limited-edition sparkler model.
Exclusive monster encyclopedia cards. He wants fans to feel that buying the official version is not just about buying a DVD to watch the show, but also about a "collectible faith" that pirates can never replicate.
The physical CD market has at least a 15 to 20-year window of opportunity to reap the benefits; it is definitely a goldmine that cannot be ignored.
To better distribute these products throughout Southeast Asia, Kitahara Shin picked up the phone and contacted Jackie Chan directly in Hong Kong. He hoped to leverage Jackie Chan's extensive cinema and distribution network in Hong Kong to help Kitahara's agency establish a wholly-owned distribution and sales company there.
Jackie Chan readily agreed and urged Kitahara Shin to finalize the schedule as soon as possible. After all, the pre-production of "Shinjuku Incident" was almost complete, and as one of the two male leads, Kitahara Shin had to go to Hong Kong first to film the early scenes involving smuggling and the struggles of the lower class before the main crew would move to Japan.
After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Shin leaned back in his chair, looking at the sky outside the window, a strange ripple stirring deep within his heart.
Regardless of his current name in the world or his prominent status as a Japanese business tycoon, a pure Chinese soul remains deeply ingrained in his being. This trip to Hong Kong for filming might be a business trip abroad for others, but for him, in a sense, it felt like "coming home."
In 1996, only one year remained until the year of national celebration and reunification. If given the chance, he even considered taking a trip to the mainland. However, there was no rush; one must take things one step at a time, and there was plenty of time.
March arrived in the blink of an eye.
The warmth of early spring began to spread in the air. Kitahara Shin left all his complicated administrative affairs to Ota's vice president, completely clearing his schedule, and arrived at Narita International Airport discreetly with Nakamori Akina and Sakai Izumi.
Their trip wasn't purely for tourism; it was part of a legitimate official itinerary. They were invited to Hong Kong to participate in several large-scale Asian music exchange events and record two popular local variety shows. In this era...
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Japanese pop music is incredibly influential in Hong Kong, so the visit of these two divas was a natural progression.
The three of them went through the airport's VIP fast-track security lane and boarded a first-class private cabin bound for Hong Kong.
For Izumi Sakai, a self-proclaimed "hardcore homebody," this was her first time stepping outside her home country. Looking at the buildings receding into the distance outside the window, a mixture of curiosity and nervousness filled her eyes. Akina Nakamori, on the other hand, had prior experience traveling abroad due to attending music festivals and award ceremonies, and studying abroad, making her seem much more at ease.
However, it is still a very novel and pleasant experience for three people with special identities to get together and travel abroad without any scruples.
After the plane smoothly entered cruising altitude, Akina's muttering voice could be heard in the cabin.
She held a quick-start language booklet in her hand, constantly reviewing the Mandarin Chinese and a few simple Cantonese greetings she had been practicing diligently.
In fact, as professional singers at the top of the music industry, Akina and Izumi have a unique advantage in learning languages. Their sensitivity to sound and their ability to control pitch are far beyond that of ordinary people. Whether it is the four tones of Mandarin or the complex nine tones and six pitches of Cantonese, they are essentially similar to the pitch accuracy of singing.
So, after a period of intensive training, Akina is now able to conduct simple daily conversations in relatively standard Mandarin, and can also awkwardly but accurately utter a few common Cantonese words. As a foreigner, this level of proficiency is quite impressive. Although Izumi is introverted, by listening nearby, she can imitate the everyday greetings quite well, and at least a simple self-introduction is no problem for her.
Of course, they felt very reassured because the man sitting next to them was their true source of confidence. Although they didn't know why Kitahara Shin's Chinese was as fluent as a native speaker's, with him there were no language barriers whatsoever.
"Shin-kun, once we get to Hong Kong, besides work and filming, where should we go for fun?" Akina asked expectantly, closing the booklet. "I heard the dim sum and tea restaurants there are especially delicious!"
Kitahara Shin smiled as he took the warm water offered by the flight attendant, handed a glass to Quanshui, and took a sip himself. To be honest, in his previous life, as a busy ordinary person, he had always been busy making a living and had never actually traveled to Hong Kong. This trip was, in a way, full of new experiences for him as well.
"There will definitely be a lot of delicious food, like shrimp dumplings, roast goose, and pineapple buns. When we wrap up filming, I'll take you to eat your way through all the night markets in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island." Kitahara Shin leaned back in the large chair, accompanying them as they planned the next part of their trip.
A few hours later, accompanied by a huge roar, the plane flew over the oppressive Kowloon Walled City and landed steadily at Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport.
As soon as Kitahara Shin stepped into the arrival hall through the VIP channel, he saw the team sent by Jackie Chan's company to greet him. Several people were holding up eye-catching welcome signs with their names written in Japanese, and standing at the front was a young woman in a business suit who had been specially hired to act as a translator and guide.
However, in this prosperous era belonging to the Four Asian Tigers, Hong Kong's entertainment information was highly developed.
Within minutes of their appearance, many sharp-eyed travelers and locals in the lobby recognized the three faces.
