Chapter 12: The Era of Women's Rights (2)

  Perhaps it was the visit of Takayama Shizuko that worked, for since that day, Tanaka Nanako, although still busy with the affairs of the Japan Women's Rights Association, no longer disappeared like a madwoman. This situation made Jerry let out a sigh of relief. There had been a change, and that was a good sign!

  "Ryūsaki-kun~ Ryūsaki-kun~"

  "Hey, Jerry, is there something you want to tell me?"

  After the interview that day, Ryūsaki Tsukasa was formally hired, but this guy didn't have much money to rent a house, so he went straight to Jerry's house. As for the rent, it was directly deducted from his salary. Moreover, Ryūsaki Tsukasa had to take care of all the household chores in Jerry's house! This was also an unavoidable thing. With the rapid development of the IC business, Tanaka Ichirō and Rumi had become indispensable figures in the company. Even after Jerry assigned assistants to both of them, things were still unbearable.

  So, Long Qiang's free labor was directly exploited by Jerry. Fortunately, the dishes this guy cooked weren't too bad!

  "Ryūsaki-kun, you don't have to prepare lunch today. Clean up and then take a leave of absence with Shizuko-san, let's go out together!"

  "Hi!"

  Tokyo, Shinagawa-ku, Oi, Sanrio Company.

  "Hello, I'm Tanaka Nanako!"

  "Hello, I'm Tsuji Shintaro. It's an honor to meet you. I'm a huge fan of your work! When is the new book by Menmen-sama coming out? I've been waiting for such a long time!"

  "Ah, this is really unexpected! As for the new book, it will probably take another month or two. Mr. Tsuji, I came this time to talk to you about a potential collaboration between our two companies! You know, I'm in the publishing industry and have no experience with gifts, but Sanrio has rich experience in gift design and sales, so I thought maybe we could explore some opportunities together!"

  "I'm thrilled to be able to work with Her Highness Menus! I think she must have given it considerable thought, may I ask about your ideas?"

  "Hi!"

  Tanaka Nana pulled out a document from her bag and handed it to Tsuji Shintaro, "This is about the cooperation matters, Shonen IC will invest in setting up a new subsidiary, Shonen Peripheral, specializing in the production and sales of anime peripherals. What we mean is, we hope Sanrio becomes the OEM factory for Shonen Peripheral?"

  "Contract manufacturing factory?"

  "Yes, it is Sanrio's youth peripheral proxy processing products!"

  "But Miss Nannako, let's not talk about whether we accept it or not, isn't the labor cost for this job too low?!"

  "No, Mr. Tsuji, this price is not low at all. After a thorough investigation by the young IC, based on Japan's current prices and wage levels, with a 5% markup on top of all costs, this is the market price, it's the going rate! You're very familiar with this industry, you should understand what I mean."

  Sanrio itself originated from greeting cards and has a unique sense of smell in the field of cards and gifts! In 1986, the youth IC that rose rapidly on the Japanese archipelago had some business opportunities to dig up, but unfortunately, Sanrio's requests for licensing were rejected by the other party in several contacts. This time, the other party actually came to the door, although they just wanted Sanrio to do OEM.

  "Miss Cai, perhaps we can change our way of cooperation?"

  "Does Mr. Tsuji mean Sanrio wants an exclusive license from us?"

  "Hi!"

  "This is impossible! There are two ways for IC Boy to collaborate with Sanrio, first, IC Boy merges with Sanrio, I think this is fundamentally impossible at present. And secondly, IC Boy's peripheral products are outsourced by Sanrio! What we value is Sanrio's excellent quality in the gift field!"

  Tsujii Shintaro suddenly felt that this national idol's performance in business was just as terrifying as her performance in the field! She could see the development prospects of her opponents, but treated them as incubators for her own industry, and no matter what time or means she chose, it made people's hearts tremble with fear! Could Tsujii Shintaro refuse such a request? Yes, he could. But the consequences would be extremely tragic! Because Shonen Periphery was directly competing with Sanrio in the gift-giving field! He could refuse the OEM opportunity, but in Japan, there were not only Sanrio companies that made gifts, but also Shonen IC's comic book background and Tanaka Nana's national idol promotion. Shonen Periphery could completely swallow up another gift company and then confront itself! So, what did she mean?

  "Miss Cai, I'll leave first according to the agreement. The specific matters need me to convene a board meeting for discussion. How about I call you back in a few days?"

  "No problem. Well, I'll take my leave first then!"

  "I hope we can have the opportunity to cooperate!"

  As he walked out of Sanrio's office building, Ryosuke Tatsuya still didn't understand why Jerry had called him up. This matter seemed to have nothing to do with him at all!

  "Ryūsaki-kun?"

  "Hi!"

  "Remember Teruki Shintaro, this guy. He will be the one you need to contact frequently before our production line is up and running!"

  "Huh?"

  "Don't be so surprised, based on your performance over this period of time, I think you are fully capable of becoming the person in charge of CosPy. The props needed for each anime theme week at CosPy will all have to come from Sanrio. Of course, if you don't like comics, then I'll just have to choose someone else!"

