Tokyo: My Best Actor Gear List

Chapter 28 An Unexpected Addition

Early June 1989, Toei Studios

As filming progressed, the atmosphere on the set of "Yakuza Blood" became somewhat delicate.

Originally a supporting character, "Wakagashira Sawada" is gaining a rapidly expanding presence thanks to Kinji Fukasaku's favoritism and Shin Kitahara's neurotic portrayal.

When watching the sample footage, whenever Kitahara Shin's figure in black gloves appeared at the edge of the frame, everyone's eyes would instinctively focus on it. That sense of oppression didn't need any dialogue to support it.

This made some people uneasy.

"Director, this scene is wrong."

The speaker is Ken Matsuda, the veteran actor who plays the male lead, "Team Leader".

As a veteran tough-guy star at Toei Animation, he has always considered himself a "big shot" in the industry. At this moment, he slammed his script down, pointing at the lines with a disgruntled expression:

"I'm the boss, he's number two. That line he said was too arrogant. If I don't teach him a lesson, where will I, as the team leader, put my face?"

Kinji Fukasaku frowned: "Matsuda-san, Sawada's character is that of a mad dog; he's like that to everyone."

"That won't work either."

Matsuda Ken raised his voice, his eyes sweeping across the room. "The audience bought tickets to see me. This scene has to be changed. I'm going to beat him up and show him who's in charge."

The surrounding staff kept their heads down and went about their business, pretending not to hear.

This is the reality of film sets. Big names dominate the screen, while newcomers suffer. To highlight the protagonist's stature, supporting actors often have to act like punching bags, only good for taking hits.

Although Kinji Fukasaku has a bad temper, he still has to consider the investors' face—after all, Ken Matsuda is the main character designated by the investors.

He exhaled a smoke ring and turned to look at the corner.

Kitahara Nobumasa was sitting in a folding chair, carefully wiping his black leather gloves with a white handkerchief.

Upon hearing Matsuda's request, he didn't stop what he was doing; he simply looked up and smiled gently.

"I have no objection. Director, Matsuda-senpai is right, subordinates should indeed act like subordinates."

Matsuda Ken snorted and proudly waved the script in his hand.

You're smart enough to know your place.

……

Ten minutes later.

The set is a dimly lit gang office.

"Action!"

As soon as the clapperboard fell, Ken Matsuda instantly got into character.

"Bang!"

He slammed his hand on the table, pointed at Kitahara Shin's nose, and roared, "You bastard! Who gave you permission to act on your own?! Don't you even respect me as your older brother?!"

According to the original script, Kitahara Shin only needed to bow his head, admit his mistake, and offer a few words of explanation.

But Ken Matsuda clearly didn't want to let him off so easily.

He strode up to Kitahara Shin, grabbed him by the collar of his suit, his face almost touching the other's, spitting everywhere:

"Speak up! Are you mute?! Do you believe I'll cripple you right now?!"

This is a typical scene-stealing tactic.

They use physical contact and loud shouting to intimidate their opponents. Under this pressure, newcomers are often frightened, their eyes darting around and their bodies stiffening, making them look like pathetic cowards on camera.

Matsuda Ken stared intently into Kitahara Shin's eyes, waiting to see the other man show weakness.

However, he miscalculated.

Kitahara Shin, whose collar was being grabbed, remained completely still.

[Equipment: Black leather gloves for debt collectors (Intimidation +30%)]

[Equipment: The Silver Zippo Discarded by the Songstress (Storytelling +20%)]

[Special Status: The Backlash of a Rabid Dog]

Kitahara Shin ignored the hand on his collar and didn't utter any nonsense in rebuttal.

He slowly raised his hands, which were covered in black leather gloves, and took out a silver Zippo from his pocket.

"Click".

The crisp metallic sound of metal opening and closing abruptly cut off Matsuda Ken's hysterical roar.

The sound was so abrupt, like the sharp click of a gun bolt being pulled back.

Ken Matsuda paused for a moment.

In that brief pause, Kitahara Shin lowered his head and lit a cigarette.

The flickering firelight illuminated his lifeless eyes.

"call--"

A thick cloud of smoke was blown straight into Ken Matsuda's face.

Matsuda Ken coughed, choked by the choking sensation, and instinctively released his grip, taking a half-step back.

That aggressive aura deflated instantly, like a balloon punctured by a needle.

Kitahara Shin slowly straightened his crumpled collar, holding a cigarette between his gloved fingers. He tilted his head slightly, looking at the bewildered Matsuda Ken with the same gaze one would give a clown performing diligently but unpopularly.

"Big brother."

Kitahara Shin spoke.

The voice was very soft, with a nonchalant and lazy quality.

"The sound is too loud."

He took a step forward, taking the initiative and closing in on Matsuda Ken, speaking in a whisper that only the two of them could hear:

"Are you yelling so loudly... to cover up your fear?"

boom!

Matsuda Ken's pupils suddenly contracted.

At that moment, what stood before him was no junior, but a wolf with bared fangs, ready to devour its master at any moment.

That contempt that emanated from the very core of his being left his mind blank, and he even forgot to respond.

The scene was deathly silent.

These are lines that weren't in the script. This is blatant provocation.

"...Cut!!"

Kinji Fukasaku's excited roar exploded.

"Good! Excellent! This is Sawada! This is true insubordination! This is real yakuza warfare!"

The director was so excited that he kept slapping his thigh.

This kind of dynamic improvisation is a million times more exciting than the clichéd "teaching a younger brother a lesson" in the script.

Matsuda Ken stood there, his face ashen.

He lost.

In the role she initiated, she was completely outmaneuvered by a newcomer with just a cigarette and a single sentence.

Kitahara Shin stubbed out his cigarette, and his chilling aura instantly vanished.

He immediately adopted a respectful expression and bowed deeply to Matsuda Ken: "I'm sorry, Matsuda-senpai, I got too into character just now and changed the lines without permission. Please forgive me."

The steps provided are too generous, and too "fake".

Matsuda Ken looked at the seemingly harmless young man and felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

This kid... is a tough character.

"...It's alright." Matsuda Ken gritted his teeth and forced an awkward smile. "You acted...not bad."

"Thank you for the compliment, senior."

Kitahara Shin straightened up, turned around, and walked back to the rest area.

The way the staff around him looked at him changed.

There was a hint of awe in his eyes—the kind of awe that only comes from a "star".

On film set, ability is power.

After today, no one in this drama will dare to casually bet on Kitahara Shin's scenes anymore.