Traveling Through the Tokyo Bubble Era

Chapter 69 Interview
The reason why the Sankei Shimbun interviewed him was mainly because of the previous list of best-selling authors in the first half of 1981.

The public is most interested in celebrities. If emotional gossip ranks first, and income ranks second, there is absolutely no objection.

The Ministry of Finance, where Neon has not yet been split, has its National Taxation Office publish the "High Tax Payments for the Elderly" every year, which is the familiar list of Neon's highest taxpayers.

Every year when this list is released, there will be enthusiastic onlookers who eat melons, looking for interested people on each list, and calculating their income based on their tax payments. This shows that everyone is curious about the income of celebrities.

Hideki Hanyu’s debut has only been half a year. Based on the income estimates attached to the ranking list by the Sankei Shimbun, only counting published works, the royalty income may have exceeded [-] million yuan, which is enough to be on the tax ranking list.

This is almost never seen among newcomer writers who debuted in the past, so this exclusive interview is arranged to satisfy the curiosity of the public.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, at the corner of a coffee shop in Minato, Hanyu Hideki met Sankei Shimbun reporter Morita Masahira.

From the outside, he was a well-mannered middle-aged man. When we first met, he asked him to sit down and took a photo of him holding coffee and about to drink it.

Today, Hideki Hanyu is wearing a light-colored casual outfit with a gentle and handsome appearance. He doesn't look like a famous writer at all, but looks like a college student who comes to a coffee shop to relax.

"Don't Hanyu-sensei like coffee?"

Seeing Hideki Hanyu put down the coffee after taking the photo without taking a sip, Morita Shohei asked the first question.

"It's true that I'm not used to the taste of coffee, I prefer to drink tea."

Hideki Hanyu speaks the truth.

"It's really surprising. Hanyu-sensei should give everyone the impression that he likes coffee. I interviewed several writers before, and they all said that they would drink coffee to refresh themselves when they were tired of writing."

It's not surprising that Morita Shohei was surprised. After all, the young and fashionable Hideki Hanyu should like more trendy coffee.

"In fact, tea also contains caffeine, drinking tea can also play a refreshing role."

"Mr. Hanyu is really knowledgeable." Morita Shohei praised.

In today's age without the Internet, many people do not know what is common sense in the eyes of future generations.

"It's not erudition, it's just miscellaneous knowledge." Hideki Hanyu was modest.

"In the first half of the year's best-selling author rankings published by this newspaper, Mr. Hanyu ranked fourth, and he is the only newcomer writer on the list. Can you tell us how you feel?"

After the lively chat that started, Morita Shohei got down to business.

"I'm pleasantly surprised, but also a little apprehensive. After all, the others on the list are seniors in the literary world. It's time for me to learn from them."

You can't be good-looking if you get cheap, making so much money is enough to make the seniors jealous, if you get carried away, you will lose all the reputation you have accumulated before.

"After Mr. Hanyu was on the list, many people commented that Mr. Hanyu is just a writer who relies on his face to attract housewives to buy books. What does Mr. Hanyu think about this?"

Morita Masahira's question became sharper.

Hideki Hanyu touched his nose, thinking that this kind of evaluation has always been there since he became famous, but whenever there is news about him being troublesome, some people who don't like him will jump out and shout a few words.

What can he think, it's just the whining of a defeated dog, those who are really capable are busy working hard, only those who have no strength will keep staring at others to find problems.

"I suggest that people who say such things should improve their appreciation level, otherwise it will be difficult to understand what is excellent."

For such a stubborn guy, Hideki Hanyu was not so polite.

"After the list of best-selling authors was announced, everyone is very interested in the income estimate of Mr. Hanyu attached. Can Mr. Hanyu disclose, is the estimated income accurate?"

"Not very accurate."

"Is it too much or too little?"

"It's too much, it should be part of the royalties for the second half of the year."

Because the National Taxation Agency personally publishes the tax ranking list, it is not easy to evade taxes in Nihong, so there is no point in concealing income.

When the tax ranking list comes out next year, his income will basically be calculated by everyone.

"If I remember correctly, Hanyu-sensei is only 19 years old this year. He has acquired huge wealth at such an age. How do you plan to spend it?"

"Actually, it's already spent."

"Huh?" Hideki Hanyu's words surprised Morita Masahira.

"The money is all used to buy a house, and there must be a place to live in Tokyo." Hideki Hanyu explained.

"It turned out to be an investment in real estate. I thought it was used by Mr. Hanyu for other places."

"I don't have a high pursuit of material things. Before I come here at noon, I still eat beef rice bowls on the street. If I have money, I prefer to travel and see more of the outside world, which can also bring inspiration to my creation."

"So honestly, where is the place Hanyu wants to go the most?"

"I want to go shopping everywhere, but because I am too busy with work, apart from staying in Gunma County for a few days this year, I only went to Nishinomiya City to see Hagar."

"Did you go to Gunma County with your girlfriend?" Morita Masahira smiled.

"Really? How did Morita-san know?"

"Because someone took a picture of Hanyu-san playing in Maebashi City."

"Have you been photographed? I don't know at all."

"Hanyu-san is a best-selling author, and his girlfriend is also a movie star. It's normal to be photographed."

"That's right, I'm just curious why I haven't seen the report."

"Maybe Hanyu-sensei didn't notice that's all. Hanyu-sensei was actually photographed watching Hagar in Nishinomiya City. Why is it only Hanyu-sensei?"

Hideki Hanyu really didn't expect that he was even photographed visiting Hagar.

I thought I was just a writer and would not attract so many people's attention, but now it seems that this is not the case. I really have to be careful when I go out in the future.

"Actually, I'm not alone. I went with my younger siblings. My girlfriend needs to work so I didn't go together."

In Neon, if non-public figures appear in the media, if they do not obtain their consent, they must be mosaiced when reporting, so Hideki Hanyu is not worried about exposing the image of his family.

In the Sankei Shimbun's exclusive interview, apart from focusing on Hideki Hanyu's income, there was only that one question that was more acute, and the rest was basically spent in pleasant chats.

After the interview, Hideki Hanyu took the initiative to give Morita Shohei his own business card.

Several types of his business cards have been printed, and the one given to Morita Masahei today is a writer's business card.

The business card was designed by him himself, and it looks quite simple, with only his name and contact information, embellished with the LOGO of Yunshang Culture, which operates the copyright of his works.

Morita Shohei put away his business card, and politely sent his own to Hanyu Hideki, and tried to ask.

"Mr. Hanyu's editorial in the Asahi Shimbun is very exciting. If there are editorials you want to publish in the future, can you consider the Sankei Shimbun?"

When Hanyu Hideki heard this, he immediately understood that this reporter Morita Shohei not only had an exclusive interview today, but also had the task of poaching corners of the Asahi Shimbun.

Obviously, the huge impact of the previous feminist editorial made the Sankei Shimbun, which is also one of the top five neon newspapers, jealous.

He guessed that the Sankei Shimbun's invitation would not be the last one, and it is estimated that other media will come soon.

"It is an honor to cooperate with Sankei Shimbun."

Hideki Hanyu, who has tasted the sweetness from that feminist article, of course will not give up his status as a social critic and maintain a good relationship with major media.

"Then I look forward to cooperating with Mr. Hanyu."

(End of this chapter)