  "No, no, Jerry, actually, comics are my favorite!"

  "Oh? Really? I thought your favorite was that girl named Nagatani Mari, hope she won't be too sad when she hears this!"

  "Huh?"

  "Alright Jerry, stop teasing him! Tell me, what's going on with the production line? I remember our plan didn't include this!"

  "Can Canzhi, do you think that with Sanrio's factory scale and number of employees, they can cope with the big explosion in the Japanese market?"

  “？”

  "Don't you understand? Alright, let me explain. Cosplay has been around for a long time, but it's never really developed into a commercial activity. With the help of Osamu Tezuka and the heavy hitters of Shonen Jump, Japan's manga industry began to enter its golden age. For Japanese people, manga had become like air. In this atmosphere, people's desire for Cosplay became even more urgent! If we could include some people's Cosplay photos in our magazine, say, your own Cosplay photos, Naoko, what kind of situation do you think the market would be in?"

  It's almost a no-brainer that when a national idol appears in the form of CosPy on a manga magazine, it can be certain that the peripherals related to this manga will definitely sell like crazy!

  Yeah, Jerry is now imagining Tina Nakahara with short hair wearing a white leather tight suit, CosPy as the mature version of Rias Gremory!

  "In this case, Sanrio's factory will be absolutely overwhelmed! And at this time, if our production line is put into use, it must greatly alleviate the pressure on Sanrio!"

  "But Jerry, why didn't we put this production line into use from the very beginning?"

  "First, the construction and development of the production line takes time, while the decoration of the coffee house is almost complete, CosPy can't wait. Second, I have taken a liking to Sanrio's production department and quality control department, perhaps only during the busiest times would Tsuji Shintaro possibly allow us to borrow some members from the production and quality control departments! Although he looks like a kid on the surface, he is indeed a shrewd businessman."

  "Jerry's idea is to use Sanrio's experience to expand and strengthen his own production line!"

  "Why not? However, after meeting Tsuji Shintaro, I realized it's not that easy! Maybe we need to make some second-hand preparations! What I mean is, first borrow Sanrio's production line and let the boy's peripheral products occupy the entire market. By then, Tsuji Shintaro will have no choice but to take the bait. Let John pay attention to Tokyo's gift manufacturers, if necessary, merge with one, we must start first!"

  "Hey... but, Jerry, are you sure Tsuji Shintaro will accept our terms?"

  "I've said it before, he's a shrewd businessman, so he'll definitely do it! By the way, Cai Cai Zi, how's the Women's Rights Federation thing going?"

  "It's going terribly! Except for Shigekichi, everyone including Hajime Nonaka is against my proposal. You know, in Japan, the idea of male superiority has taken deep root!"

  "Everything takes time! Look, World War II lasted for so many years! Cai Cai Zi, maybe you need help! How is Miss Lin Fan?"

  "Which Miss Lotus Boat?"

  "That newcomer in the coffee shop! Saito Renfa, a first-year student in the Faculty of Law at Aoyama Gakuin!"

  "Her? Why her?"

  "She has a passion and vitality that Japanese women don't have. In the newcomer training, she is very organized and coordinated, she will be a great assistant!"

  "Alright! If it's really like that, I'll find some time and have a talk with her!"

  "Alright then! Cai Cai Zi, next time we go to San Sheng Tang, remind me, I have some things to discuss with them!"

  "Hi!"

  Mitsui Bank, Tokyo Head Office.

  "Opening a coffee shop? Establishing a youth periphery? Gunta-kun, this is that woman's latest new move?"

  "Hey, Aizi, the matters regarding the coffee shop and the youth peripherals have been confirmed! The cooperative partner for the youth peripherals is Sanrio, with a cooperation method of agency processing, while the coffee shop will be independently operated!"

  "Looks like she made a lot of money in the stock market! Is there any other important news?"

  Tadashi handed over a thick file!

  "Has she recently been in frequent contact with Japanese Communist D?"

  "Yes, Aiko-san. According to the investigation by the intelligence development company, the force behind Sanseido is actually this political party that has been keeping a low profile in recent years and has just surfaced recently. The third-party force that secretly stopped us earlier was also them! According to the intelligence, Tanaka Kanako is planning to establish the Japan Women's Rights Federation! Perhaps when establishing this organization, Tanaka Kanako needs the help of the Japanese Communist Party!"

  "Japan Women's Rights Association?"

  "Hey, I heard that it's an organization to maintain the basic rights of Japanese women, encourage more women to participate in Japan's economic construction, political construction and cultural construction, playing a role no less important than men. In my understanding, Tanaka Nana's organizational philosophy can be said to be even more radical than Doi Takako's!"

  "Doi Takako? Leader of the Socialist Party?"

  "Hi!"

  "I understand, then, Tadokoro-kun, you can go down now!"

  Mitsui Aiko leaned against the window frame, gazing at the leaves falling outside with the wind, and a sense of powerless defeat gradually spread in her heart.

  What is the Japan Women's Rights Association?

  Tanaka Nana, what kind of woman are you?!

  Mitsui Aiko suddenly discovered that this woman was like opium, the more she studied her, the more addictive she became!