Business Purpose & Disclaimer This report outlines a strategic business plan for location hunting and historical verification for a new novel currently in development. This expedition to Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto) and Hong Kong is an essential part of the pre-production phase. It aims to verify the spatial mise-en-scène of major urban settings, capture the unique local social atmosphere, and validate the movement routes of characters within the narrative. The field data and multimedia resources collected will serve as critical assets to ensure the profitability and authenticity of the upcoming publication.
- Project Title: Untilted (In Progress)
- Research Period: February 8 – February 26, 2026
Project Overview The primary objective of my work is to illuminate both the splendor and the shadows of metropolitan environments. While I am scouting various global cities, I believe a field visit to Japan and Hong Kong is indispensable to determine if their unique urban landscapes align with the novel’s thematic backdrop. This business trip is designed to conduct on-site location scouting and build a comprehensive visual archive to ensure that my characters navigate these cities with vivid realism.
Key Research Locations Major Japanese cities and Hong Kong offer a distinct sense of metropolitan isolation and high-density verticality. I believe it is crucial to capture the specific East Asian urban aesthetic, which differs from the grid-based Western cities like New York. To appeal to a global audience, a deep understanding of Asian metropolises is as vital as that of Western ones. While there are stark contrasts, I expect to find universal themes and emotions shared between Western and East Asian urban centers. I aim to weave the grandiose allure, the decadent undertones, and the unique historical traditions of these cities into a cohesive narrative message.
Specifically, while Tokyo will serve as a direct setting, I will also visit Kyoto and Osaka to capture the “authentic Japan”—the persistence of tradition within modernity. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is a city that encapsulates layers of modern history, providing a complex backdrop of political and cultural evolution.
Detailed Itinerary
- New York: Departure scheduled for Feb 8.
- Tokyo (Feb 10 – Feb 16): Focus on modern urbanism and districts popular among the 20s-30s demographic (Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Nakano, Minato). This aligns with the age groups of the main characters.
- Kyoto (Feb 16 – Feb 18): Researching traditional architecture and Japanese culinary culture to build a reference library for “authentic Japanese” elements (shrines, historical structures, etc.).
- Osaka (Feb 18 – Feb 20): Studying the urban nightlife, traditional markets (Dotonbori, Kuromon Market), and the blend of historical landmarks (Osaka Castle) with modern infrastructure.
- Hong Kong (Feb 20 – Feb 26): In-depth coverage of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. I will visit sites that hold traces of modern history, such as the remnants of Kowloon Walled City and Chungking Mansions, as well as locations related to the 2019 protests, to gather raw inspiration for the plot.
(Note: Detailed research reports for each city will be published separately.)
Resource Collection Plan The primary focus will be on high-resolution photography and video documentation. These resources will be curated into location reports and shared on this website to engage with the audience. Beyond visual observation, I will archive precise spatial data—such as walking speeds between locations and the placement of street lighting—to ensure the plausibility of action sequences within the novel.
A core focus of this project is analyzing how the vertical density of Hong Kong and the labyrinthine alleys of Tokyo influence human psychology differently compared to New York’s grid system. Translating how the “imposing weight of skyscrapers” is filtered through East Asian humidity and neon signs into text is a vital process to enhance the literary value for the global market.
Business Outcomes The exclusive photographic data and location reports generated from this trip will be released to the public as a marketing asset to drive consistent traffic to this channel and attract new readers. Furthermore, the meticulously verified settings will serve as a basis for increasing the intellectual property (IP) value during future negotiations for film or television adaptations.
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