My Name is Hiroshi Nohara, Star of Neon Film and Television!

Chapter 264: The Eve of the Election! Polishing the Draft! Nohara Hiroshi's Speech!

On the eve of the election debate, the temporary command center at TV Tokyo was brightly lit. Outside the window, Tokyo's nightscape shimmered with neon lights, yet it couldn't illuminate even a trace of impetuosity inside the room.

Shimazu Yoshihiro sat at the center of the long table, with a stack of blank manuscript paper spread out before him. Sakata Nobuhiko, Takada Toshihide, Asumi, Kurosawa Eiji, and others sat around the sides, each holding people's livelihood data and policy key points. The atmosphere was serious but nonetheless enthusiastic.

"Hiroshi-kun, we've just been waiting for you!" Seeing Nohara Hiroshi push the door open and enter, Sakata Nobuhiko immediately stood up and offered a seat. "For tomorrow's debate, the opening speech and the free-debate segment are crucial. The draft you edited must both pinpoint the pain points and stabilize the people's hearts."

Nohara Hiroshi nodded, placed the briefcase he carried on the table, took out a stack of manuscript paper filled with writing, and gently pushed it in front of Shimazu Yoshihiro: "Former President Shimazu, these are the speech and debate response drafts I wrote overnight based on the latest polls and street feedback. The opening speech highlights the 'Three Questions on People's Livelihood,' while the free-debate segment prepares response strategies targeting points Tanaka Mikami might attack."

Shimazu Yoshihiro picked up the manuscript paper and began reading word by word, his eyes growing brighter the more he read.

The opening "Question on Employment," "Question on Housing," and "Question on the Future" directly struck at the core contradictions of current Tokyo City. Between the lines, there were no empty slogans, only life scenarios that ordinary people could empathize with.

"'When your child graduates from university and cannot find a formal job for three months, having to rely on odd jobs to scrape by;

when your family has to empty the savings of two generations just to buy a place to live in Tokyo;

when your child asks you 'Where is the future?' and you can only remain silent—this is not the Tokyo we want.'" Shimazu Yoshihiro softly read this text, his voice carrying a hint of being moved. "Hiroshi-kun, you wrote this so well. These are exactly the words I wanted to say but couldn't articulate thoroughly!"

Takada Toshihide leaned over to flip through the draft, his frown gradually loosening: "This entry point is good! Tanaka Mikami will definitely talk at length about real estate appreciation and urban expansion. We won't argue with him head-on;

instead, we'll use people's livelihood pain points to ask rhetorical questions, letting the voters themselves realize how many people's sacrifices lie behind the real estate prosperity."

Asumi pointed at the response strategies for the free-debate segment, his tone appreciative: "You anticipated that Tanaka Mikami will accuse us of 'hindering economic development' and prepared the argument of 'economic diversification' very solidly—using the local tourism revenue driven by 'A Bite,' the growth in the output value of traditional handcrafts, and cultural consumption data brought by 'Kasou Taishou.' These are all tangible achievements, much more compelling than emptily shouting 'transformation' slogans."

"And here!" Kurosawa Eiji pointed to one of the pages. "Regarding the fear of 'housing prices falling,' you proposed 'affordable housing safety net + healthy real estate regulation.' This neither denies the reasonable value of real estate nor provides solutions acceptable to ordinary people, which will win over the support of swing voters."Shimazu Yoshihiro put down the manuscript paper, his tone full of anticipation: "Hiroshi-kun, how do you think I should grasp the tone of my speech tomorrow? Should it be more impassioned, or more steady?"

"Steady yet firm," Nohara Hiroshi answered immediately. "Former President Shimazu, your advantage lies in being 'pragmatic,' not a demagogic politician. When giving the speech, your speaking speed can be slightly slow, your gaze should be firm, with a bit of empathy when mentioning people's livelihood pain points, and resolute when mentioning policy promises—make the voters feel that you truly understand their difficulties and genuinely possess the ability to solve problems."

