booktalesy Chapter 221 The Bottom Line of the Conglomerates, the Prelude to a Capital Encirclement
Chapter 221 The Bottom Line of the Conglomerates, the Prelude to a Capital Encirclement
Chapter 221 The Bottom Line of the Conglomerates, the Prelude to a Capital Encirclement
The atmosphere inside the private, upscale ryokan (traditional Japanese restaurant) became unusually heavy because of the suggestion to "establish rules."
After a brief silence, a high-ranking executive wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who oversees a long-established entertainment agency, frowned and spoke first: "I don't think it's a wise move to set rules for him now and openly display our hostility."
Kitahara Shin is currently at the height of his power, holding billions in cash flow. If we were to exert pressure openly, it could very well provoke a strong public backlash. We should work behind the scenes, first discussing countermeasures with other relevant production companies, theaters, and even distributors, and implementing all restrictive measures in a transparent manner. This would be much safer.”
"madness!"
The middle-aged man sitting opposite him, representing a large trading company, immediately snorted coldly and interrupted him without any politeness.
"Keep it in the shadows? We, a consortium of major capital firms, have to resort to sneaking around to deal with a young man just starting out in this field? If word gets out, people will only think we're afraid of him! That's a joke!"
The trading company representative leaned forward, his gaze sweeping aggressively over the crowd: "You entertainment people have such a limited perspective. Haven't you noticed? Kitahara Shin's business reach is far too wide; he's overstepped his bounds!"
He picked up the sake on the table and downed it in one gulp, his voice cold and hard as he presented a brutally honest reality: "According to the rules of the Japanese business world, any company that wants to grow and thrive must join a relevant chamber of commerce, cultivate connections, and build relationships. But what about him? He didn't join any organization, didn't even consult any of us here, and yet he arbitrarily brought massive amounts of capital to forcibly cross over into entrepreneurship and acquire physical factories. He's openly challenging the fundamental operating logic of the entire Japanese economy!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present became serious.
They all knew very well what the underlying logic of the Japanese economy was. It was the deeply ingrained "zaibatsu economy".
Although the once-powerful conglomerates were nominally dismantled and reorganized into the current "Big Six" conglomerates (such as Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo), they were essentially the same entity in a different guise. The economic lifeline of Japan, from heavy industry and finance to light industry and consumer goods, remains firmly in the hands of these behemoth conglomerates. The pie of every industry has long been divided up cleanly by the countless subsidiaries and cross-shareholding companies under these conglomerates.
"He went to Chiba Prefecture to acquire garment factories and Saitama Prefecture to buy plastic mold factories, preparing to create a closed loop around his so-called 'Great Investigation Line'." The trading company representative slammed his hand on the table. "Whose cake do you think he's cutting? He's cutting the cake that our large conglomerates' light industry subsidiaries and retail distributors monopolize!"
These words struck at the heart of the problem like a sharp blade.
If Kitahara Shin were just making movies and earning a salary and commission, investors wouldn't care at all. But he's now working on a complete industry chain model of "front store, back factory." If he succeeds in making this independent production and sales route, which abandons traditional channels, a reality that creators can make a fortune without relying on conglomerates' distribution networks and manufacturing plants, the consequences will be unimaginable.
"Once his business empire takes shape, it will severely impact our operations." The trading company representative's eyes turned icy. "We'll lose a massive number of OEM orders, and our retail channels will be marginalized. To cope with the market impact he brings, we'll even be forced to modify our existing business strategies and lower our profit-sharing rules to retain other clients. Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't some petty squabble in the entertainment industry; this is real financial loss! It will genuinely affect the core interests of our major conglomerates' annual revenue!"
This incisive and sharp analysis caused the air in the room to freeze completely.
The executive from the brokerage firm who had just advocated "operating in the shadows" fell silent, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He finally realized that Kitahara Shin had no longer offended a few colleagues who were jealous of his talent, but rather the real financial giants who controlled the lifeline of the Japanese economy and regarded market monopolies as their lifeblood.