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One is Shin Kitahara, who just saved the world in "Ultraman Tiga" and then swept the international stage with "Shall We Dance?"; the other two are top Japanese divas who have long dominated the top of Hong Kong record store sales charts. The visual impact of these three appearing at Kai Tak Airport at the same time is devastating.
The crowd erupted in excitement. A huge throng of people surged towards them, shouting their names in broken Japanese or excited Cantonese. Many even pulled notebooks from their bags, eager to rush forward for autographs.
Jackie Chan's security team was highly professional and formidable. Several burly bodyguards quickly formed a human wall, keeping the surging crowd at a safe distance and carving out a passage through the airport terminal.
However, Kitahara Shin and his two companions didn't put on any airs of superiority. Seeing the enthusiastic fans, they smiled and, escorted by security personnel, accepted several notebooks offered to them, quickly signing their names.
Fortunately, this was 1996, and there weren't those crazy social media accounts that held up smartphones to take pictures of people's faces. People's way of chasing stars still retained a simple and honest way of asking for autographs, which prevented the order at the scene from completely getting out of control.
Just as they got into the black limousine and drove away from the airport, the news that Kitahara Shin, Nakamori Akina, and Sakai Izumi had gathered in Hong Kong spread like wildfire, quickly making headlines on entertainment broadcasts of major Hong Kong radio stations and the front pages of evening newspapers.
The spacious and comfortable interior of the business van.
The tour guide who was brought in demonstrated a high level of professionalism. She began to introduce the bustling street scenes of Hong Kong outside the car window to Kitahara Shin and his companions in fluent and standard Japanese, as well as the upcoming itinerary and which streets contained the most authentic local delicacies.
Upon hearing the guide's fluent Japanese, Akina and Izumi, who had been silently rehearsing their Cantonese greetings, both breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves completely relaxing. At least in the car, they didn't have to immediately face the pressure of a language exam.
Kitahara Shin sat by the window. He didn't listen to the guide's detailed explanation, but quietly looked out the window.
Mid-1990s Hong Kong was a city of flashing neon lights and towering skyscrapers, brimming with a crowded, bustling yet incredibly vibrant energy. The densely packed traditional Chinese character signs hanging along the streets rushed past the car windows.
Looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar scenery, Kitahara Shin's lips curled into a peaceful smile, his heart filled with countless emotions that transcended time and death.
The van smoothly drove into Tsim Sha Tsui and finally stopped in front of the Peninsula Hotel, Hong Kong's oldest and most luxurious landmark.
Jackie Chan's arrangements in this regard were incredibly generous. As a renowned ultra-luxury hotel in Hong Kong and even Asia, the service level here is comparable to the legendary seven-star standard. The hotel not only arranged for a dedicated Japanese butler to wait at the door in advance, but also simplifies the luggage handling and check-in process, taking them directly through the VIP passage to the presidential suite on the top floor.
Pushing open the heavy solid wood door, a spacious and luxurious living room comes into view. But the most eye-catching feature is the huge floor-to-ceiling window that takes up an entire wall.
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Standing by the window, the unparalleled view of Victoria Harbour and the densely packed, towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island across the water are all within sight. As night falls, the cruise ships on the water are brightly lit, and the neon lights on both banks intertwine to create a dazzling sea of light.
Akina Nakamori and Izumi Sakai stood side by side in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the visually stunning and bustling scene before them, and couldn't help but exclaim in genuine amazement.
"It's so bustling—" Akina murmured softly. "The energy and density here feel just as good as Tokyo, and it even has a unique kind of liveliness that's hard to describe."
Kitahara Shin walked over to them, put his hands in his pockets, looked out the window at the vibrant land, and said with a smile, "This is just the beginning. This place will become even more amazing in the future, and the world will become even more wonderful. There are many things worth witnessing and doing in the future."
Not long after I settled my luggage, the landline in the room rang.
Kitahara Shin answered the phone, and Jackie Chan's booming voice came from the other end: "Brother Kitahara, are you settled in? Get ready to come downstairs, your brother will take you out for a proper meal!"
Kitahara Shin glanced back at Akina and Izumi, who were organizing the event schedule on the sofa. The two of them had a music program recording for a local Hong Kong television station that evening; their schedules were very tight.
"Big brother, I'm available anytime. But those two have a recording session later, so I'll meet you myself tonight," Kitahara Shin said into the phone.
"Oh—" Jackie Chan drawled on the other end of the phone, then let out a hearty laugh that every man understands. "Alright, alright, then you can come down by yourself. Let me know when you're ready, and I'll have someone come pick you up."
After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Shin felt that there seemed to be something else hidden in Jackie Chan's laughter just now, but he didn't delve into it.
He walked to the sofa and said to the two of them, "I'm going downstairs to see Jackie Chan first. You two rest well at the hotel. A private van will be waiting for you downstairs and will take you directly to the TV station event venue. If there's any emergency, please have the security personnel contact me."
Akina and Izumi looked up, exchanged a knowing glance, and a hint of a smile flashed in their eyes.
Akina stepped forward and reached out to straighten Kitahara Shin's suit collar, her tone gentle yet carrying a hint of warning: "Okay, then be careful on your way home. Come back early after your business meeting tonight, and don't do anything that attracts attention outside."
