Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – “Higuchi Kanako: Are You Planning to Produce a Record?”

When Nagayama Naoki arrived at the filming set, Ito Shuichi and Yoshimura Daitomo were already discussing the demo tape.

“As expected from someone who created a chart-topping song. Naoki-kun really is a genius!”

“If a song like this ends up inside an advertisement, record companies will probably cry.”

Naoki happened to overhear them.

“Then we can just release another record.”

“Huh? How could we do that?” Yoshimura Daitomo was startled. Their agency had never stepped into the record industry.

At that time, small and mid-sized Japanese agencies were extremely conservative. If one business line worked reasonably well, they rarely expanded elsewhere. Established agencies with decades of influence controlled distribution channels, and smaller companies lacked both resources and capital.

“What’s the problem? Just treat the record as another advertising channel. Print the beverage brand on the record cover. The song needs a singer anyway,” Naoki said casually. “At worst, we produce a few thousand copies to test the market.”

The two considered it. Using advertising as a gateway into record production could work. If the song sold well, it might even generate additional profit.

This cross-channel marketing mindset impressed Yoshimura Daitomo deeply.

“We could promote it in magazines too. With a story and publicity angle, people will definitely pay attention.”

The discussion became lively, eventually shifting toward casting the advertisement’s female lead.

“Naoki-san, do you have any recommendations for the heroine?” asked Ito Shuichi.

“I mostly know famous idols. Hiring a big star would probably be expensive.”

“You know Matsuda Seiko, right? What if she plays the lead? Fans appearing alongside their idol could become a selling point.”

Naoki felt speechless. He was not actually a devoted fan.

“Seiko-san is extremely popular, but her image leans toward sweet and cute. Some female audiences feel resistance toward that type.”

“Our advertisement targets the general public. Female consumers have stronger purchasing power than men, so we must consider that.”

Ito Shuichi and Yoshimura Daitomo exchanged glances. Even when discussing his favorite idol, Naoki analyzed the situation calmly. It hardly felt like the thinking of a nineteen-year-old.

Naoki continued:

“The male lead can be handsome without issue since the ad targets women, and he’s a tragic character anyway. That won’t cause rejection.

“But the female role should feel like a ‘woman from everyday life.’ No aggressive beauty. Someone approachable, like a person you might meet in daily life. That makes the romance believable.”

“If Yamaguchi Momoe hadn’t retired, her image would have been perfect,” he added with a sigh.

Ito Shuichi turned to Yoshimura Daitomo.

“Do we have an actress like that in our agency?”

“…Not at the moment,” Daitomo answered bitterly. Their small agency simply lacked such resources.

“Then we’ll have to search outside.”

Both understood that this advertisement might become a turning point in their careers. Success could elevate them beyond small commercial shoots.

“If we’re searching anyway, we should also look for a singer,” Naoki added.

“Huh? Didn’t you sing very well yourself?”

“That was only a demo. It isn’t professional enough. For the actual advertisement, a female voice works better. A male voice might overpower the visuals. This is still an advertisement.”

“What about Matsuda Seiko again?” Ito Shuichi suggested once more.

“Her voice is sweet, like youthful romance. But it lacks a natural sense of melancholy.”

“Strict standards,” Yoshimura Daitomo said. “Then we’ll just keep searching.”

Casting the heroine progressed smoothly. The small STARLIGHT agency happened to belong to the extensive BURNING talent network, which contained a vast number of performers.

After Yoshimura Daitomo contacted agency president Hino Kenichi and several industry acquaintances, suitable candidates quickly appeared.

Using criteria such as gentle appearance, non-aggressive charm, and age around twenty, they shortlisted many candidates. In the end, Ito Shuichi selected a newcomer named Higuchi Kanako.

She had debuted the previous year and already won the Golden Arrow Award for Best Newcomer with the film “Night of Martial Law,” placing her in a rapidly rising phase of popularity.

Naoki had no objections to the casting. Ito Shuichi’s professional judgment was reliable. She possessed a gentle beauty—memorable without feeling intimidating.

Finding the singer proved far more difficult. They needed sweetness mixed with subtle sadness.

Nakajima Miyuki would have been perfect, but she was already a top star with schedules booked two years ahead. Waiting that long would miss the advertisement deadline entirely.

Naoki sat in the studio office listening to candidate records one by one. If successful, this would effectively become the first record he produced.

While he listened, Yoshimura Daitomo entered backstage with two unfamiliar visitors.

“Naoki-san, this is Higuchi Kanako, the heroine of this project.”

The elegant young woman bowed.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Higuchi Kanako. Please take care of me.”

Her appearance embodied a classic Japanese beauty—soft facial features, gentle almond eyes, a delicate nose, and a calm, graceful presence typical of a twenty-one-year-old at her peak.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Nagayama Naoki. I look forward to working together.”

Naoki had never heard of her before. The entertainment industry was crowded with countless newcomers.

Still, Ito Shuichi’s choice was excellent: warm, approachable, and memorable.

Soon afterward, Ito Shuichi arrived carrying printed documents. He distributed them immediately—the shooting script was already completed.

“This is the advertising concept script. Higuchi Kanako-san, please read it first. I’ll explain afterward.”

Once work began, Ito Shuichi became decisively efficient.

He turned to Naoki.

“Have you chosen the singer yet?”

“Not yet. Every candidate has some flaw. If necessary, we’ll settle for one in the end.”

“Finding a singer isn’t like composing a song. Perfection rarely appears instantly,” Ito Shuichi said. “Try to finalize it within this week. Filming and editing must finish within two weeks. The advertising schedule cannot be delayed.”

While reading the script, Higuchi Kanako listened to their conversation.

Why was the director treating this young man with such respect?

Was he a privileged talent?

And what was this talk about music?

As she continued reading, she noticed stage directions such as “music begins here,” “music fades out,” and “background music,” yet the script contained no dialogue at all.

This did not resemble a normal advertisement.

She finally asked:

“Ito-san… are we filming a music video? Are you planning to produce a record?”