93 Suzuki and Tora's move
It was approaching Christmas as the date was already December 21, 1990.
KiShin's video games once again dominated the video game market with the release of their games. Tora and Suzuki struggled to compete with such an innovative company.
Then, news broke that the Tora 16-bit had gained immense popularity in the United States. This surprised people, but it didn't seem unusual.
Tora was a massive corporation compared to KiShin. Just when they thought it was over, news of Suzuki securing a $15 million contract with Michael Jackson to promote their SES 16-bit internationally was announced.
"Wow! It's the star! Billie Jean!" exclaimed a middle-aged salaryman when he saw the news in the newspaper.
His friend nudged him and said, "Idiot! His name is Thriller!"
---
[Tora Corporation]
[Conference Room]
Chairman Asahi Tanaka discussed this with the board of directors before making a final decision.
Chairman Asahi Tanaka nodded and said, "Alright, we'll contract Nirvana and Whitney Houston."
The board of directors agreed.
One is a famous band, and the other is a famous superstar.
To ensure they wouldn't be overshadowed by Suzuki, Tora decided to spread rumors in Japan about their contracts with these top superstars.
After all, Japanese people held foreign superstars in high regard.
This sentiment wasn't limited to Japan; it extended throughout most of Asia.
It appeared as if the battle between these two industry giants was reigniting, with them trading blows while largely ignoring KiShin, which was trying to establish itself as a major player, though it was far from achieving that status.
---
[KiShin Headquarters]
Shin noticed the news, and his employees were somewhat concerned.
Their worry wasn't just about Suzuki signing a contract with a big superstar like Michael Jackson, but also about Tora releasing consoles in the United States.
Lee Han suggested, "Should we also consider signing a superstar?"
Shin contemplated with his hand on his chin and suddenly recalled some famous Japanese songs...
For now, he wasn't prepared for the US or European markets, so he intended to thrive in Asia!
As he pondered, a sudden recollection brought to mind a famous Japanese song that had gained popularity across various parts of Asia.
He attempted to find that song in this world, as he enjoyed listening to it, but his search proved futile. Thus, he needed to find a suitable artist to perform it for him.
Shin fell into thoughtful silence, and everyone in the room remained quiet.
Mira had confidence in Shin and wasn't overly concerned; their time together had built a strong trust between them.
While deep in thought, Shin suddenly remembered his second brother.
Shin's second brother, Shiruu Suzuki, was a music enthusiast and a singer. Shin recalled his second brother's voice and smiled.
With a smile, Shin said, "It appears there's no need to worry about Tora or Suzuki for now."
Everyone in the room looked at Shin, puzzled.
However, Shin paid no mind to their confusion and turned to Lee Han, saying, "Mr. Han, negotiate with Aeon Retail."
Lee Han and Mira gazed at Shin with excitement. Lee Han exclaimed, "Are we finally expanding our product overseas!?"
Shin nodded with a smile, "That's right. I believe it's time to enter various markets across Asia."
Mira smiled and said, "Aeon Retail isn't the only retailer reaching out; many are interested, such as 'Rustan's Supermarket,' 'Tesco,' 'Carrefour,' and 'Giant Hypermarket,' all of which have a strong presence in Southeast Asia."
Shin nodded and smiled as he looked at the employees best suited for the task, focusing on Keito Fujita. "You'll handle negotiations with them," he said.
Keito Fujita nodded with a smile, realizing that this opportunity might lead to his promotion to 'International Business Development Manager.' He glanced at Orio Masayoshi, who had been less successful in the negotiations for Tetris, and couldn't help but smile.
Orio Masayoshi let out a silent snort, aware of his previous setback.
Shin faintly noticed this and smiled. He didn't penalize Orio Masayoshi because the offer of a free Tetris game for the Game Boy would be limited to Japan. In other countries, it would not be free.
The same applied to Super Mario Bros. and other video games; they wouldn't be given away as freebies. After all, how could he profit from such a highly profitable and famous video game if he made them free?
After the meeting concluded, Shin dialed a number.
"Hello, Kishin?" came a somewhat intimidating voice from the other end of the phone.
It was Oyabun Obi Yuu, the leader of the Yamauchi-gumi.
"I need you to locate a specific individual for me. Please send your people here, and I'll provide a photo," Shin stated, devoid of emotion.
This was how he dealt with individuals like Obi Yuu – less emotion, fewer mistakes. Shin didn't fully comprehend the minds of these dangerous individuals; they might appear respectful, but any display of weakness could cost him their respect.
Obi Yuu responded with a smile on the other end of the phone, "Oh? Is this someone you'd like to see erased from existence?" There was a chilling edge to his voice, as if he were prepared to eliminate someone.
Shin, upon hearing this, broke into a silent sweat and felt a shiver down his spine. He hastily replied with forced calmness, "No, he's my brother. I just want to talk to him."
Obi Yuu, hearing this, responded with a somewhat disappointed tone, "Oh, so it's Kishin's brother, huh."
A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Shin's mouth as he detected the disappointment in Obi Yuu's voice.
Obi Yuu responded with reassurance, "Alright. We'll secure him and deliver him safely to you."
Shin nodded and began, "I'll provide you with the picture-"
However, Shin's words were cut short as Obi Yuu interjected, "No need for a picture, Kishin. We're familiar with all your brothers." A smile played on Obi Yuu's lips as he added, "Just let us know which brother it is..."
Shin frowned upon hearing this but still replied, "It's my second brother."
Oyabun Obi Yuu nodded and said, "Very well." He continued, though with a hint of embarrassment, "Forgive me for making this request, Kishin, but..." He paused briefly before adding, "Could we possibly borrow hundreds of millions from you?"
Upon hearing the request, Shin fell into silence.
He inquired, "How much?"
Oyabun Obi Yuu responded quietly, "Around 300 million..."
Noticing the silence, Oyabun Obi Yuu added, "It's alright if you can't—"
"Very well. However, transferring such a substantial sum of money will require some time, so your patience is necessary," Shin stated with genuine emotionlessness this time.
Oyabun Obi Yuu felt a hint of unease hearing Kishin's indifferent voice but replied, "I understand. I'm patient."
Shin refrained from asking why they needed such a significant amount of money. He agreed because the Yamauchi-gumi had been instrumental in his expansion in Japan. Without their support, his endeavors might have struggled in Japan.
The Yakuza gangs and families provided efficient means for expanding and maintaining businesses. Beyond the Yakuza, there were other criminal elements that disrupted order, and even the Japanese police had difficulty swiftly dealing with them. The Yakuza helped deter these elements, and many businesses, both small and large, sought Yakuza assistance.
Even loan sharks called upon the Yakuza when borrowers, especially gamblers in clandestine venues, failed to repay, leading the loan sharks to enlist the Yakuza to handle such situations.
