King of Hollywood

Chapter 384: Chapter 106: Trip to Japan (3)

The fact that Sony went to such lengths indicated not only their eagerness to pull Columbia Pictures out of its current predicament but also the extent of Adrian’s influence. Without the dazzling halo he had crafted for himself, why would Sony go out of its way to please him?

However, on the other hand, such endeavors were not too challenging for Sony. The financial cliques in Japan were interwoven with extreme complexity, with a degree of interconnectedness that surpassed that of the United States. There was still friction and strife between the US East and West coasts, and manufacturers and arms dealers each had their own interests to lobby for in Congress, while Japan was more like a loosely bound iron plate, with the Prime Minister’s position consistently in the hands of the Liberal Democratic Party.

So, even for a rising star like Takako Tokiwa, let alone if Adrian took an interest in popular actresses such as Nakayama Miho, Kudo Shizuka, or Miyazawa Rie, they would find ways to present them before him. Despite being highly popular stars and even national idols, these women had little choice in a society that still upheld a strong tradition of male superiority over female inferiority.

The entertainment industry in Japan and the rest of East Asia was different from the West. Americans and Europeans valued consensual relations and dignity; using force or overly apparent coercion was not only disgraceful but also unnecessary, as the body was considered part of one’s capital. But in East Asia, the powerful dictated terms to women, with South Korea especially notorious in this regard, and any exposure of such incidents always resulted in women facing greater public scrutiny than men.

Alright, enough about that. In any case, as long as Adrian hinted at a willingness to collaborate, they were ready to satisfy any of his interests. The only unlikely possibility was Namie Amuro — not because she had a strong personality or powerful backing, but because Avex was a rising company currently at odds with Sony Records.

Therefore, in the days that followed, Adrian toured Japan’s sights while thoroughly enjoying the attentions of Takako Tokiwa. It had to be admitted that Japanese women truly knew how to serve men; they were like putty, easily molded into any shape, and their relatively petite figures easily invoked a desire for domination.

However, play was play, and one still needed to take care when needed; women were not mere products after all, and while Adrian wasn’t into S&M like Madonna, he still provided the respect due.

“Mr. Adrian is a very gentle man,” Takako Tokiwa said more than once, her smile much brighter than on the first day, which had mostly been feigned.

Having accepted her favor, it was only right to show some appreciation. Adrian entrusted his main reason for visiting Japan to Sugigi Takuya.

“While I was browsing a bookstore, Miss Tokiwa recommended an excellent horror thriller to me. Although I have a limited understanding of Japanese culture, I find these atmospherically crafted Japanese horror tales to have a unique flair. In fact, after visiting some shrines and hearing numerous ghost stories under Miss Tokiwa’s guidance, I’ve already begun to form some preliminary ideas,” Adrian said over the phone.

“Do you mean to say you want to acquire the film adaptation rights to this novel?” Sugigi asked cautiously.