When faced with absolute loss of benefits, any mild approach is a sign of weakness.
"That's right." The core leader sitting in the main seat nodded slowly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "Since he doesn't understand the rules and has taken a bite out of the cake he shouldn't have, then we must use the strongest measures to put pressure on him and make him wake up."
Everyone present exchanged glances and nodded in unison. A consensus among investors was quickly reached at that moment.
"Then let's act. Let's give him a taste of his own medicine." The boss raised his glass, his tone like a pronouncement. "Tell the people below that, starting tomorrow, let those new companies and factories he's currently setting up experience what it means to be unable to adapt to a new environment. I want to bring all his physical businesses into a stagnant, blocked state."
As night deepens, neon lights flicker on the streets of Ginza.
Katsuta, Matsuhashi, and Yamazaki, their faces flushed from drinking in an upscale izakaya, walked out the door, each grumbling to themselves. Just as they stood by the roadside, preparing to hail a taxi home, their pagers and mobile phones suddenly rang simultaneously.
The person who called was actually the head of their respective brokerage firm.
A few minutes later, three black luxury cars quietly stopped in front of them and took the three veteran actors, who were full of doubts, directly to an extremely secluded private club in the port area.
Pushing open the heavy, carved wooden door of the private room, an elderly woman with a smiling face and an imposing presence sat upright on the sofa inside.
The moment they saw this person, Katsuta and the other two sobered up considerably.
The person who arrived was none other than Mary Kitagawa, the powerful and iron-fisted vice president of Johnny & Associates, who currently controls most of the male idol market in Japan.
Prior to this, Johnny & Associates, in an effort to boost ratings, forcibly paired their most popular star, Takuya Kimura, with Shin Kitahara, resulting in a brutal and crushing defeat for Kimura in "The White Tower." This vengeful and strong-willed woman held a grudge against them.
"Seniors, I'm so sorry to bother you so late at night. Please have a seat."
Mary Kitagawa stood up with great courtesy and personally gestured to the waiter to pour hot tea for the three veteran actors to sober up, giving them the "face" they craved most in the industry.
"President Mary, why did you call us old folks over in the middle of the night? Is there something you need?" Katsuta asked cautiously as he sat down.
Mary Kitagawa picked up her teacup, blew on the steam, and wore that extremely gentle yet subtly sharp smile: "I wouldn't presume to give orders. But I heard from my contacts in the industry that the three of you recently had a cameo role in Kitahara Shin's film crew, and the treatment you received—it seems—wasn't very good, is that right?"
These words struck a nerve with the three of them that afternoon.
Objectively speaking, did Kitahara Shin treat them poorly? Absolutely not. Whether it was their pay or the crew's food and logistics, Kitahara Shin's terms were all far above market price, entirely out of the friendship they shared at the Karuizawa gathering.
What these three old men truly couldn't accept was Kitahara Shin's absolute social dominance on set, and his overly nonchalant attitude towards them, not treating their "seniority" as a bargaining chip.
In any field, when a person ages and their core competencies begin to decline, they often become extremely sensitive. More than their actual professional abilities, they become more concerned about the "status" they have worked so hard for over decades, and whether they can gain the absolute respect of those around them, especially younger people.
The title of "veteran actor" sounds glamorous. But in reality, associations like the "Second Academy Association," composed of veteran actors, are not, in essence, artistic halls for the pure exchange of acting skills.
It's more like a union bound together by shared interests. These veteran actors all know very well that humans cannot defy the laws of physiology. A person's true peak energy, memory, and emotional explosiveness are always in their prime. Once they cross the threshold of fifty, both their physical abilities and the kind of performance that requires extreme focus are destined to decline by 100%.
In order to prevent their identity as "actors" from depreciating too quickly, and to maintain their superior value and voice in front of the younger generation, they banded together and created this seniority-based association.