He paused, picked up the manuscript paper to demonstrate:

"For example, when reading the 'Question on Housing,' you can pause slightly, look at the camera as if looking at every family troubled by high housing prices, your tone carrying a bit of heaviness, but immediately after, when mentioning the affordable housing policy, your tone should rise, conveying hope."

Sakata Nobuhiko added: "Hiroshi-kun is right! When Tanaka Mikami gives a speech, he likes to exaggerate and speak incredibly fast. You will serve precisely as a contrast to him, winning trust with steadiness. Tomorrow's debate is not only a contest of policies but also a competition of personal charisma."

"Then during the free debate, if Tanaka Mikami attacks us with 'real estate depreciation will make people's assets shrink,' how should I respond?" Shimazu Yoshihiro still felt a bit unsure and pressed on with crucial questions.

Nohara Hiroshi flipped to the corresponding page of the response draft and pointed at the text on it: "You can say this: 'Mr. Tanaka, I admit that real estate appreciation benefits some people, but we should look even more closely at how many young people are postponing marriage and childbirth because of high housing prices? How many small and medium enterprises have gone bankrupt because funds flooded into real estate, leaving them unable to obtain development capital? True assets are not housing prices built on bubbles, but stable jobs, comprehensive social security, and an illuminating future for children—these are the wealth that will not depreciate.'"

He looked up at Shimazu Yoshihiro, his tone solemn:

"You must remember not to let Tanaka Mikami throw off your rhythm. No matter how much he talks about the benefits of real estate, you must constantly pull the topic back to people's livelihood, back to the real lives of ordinary people."

Takada Toshihide nodded in agreement: "Hiroshi-kun is right! We've done public opinion analysis. Tanaka Mikami's supporters are mostly groups who already own real estate and have substantial assets, while our supporters are the vast number of ordinary office workers, young people, and craftsmen—as long as we voice their heartfelt wishes, we can win more support."

The polishing of the debate draft continued. Everyone offered supplementary suggestions from different angles, and the sound of discussion in the room rose and fell, yet it always revolved around the core of "People's Livelihood as the Foundation."

Asano Takata took the material he had collected when filming heartwarming films and proposed: "Mr. Shimazu, during your speech tomorrow, you can add a specific case. I previously interviewed a young man living in a capsule hotel. He commutes two hours every day for work, spends half his salary on rent, and even feels eating a decent meal of yakiniku is a luxury. If you tell this case, it will touch people's hearts more than any data."

Nohara Hiroshi immediately nodded: "This suggestion is good! Data is cold, but stories are warm. I will add this case into the speech draft right now to make the 'Question on Housing' more concrete and impactful."

Ashikaga Takashi also spoke up. Although he specialized in period films, he possessed a clear understanding of social reality: "Tanaka Mikami might say our economic transformation policy will affect tax revenue, leading to shrinking public services. You can use the cooperation case between TV Tokyo and Kanto TV to respond—'A Bite' drove local economic growth, and tax revenues not only didn't decrease, but rather increased due to the development of small and medium enterprises and the prosperity of the tourism industry. This is the practical benefit of 'Cultural Rejuvenation of the City'."

"Exactly!"

Asumi immediately supplemented data, "According to statistics from the Ministry of Education, after the broadcast of 'A Bite,' tourism tax revenue in places like Ibaraki, Mie, and Chiba increased by 15%, and the export volume of traditional handcrafts grew by 23%. These data points can be used directly to refute Tanaka's doubts."

Nohara Hiroshi quickly added cases and data to the draft, his pen tip rustling on the paper.

Watching his focused appearance, the unease in Shimazu Yoshihiro's heart gradually dissipated, replaced by brimful confidence.

He knew that with such a group of professional and pragmatic people supporting him from the sidelines, and with such a draft that directly struck people's hearts, he would definitely perform well in tomorrow's debate.

"Right, Mr. Shimazu, during the debate tomorrow, you can mention 'future' more often."

Nohara Hiroshi put down his pen and looked up, saying, "Young people are the key demographic in the election;

they care more about future development. You can promise that once elected, you will increase support for technological innovation and cultural entrepreneurship, and establish a youth entrepreneurship fund, so young people no longer have to worry about houses and have the opportunity to pursue their own dreams."