Kitahara Shin shook his head helplessly, then took her hand and said gently, "I wouldn't do something so pointless. With the rest of you, that's more than enough."
After calming the two down, Kitahara Shin took the elevator alone to the hotel lobby.
As soon as I stepped out of the revolving glass doors, a deep, rumbling engine sound attracted the attention of passersby. A strikingly stylish, eye-catching red Mitsubishi sports car executed a beautiful drift and came to a smooth stop under the Peninsula Hotel's entrance.
The car window rolled down, and Jackie Chan, wearing sunglasses, sat in the driver's seat, giving Kitahara Shin a casual wave: "Alright, stop standing there, get in! Before we talk work, let me take you for a spin and let you feel the Hong Kong night breeze!"
Kitahara Shin opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, and watched Jackie Chan skillfully shift gears and start the car. He chuckled and joked, "Jackie Chan, are you a really good driver in real life too?"
Jackie Chan slammed on the gas, and the sports car roared as it merged into the traffic. He laughed confidently, "What a joke! How many times have I been a racing god in my own movies? Mitsubishi even custom-made a race car for me. My skills are definitely top-notch in the Hong Kong entertainment industry."
As he listened to the roar of the engine, Kitahara Shin's mind flashed back to the crazy experience of participating in an underground race on the winding mountain road with Sakai Izumi. Feeling the acceleration from the sports car, a certain competitive spirit within him was also slightly stirred.
He blinked, then turned to look at Jackie Chan: "So—how about we have a competition?"
Jackie Chan was clearly taken aback for a moment, then turned to look at Kitahara Shin, seemingly not expecting that this usually composed and refined business tycoon would have such a crazy side.
After a brief moment of surprise, Jackie Chan immediately became interested and slapped the steering wheel: "Great! We can have a race! Wait a minute."
He picked up the car phone and quickly dialed the number of his stunt team: "Ah Wu, bring the best sports car over right now, yes, to Tsim Sha Tsui. Hurry!"
After hanging up the phone, Jackie Chan said to Kitahara Shin with great enthusiasm, "My men will bring the car over in a bit, and we'll just take the Hong Kong Ring Expressway for a short drive. Although there are speed limits and traffic police everywhere in Hong Kong, once we get to the relatively open areas in the New Territories, we can still really enjoy speeding along."
Not long after, a modified black sports car pulled up beside them with a roar.
Kitahara Shin pushed open the car door, walked straight to the black sports car, and deftly got into the driver's seat. He skillfully adjusted the seat and rearview mirrors, gripped the steering wheel, and through the lowered window, gave Jackie Chan a provocative smile.
Jackie Chan laughed heartily and gave a thumbs up: "Good job, kid! Get ready and let's get started!"
The two sports cars came to a stop side by side on a wide-open, straight road. With a blast of the horn from Jackie Chan, the two performance beasts roared simultaneously and shot off like arrows, disappearing into the hazy night of Hong Kong.
In the initial stages, Jackie Chan, relying on the muscle memory he had developed from years of making action films and his familiarity with his car, gained a slight advantage of half a car length. He thought he could easily suppress this younger actor who had always acted in art films and dramas.
However, when the car entered the first sharp bend, Jackie Chan's expression changed.
He watched in disbelief as the black sports car in his rearview mirror not only failed to slow down, but instead cut in along the inside edge of the curve with an extremely aggressive and precise line. Kitahara Shin's downshifting and throttle adjustments in the curve, along with his subtle steering wheel adjustments, were as fluid as a precise machine.
With a sharp screech of tires screeching against the ground, the black sports car drew a perfect arc at the apex of the corner, overtaking directly from the inside!
"This kid—is it for real?!" Jackie Chan stared wide-eyed at the taillights that were disappearing into the distance, unable to believe his eyes.
The next few kilometers of high-speed chase turned into a one-man show by Kitahara Shin. No matter how Jackie Chan tried to close the gap on the straightaways, Kitahara Shin could always easily widen the gap like a slippery eel in the extremely complex traffic and curves, using the most extreme routes.
A dozen minutes later.
The two cars stopped one after the other in front of a high-end private club located halfway up a mountain. This was their destination for dinner and business discussions that evening.
Jackie Chan pushed open the car door and got out, shaking his head repeatedly. He walked up to Kitahara Shin, who had just gotten out of the car, and looked him up and down as if he were a monster.
"Kitahara, tell me the truth, did you used to drive professional race cars?" Jackie Chan patted Kitahara Shin on the shoulder, his tone full of amazement and admiration. "The cornering line and reaction speed you just took are simply beyond the capabilities of ordinary people. Even the professional stunt drivers I found in Hollywood might not have your level of courage and precision!"
Kitahara Shin casually tossed the car keys to the valet who had rushed over, and said with a smile, "It's just a hobby, thank you for being so kind, sir."
"You call this a hobby?" Jackie Chan shook his head, half-laughing and half-crying, then put his arm around Kitahara Shin's shoulder and strode towards the club's entrance. "Come on, let's go in and eat. With your skills and reaction speed, the action movie we're going to shoot next will definitely shock all of Asia!"
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