It was precisely because of this hidden fear of their own declining abilities that they harbored such complex emotions when facing a young overlord like Kitahara Shin, who possessed boundless energy, overflowing talent, and utterly unmoved by their ways. Whether it was jealousy or envy, it was more a matter of being unable to let go of that utterly pathetic sense of pride.
Mary Kitagawa, a master manipulator of human nature in the world of fame and fortune, had a firm grasp on this psychology.
"I completely understand what the three seniors have gone through." Mary looked at their fluctuating expressions and her tone became extremely sincere. "Young people these days, relying on their talent and resources, are arrogant and have forgotten even the most basic respect for their teachers. This is a disaster for the traditions of the entire Japanese entertainment industry."
She put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and directly revealed her true purpose for tonight.
"I invited three people here today, and my requirements are very simple."
Mary's eyes sharpened: "I hope that when the three of you return to the set tomorrow, you'll 'show more' your authority as seniors. Don't go along with his so-called innovations; the more he wants something, the more you need to act according to your own rhythm. Even—it would be best if you publicly broke ties with him."
"Enrage him," Mary said, emphasizing each word. "If you can thoroughly enrage Kitahara Shin on set, triggering an open conflict within the crew and escalating the situation, your mission will be accomplished."
Katsuta and the other two were all taken aback.
Openly breaking ties with the producer and lead actor on set is a major taboo in the industry.
Seemingly sensing their concerns, Mary Kitagawa smiled slightly and offered them an ultimate temptation that they simply couldn't refuse.
"If you succeed, not only will a very generous cash reward be immediately deposited into your accounts, but more importantly—"
—
Mary emphasized, "Our Johnny & Associates, along with several large conglomerates that are on good terms with us, will officially endorse your 'Second Division Association.'"
"We will utilize media and industry resources to officially register the 'Nikokai' from a small, informal drinking group of yours into an official organization recognized by the Japan Performing Arts Union, possessing absolute authority in its selection process! At that time, who the true veteran actors and seniors are in this industry will be determined by the three of you."
Upon hearing this promise, Katsuta, Matsuhashi, and Yamazaki's breathing instantly became heavy.
Official endorsement! Granting it absolute authority!
This means they will completely transform from veteran actors who could be eliminated at any time into "referees" who can directly set the rules for ranking actors in the industry! For them, who are extremely eager to maintain their social status, this is simply the most deadly poison.
The three elderly men, who had been feeling down about their daytime setbacks, exchanged glances. In the dim light of the private room, their previously cloudy eyes gleamed with an uncontrollable greed and madness.
The next morning, in a quiet, high-class kendo dojo in Tokyo.
"Bang!"
With a crisp sound of bamboo swords clashing, two figures dressed in neat kendo uniforms clashed and retreated fiercely on the wooden floor.
Kitahara Shin gripped his sword with both hands, his eyes as calm as still water. Opposite him, Kobayakawa Kenta, the son of Diet member Kobayakawa, was panting heavily through his mask, his sword-wielding hand trembling slightly.
In order to defeat Kitahara Shin in kendo, Kobayakawa Kenta secretly studied countless recordings of Kitahara Shin's previous television programs. He believed he had completely figured out Kitahara Shin's starting stance and power generation habits.
But once they actually sparred in the dojo, he was horrified to discover that everything he had seen in the video was a lie! Kitahara Shin was stronger than ever before!
Kitahara Shin held a standard bamboo sword, but the trajectory of his swings was extremely unpredictable. Sometimes it resembled the sweeping movements of a samurai sword, sometimes the angle of his thrusts was like that of a spear, and even in close combat, it carried a touch of the cunning of a rapier. This terrifying sense of oppression, as if he had completely mastered and effortlessly wielded countless techniques of cold weapons, completely shattered Kobayakawa Kenta's predictions.
"Swish—smack!"