Sakata Nobuhiko smiled and said: "Hiroshi-kun's consideration is too thorough! Young people are the group most easily moved and the most willing to change. As long as we grasp the hearts of young people, the election is more than half successful."

Shimazu Yoshihiro picked up the revised draft and began rehearsing softly.

His speaking speed gradually became steady, his eyes growing ever more resolute. When reading the part about youth entrepreneurship, his tone carried sincere expectations;

when reading about people's livelihood pain points, his tone carried deep empathy. The others in the room listened quietly, no one speaking, yet everyone felt the power in his voice.

"How is it?" After the rehearsal ended, Shimazu Yoshihiro looked at everyone, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

"Excellent!" Kurosawa Eiji was the first to applaud. "Mr. Shimazu, your current state is very good;

it's more natural and powerful than any previous rehearsal. Just maintain this state tomorrow, and you will definitely be able to move the voters."

"There is one more detail to pay attention to."

Nohara Hiroshi reminded, "Tomorrow's debate venue is at Tokyo City TV. They might arrange journalists biased towards Tanaka during the questioning segment. If you encounter tricky questions, don't panic. First, smile and thank them for the question, then calmly pull the topic back to people's livelihood policies. Remember, our core is 'Speaking for Ordinary People.' As long as we hold onto this core, we won't make mistakes."

Takada Toshihide added: "I have already spoken with media journalists who support us. They will try their best to vie for questioning opportunities and ask questions that allow you to fully display policy advantages. For example, 'How to Guarantee Youth Employment' or 'How to Better Inherit Traditional Handcrafts.' You can use the contents in the draft to respond to all these questions."

Asumi looked at his watch, his tone solemn: "It's getting late. Mr. Shimazu, please head back to rest early today and recharge your energy. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, we will gather at the entrance of Tokyo City TV to make final preparations."

Shimazu Yoshihiro nodded carefully put the draft into his briefcase, stood up, and bowed deeply to everyone: "Thank you, everyone! Especially Hiroshi-kun. Without you, I really wouldn't know how to handle tomorrow's debate. And Bureau Chief Sakata, Executive Director Takada, Deputy Director Asumi, and everyone's support, I keep it engraved in my heart. Tomorrow, I will definitely go all out and will not disappoint everyone's expectations!"

Nohara Hiroshi also stood up, his tone steady: "Former President Shimazu, you don't need to thank us. We support you not because of personal friendship, but because we believe your policies can make Tokyo City better and allow more ordinary people to live good lives. Tomorrow, we will cheer for you backstage;

you just debate with peace of mind."

...

The next morning, as the sky was just getting bright, many journalists and voters had already gathered at the entrance of Tokyo City TV.

Shimazu Yoshihiro wore a crisp dark blue suit, his hair combed meticulously. Surrounded by everyone, he walked into the television station's main gate, a calm smile on his face, showing not the slightest trace of nervousness.

In the preparation room backstage, Nohara Hiroshi was helping Shimazu Yoshihiro make a final review: "Former President Shimazu, let's go over the core points of the free debate with you one more time: When Tanaka Mikami brings up real estate, you talk about people's livelihood;

when he brings up economic growth, you talk about sustainable development;

when he brings up experience, you talk about change. Remember, don't argue with him about right and wrong, but rather use facts and cases to let the voters make their own judgments."

Shimazu Yoshihiro nodded, closed his eyes, silently recited the beginning of his speech, and when he opened his eyes again, his gaze was full of firmness: "I remember, Hiroshi-kun. Don't worry, today I will definitely clearly convey our philosophy to every voter."

Sakata Nobuhiko handed over a cup of warm water: "Mr. Shimazu, drink some water to moisten your throat. The debate lasts ninety minutes: ten minutes for the opening speech, sixty minutes for free debate, and twenty minutes for closing statements. Pacing is key. Don't rush, speak slowly, and let the voters hear clearly and understand."

"Also," Takada Toshihide leaned in close, lowering his voice. "Takahashi Kazuo of Tokyo City TV might tamper with the equipment. We've arranged our own technicians to be on standby. If a problem occurs, they will deal with it immediately. You don't need to worry about these things;

just focus on the debate."

