Chapter 245 – The Importance of the Japanese Market
That evening, Aaron returned to his villa in Mandeville Canyon, Beverly Hills.
Christiana Reali had already flown back to Los Angeles. The buzz surrounding the Victoria's Secret show had translated directly into a noticeable spike in brand sales.
"Judging by your expression," Aaron said, leaning back on the sofa with her in his arms, "things must have gone very smoothly."
"They did," Christiana replied with a satisfied smile. "Victoria's Secret performed beautifully. Next year will be even better."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, gratitude clear in her eyes.
Aaron returned the kiss, enjoying her warmth before adding casually, "You should take a role in The Silence of the Lambs: Red Dragon."
"Red Dragon?" she murmured, her gaze softening as she leaned into him. "When does it start filming?"
"In two or three months. Soon."
Director Jonathan Demme had no other projects lined up—this was his full focus.
"That's soon," she said thoughtfully. "Pulp Fiction will be released next year too. If I also appear in Red Dragon, I'll finally be building real experience."
She shifted on the sofa, pulling him down over her. "It's been almost a year since I came to America. Being in two Hollywood productions already… that's more than I expected."
Aaron kissed her softly. "It's not enough. You left France for Hollywood—I intend to make sure you shine."
"Look at Sophie Marceau," he continued. "Four Weddings and a Funeral was a global hit, and now she's starring opposite Harrison Ford in Clear and Present Danger."
Christiana traced a finger along his cheek. "Sophie Marceau willingly stays by your side… that's impressive. A national French sweetheart, stolen away by an American."
She laughed lightly. "Fanfan made a huge splash in France. It even outperformed Four Weddings and a Funeral there."
Aaron smiled. "You're just as captivating. The moment I first saw you, I knew I had to be the man beside you."
Her beauty truly was striking—refined features as if sculpted by hand, luminous eyes that seemed to read through anyone, a poised elegance blended with undeniable allure.
Christiana arched a brow. "Hollywood is full of beautiful women. I wonder when you, the infamous Hollywood playboy, will finally settle down?"
Aaron blinked and brushed his fingers gently across her cheek. "Not anytime soon."
---
As Christmas approached, Aaron finally left Los Angeles for Asia.
His first stop: Tokyo, Japan.
When he landed, the city was wrapped in winter—icy winds sweeping through the streets, snow dusting rooftops in pale white.
Japan wasn't just a leisure stop.
It was strategy.
By the early 1990s, Japan had become the second-largest film market in the world. For Hollywood blockbusters—especially action spectacles—the Japanese box office could mean tens of millions in additional revenue. More importantly, Japan's booming home video market and strong appetite for American cinema made it a crucial pillar for long-term international expansion.
For Dawnlight, strengthening its position in Japan wasn't optional.
It was essential.
After nearly a year apart, Norika Fujiwara looked almost unchanged. When she saw Aaron Anderson arrive, her delight was unmistakable.
About 90 kilometers from Tokyo, in western Kanagawa Prefecture, lay the famed hot spring town of Hakone. At Hoshino Onsen in Hakone, Aaron reclined comfortably in the steaming bath, holding Norika in his arms with a look of deep satisfaction.
"This," he sighed, "is true relaxation."
Norika leaned against his chest, her striking figure pressed close to him. "Onii-san, why didn't you come even once this year?"
Aaron smiled. "Hollywood kept me busy. That's why I couldn't make it."
He brushed a hand along her shoulder. "But now I finally have time—so I came straight here, didn't I?"
She kissed his cheek affectionately. "Onii-san, Christmas is almost here. Are you staying in Tokyo for it?"
He shook his head. "Tokyo's too cold, don't you think?"
"Like last year—we'll go to Hong Kong. It's much warmer there."
After all, he still needed to meet Joey Wong and inspect the properties he'd been acquiring.
"Hong Kong is wonderful," Norika agreed. "And the film industry there is thriving."
She had accompanied him to Hong Kong and Beijing the previous year and had enjoyed the experience.
Aaron nodded, then added thoughtfully, "But Japan… it's not exactly in great shape right now, is it?"
Since the early 1990s, Japan's stock market and real estate bubbles had burst dramatically. The collapse left mountains of bad debt. Banks and property developers were failing, unfinished buildings dotted Tokyo Bay, major corporations were downsizing, and unemployment was rising.
In this year alone, nearly 14,000 companies had gone bankrupt. The atmosphere across the country felt subdued—uncertainty and anxiety lingering in the air.
---
Later that night, in their hotel room, Aaron lay beside Norika after another intimate moment, running a hand along her back.
"How has this year been for you in Japan?"
"Mostly magazine shoots and commercials," she replied softly. "I've also made some guest appearances on television. I'm slowly stepping into the entertainment industry."
She added with a small smile, "I've attended several events organized by Dawnlight's Japanese branch. It's given me a lot more exposure."
Given her connection to Aaron, it was only natural that Dawnlight International Pictures Japan would look after her.
Several Dawnlight films had performed strongly in Japan.
Speed grossed 4.5 billion yen, ranking second for the year—just behind Jurassic Park, which earned 8.3 billion yen.
Schindler's List brought in 2.05 billion yen as well.
With the dollar strengthening against the yen—now around 110 to the dollar—Dawnlight was sitting on a significant amount of Japanese currency.
"Don't worry," Aaron said, pulling her closer. "We don't have many local Japanese productions right now—but we will."
He looked at her seriously. "You know what this industry can be like. If you ever run into something you can't handle, call me."
He paused before adding, "I'll make sure you're financially secure. Choose your projects based on what you love—not what you're forced to take."
After a moment's thought, he continued, "Japan's manga industry is incredibly strong. If you're interested, you could even start a small publishing studio."
"You never know—you might discover a breakout hit. First comes the manga, then the anime adaptation, a theatrical film, maybe even a live-action version."
Japan's live-action film sector might be modest, but its manga industry was undeniably powerful. Many top-grossing domestic films were theatrical anime adaptations of popular comics. The music industry was equally vibrant—after all, Japan remained the world's second-largest economy.
And when it came to copyright protection, Japan was famously strict—arguably even more rigorous than Europe or the United States.
For Aaron, Japan wasn't just a winter retreat.
It was a market too important to ignore.