章 24: Broadcasted and Tora's doubts

Takashi and especially watched the television with interest.

The scenes played out as the narrator continued to recount.

A bunch of young men exclaimed on the TV, "It was great! Especially the new arcade machine with a new game! We liked it a lot! What was the name?"

"Pacman!"

"Oh, yeah. Pacman!"

Takeshi watched the scene and said, "I feel like playing it when I see these young people being so enthusiastic!"

Makoto shook his head and said, "Of course! They're on TV now! Besides, young people are always full of energy!" He stared at Takeshi and added disdainfully, "Unlike you, who is dull..."

Takeshi retorted, "I'm not dull!"

The narrator continued, [I have interviewed the person behind this arcade machine through phone call. That's right—the CEO of KiShin Electronics.]

"Oh, I wonder what he looks like..."

[The CEO doesn't want to be named, so we'll call him Mr. CEO.]

[Mr. CEO, good afternoon to you. As the person behind what could possibly be the revival of arcade games, how do you feel?]

{What do I feel? Well, I don't feel anything except that I feel good.} the young man's voice sounded.

Makoto exclaimed, "It seems that the CEO is quite young..."

Takeshi nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Mei felt that something was amiss as her husband and son were actually getting along together.

[Are you confident that you'll be able to revive the arcade era?]

{I am.} the young CEO simply replied.

"Hmph! Quite arrogant! Even if the arcade machines he produces become popular in several places in Tokyo, they'll never become mainstream! They'll remain exclusive to mall arcade sections!" Makoto exclaimed, seeming to have a good grasp of the situation.

[Really? How are you able to do that? Do you have plans for that?]

{My company's plan is already in place. Selling arcade machines to several malls was just the beginning.}

[Can we have the pleasure of knowing the plan?] Koji asked boldly.

{*Chuckled* I can't reveal that just yet. But you'll find out soon. KiShin's ambition will soon become known not only to you but to all of Japan.} the young CEO declared with pride.

"The young CEO seems quite confident," Takeshi observed.

"Confident? No, he's overconfident, and that could be his downfall," Makoto commented.

[We'll find out soon? *Smile* I'm looking forward to it...] Koji chuckled. He was also looking forward to witnessing KiShin company, especially its CEO, potentially facing some embarrassment. After all, he had decided to cover this topic precisely because it was quite a unique and captivating subject.

The discussion about arcade machines continued...

"Are these machines available at the nearby mall?" Takeshi asked with curiosity.

"You should check for yourself. It's a good opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air," Makoto teased.

Takeshi responded with a pout.

Similar scenes unfolded in other households in Tokyo.

---

In one of the offices at Tora Electronics, Taki turned off the TV as the program came to an end.

*Click* The television shut off as the VCR recording of the earlier program came to an end.

"What do you think, sir?" Kenji asked Kazuya Nakamura, the CTO of Tora Electronics, a middle-aged man.

"I have a feeling that the young CEO is serious... and he's definitely ambitious. It's not just a show to attract people," Kazuya said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Indeed, I've played their games, Super Mario and the new one, Pacman. I could sense their ambition!" Taki exclaimed, rubbing his hands together as he felt a sudden chill.

Kenji nodded and added, "That young CEO is actually Shinro Suzuki. That's his name. He ordered a specific design PCB, and from what we've speculated, it's crucial for that arcade machine."

"Indeed, but we still need to acquire one of those arcade machines so we can examine it more closely," Kazuya nodded at Kenji. While Kenji might appear as an ordinary sales agent to Taki, he was, in fact, the youngest son of the Chairman of Tora Corps. That's why he had quickly appeared in Taki's office to discuss this matter.

"We couldn't obtain it easily unless we used the Tora Department store as an excuse to acquire it. KiShin only negotiates with malls, stores, or entertainment centers to display their arcade machines in their arcade sections," Taki nodded in agreement.

"From what I've heard, KiShin still owns some of the arcade machines, and they appear to be selling them at a reduced price due to the recent decline in Super Mario's popularity. In Toshima Ward, where Super Mario has been the dominant game, its popularity has waned in recent days. However, it remains popular in several other wards across Tokyo," Taki mentioned before adding thoughtfully, "Now that it's been featured on TV, it might regain popularity, potentially causing the prices of KiShin's arcade machines in various locations to rise once more."

Kenji nodded and added, "Maybe the young CEO wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and make those malls or entertainment halls buy his arcade machines again at a high price."

Taki agreed, saying, "Maybe that's the only way he can ensure his company's survival and avoid the fate of those arcade machine companies before them."

Kazuya interjected, "Is it really that simple?"

Taki nodded, explaining, "I admit that KiShin is ambitious, but ambition without a concrete and solid plan to support it can lead to a company's downfall."

Kenji chimed in, "Yes, it's challenging to maintain the popularity of arcade machines over time. Once they're in malls and entertainment halls all over Japan, people won't need to buy them anymore, leading to a significant decline."

Kenji added, "Indeed, businesses like that might show quick profits initially, but they're ultimately unsustainable in the long run. It seems like KiShin experienced a surge in earnings at the outset, but it was essentially a short-term gain."

Taki nodded in agreement, stating, "You're absolutely right. Such companies don't hold much value for large corporations or businesses in the long term."

"We're dedicated to pursuing long-term, highly profitable industries. And that arcade business simply doesn't align with that goal," Taki asserted. The more he articulated this, the more it resonated as a sound business strategy. Even if he held sentimental attachments to arcades, he understood that personal feelings had no place in the world of business.

They all nodded in agreement.

However, what they had overlooked was that the technology of today was far more advanced than in the past, particularly in the 1960s.

They had failed to consider the emergence of video game consoles, which would become immensely popular, with almost every household in Tokyo eventually owning one.

The Tora Corporation remained unaware that the golden era of video games was about to unfold right before their eyes. They were unwittingly becoming part of its history, becoming characters in the story of its inception.