Before Kenta Kobayakawa could even catch his breath, Shin Kitahara suddenly quickened his pace, and the bamboo sword deflected his defenses with an incredibly unbelievable arc, stopping steadily in front of his throat guard.
"I lost—" Kenta Kobayakawa helplessly lowered his bamboo sword, completely giving up the fight.
Kitahara Shin abandoned his offensive stance, removed his face shield, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and let out a long breath. The intense exercise had made his mind extremely clear.
At this moment, Kitahara Shin was unaware of the "blacklist" issued at the secret meeting of the conglomerate's top executives last night, as well as Mary Kitagawa's instigation of veteran actors. However, he was never a fool who was completely unprepared.
From the moment he decided to venture into the real economy with billions of dollars and acquire contract manufacturers, he was very clear that he would inevitably encroach on the territory of traditional conglomerates. Capital's retaliation was only a matter of time, and he had been preparing for it all along.
The people in the conglomerate thought that Kitahara Shin was arrogant and conceited, and that he was a clueless young man who didn't know the rules because he hadn't "paid his respects" or joined the Chamber of Commerce when he started his business in a different industry.
But they were wrong. Kitahara Shin wasn't without connections; he simply looked down on those commercial conglomerates that were exploited at every level. He chose to align himself with those who wielded absolute power, directly influencing the operation of the state apparatus—political councilors.
Through the crucial intermediary of Kenta Kobayakawa, Nobu Kitahara had secretly met with Congressman Kobayakawa several times in the past period of time and reached a very deep deal involving a binding exchange of interests.
Kitahara Shin used his own funds and film crew resources to thoroughly "legalize" the most troublesome and troublesome yakuza organizations (gangsters) in Kobayakawa's constituency. He funded the establishment of a legitimate security company, recruited all these thugs, paid their social security and wages, and sent them to work as security guards and production assistants in various film studios and film crews. They even played gangsters in V-Cinema to earn legitimate income.
This move directly eliminated the most serious element of social instability in the area at its root. The previously unsafe neighborhood became a place where doors could be left unlocked at night. This tangible and remarkable "achievement" that could be written into a resume caused Representative Kobayakawa's approval rating to soar.
In return, Representative Kobayakawa not only received covert support from Kitahara Nobu in terms of political funding, but also secretly became the ultimate guarantor for Kitahara Nobu's physical factories and related supply chains.
Kitahara Shin's new company and factory received smooth approvals, tax payments, and access to local channels thanks to the connections this congressman had. With the backing of state power, Kitahara Shin felt confident enough to confront those deeply entrenched business conglomerates head-on.
"Kitahara-kun, your swordsmanship is getting more and more insane. I feel like I'm fighting a monster."
Kenta Kobayakawa removed his protective gear, took a sip of water while making a comment, then, remembering something, turned to Shin Kitahara and said, "By the way, although my father has been very busy with parliamentary affairs lately, he's been privately asking me to ask when you'd be free so he could invite you to his home for a casual meal. But you just started filming your new drama, so you probably don't have much free time, right?"
Kitahara Shin wiped the sweat from his neck with a towel, a calm and sharp glint flashing in his eyes, and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, I've been really busy with the film crew lately. Please give my regards to the councilor." Kitahara Shin patted Kobayakawa Kenta on the shoulder, his tone calm but with a hidden meaning, "After I finish filming this drama and completely resolve all those messy troubles I have, I will definitely pay you a visit in person and have a couple of drinks at your house."
"Okay, then I'll go back and report to him." Kenta Kobayakawa, unsuspecting, nodded with a smile.
After changing their clothes, the two walked out of the kendo dojo side by side.
In the early morning in Tokyo, the bright sunlight shines on the streets, and everything looks so peaceful and serene.
However, beneath this warm sunshine, several massive undercurrents, powerful enough to shake the entire Japanese entertainment industry and real economy, have already taken shape.
It was like the extremely false, yet extremely brief, brilliant sunshine before the arrival of a super storm capable of destroying everything.