Asumi looked at Shimazu Yoshihiro's tie and reached out to adjust it for him: "Details determine success or failure. Your image today is very steady, fitting the positioning of a 'pragmatic leader.' When you walk onto the debate stage later, remember to maintain a smile, keep your gaze level with the camera, and establish eye contact with the voters."

Kurosawa Eiji patted Shimazu Yoshihiro's shoulder, his tone heroic: "Mr. Shimazu, bring out the courage from filming samurai films! You are not in an election right now, but fighting for justice and the happiness of ordinary people. We are all supporting you backstage;

you will definitely win!"

Looking at the anticipating faces around him, a warm current surged in Shimazu Yoshihiro's heart.

Today's debate was not just his personal battle, but the battle of everyone who believed in "People's Livelihood as the Foundation."

He took a deep breath, his tone resolute: "Everyone, thank you for your instructions and support. Today, I will definitely go all out. For the future of Tokyo City, and for the happiness of every ordinary person, I will fight until the end!"

At this moment, a staff member knocked on the door and entered, his tone respectful: "Mr. Shimazu, Mr. Tanaka Mikami has arrived, and the debate will begin in half an hour. Please get ready."

Shimazu Yoshihiro nodded, adjusted his suit jacket, and said to everyone: "It's time for me to go on stage."

Nohara Hiroshi looked at his back and suddenly spoke: "Former President Shimazu, remember, people's livelihood and the future are always more important than short-lived real estate dividends. You are not fighting for a position, but guarding the hopes of countless people."

Shimazu Yoshihiro stopped, turned his head, and smiled at Nohara Hiroshi, his eyes full of certainty: "I remember, Hiroshi-kun."

Watching the back of Shimazu Yoshihiro walking out of the preparation room, the atmosphere in the room felt somewhat heavy for a moment.

Sakata Nobuhiko walked to the window, looked in the direction of the debate hall, and said with emotion: "Today is the day that decides the future of Tokyo City."

Takada Toshihide nodded: "I hope Mr. Shimazu can succeed. If Tanaka Mikami continues his administration, the real estate bubble will only grow larger, and when the economy collapses, the ones suffering will still be the ordinary people."

Asumi looked at Nohara Hiroshi, his tone full of trust: "Hiroshi-kun, the draft you compiled is very solid, and Mr. Shimazu is in an excellent state. I believe we will certainly win."

Nohara Hiroshi didn't speak, but rather watched the direction of the debate hall, his heart filled with anticipation.

The result of this debate didn't just pertain to the success or failure of Shimazu Yoshihiro's election, but rather the future trajectory of the Japanese economy.

He believed that the wheels of history would ultimately roll forward continuously. The eyes of the people were sharp;

they would ultimately choose the leader who truly considered them.

Half an hour later, the debate officially began.

When Shimazu Yoshihiro stepped onto the debate stage, faced the camera, and spoke the sentence "This is not the Tokyo we want," everyone backstage held their breath.

They watched the screen as Shimazu Yoshihiro delivered his speech calmly and unhurriedly, watched him clearly and logically respond to Tanaka's doubts during the free-debate segment, and watched him use genuine cases and solid data one after another to move every voter in front of the screen.

A faint smile appeared on Nohara Hiroshi's face. He knew that they had already won half of this debate.

As for the rest, it would be left to the voters, left to time, and left to the choice of history.

No matter what the outcome, they had exerted their utmost effort for their own convictions and the happiness of ordinary people.

And this was already enough.

In the debate hall, Shimazu Yoshihiro's voice remained firm, echoing above all of Tokyo City: "I promise, once elected, I will put people's livelihood first, resolve employment difficulties, control deformed housing prices, and develop a diversified economy, so that everyone living in Tokyo can see hope for the future—This, is the Tokyo I want, and is also the Tokyo all of us want!"

Hearing this, everyone backstage broke out in applauses one after another, their eyes full of excitement and anticipation.

They knew that perhaps a new era was impending.

(Chapter Ends)