Traveling through the Tokyo bubble era

Chapter 790 Commissioner Smith's Friendship
Whenever it is December at the end of the year, Tokyo, the most prosperous megacity in the world, always becomes extremely lively.

New Year is approaching.

Celebrity artists attend award ceremonies and participate in New Year programs, providing the most abundant spiritual food for ordinary Japanese people.

Japanese companies from all walks of life held receptions to connect with important stakeholders and partners before the New Year.

Internally, a series of grand or lively year-end parties are held to celebrate the New Year, reward employees, and make a final summary of the year's achievements.

Even the officials will take the opportunity to hold various activities.

Today is also December 12th.

Hideki Hanyu was invited to attend an official event jointly organized by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry, which would later become the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The reason why these two departments have to hold it jointly is because the theme of this event is mainly business-oriented, and it is an important event related to Japan's future overseas economic investment and development.

It not only involves Japan's business community, but also invites many overseas companies and foreign officials to participate.

On the way to the main venue of the event in Chiyoda Ward, Hideki Hanyu sat in the back seat of a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit.

Next to him sat his female companion who was attending today's event.

She is not a lady from a wealthy family, nor a celebrity beauty.

Instead, it was his important business partner, private friend, and the president of Elf Communications, Eri Kitahara.

Kitahara Eri looked at her friend with a new look of white hair and asked in a teasing tone, "Has Hanyu-san been abandoned by his lovers?"

"Abandoned?"

Hideki Hanyu turned his head with a puzzled expression, and then said without thinking.

"Kitahara-san, do you think I would care about that?

And I am the only one in this world who abandons others, no one can abandon me."

"Hanyu-san is really heartless." Kitahara Eri said in an exaggerated manner.

Hanyu Hideki rolled his eyes at his friend, "Since when did Kitahara-san start to care about my feelings? And why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Kitahara Eri spread her hands, "I just feel that Hanyu-san suddenly asked me to be his female companion instead of some other beautiful woman. This is not in line with Hanyu-san's style."

"For today's event, I asked Kitahara-san to be my female companion. Of course, I have my own purpose."

Hanyu Hideki said, also teasing skillfully, "Could it be that because of my invitation, Kitahara-san delayed the date with her boyfriend, Kosan-san, so Kitahara-san is a little unhappy.

You two have been dating for so long, even if you don't want to get married, you should find some time to talk about engagement.

I have been waiting to be Kitahara-san's witness. If I delay any longer, Kitahara-san will be 35 years old. "

As soon as Hanyu Hideki mentioned his age, Kitahara Eri immediately became anxious.

He immediately emphasized loudly, "What do you mean thirty-five? I will only be thirty-three after the New Year."

"Really? Kitahara-san is sure?"

Hideki Hanyu had an innocent look in his eyes, pretending to be confused.

As a friend of many years, he knew how to make Kitahara Eri angry.

As expected, Kitahara Eri immediately said confidently in her seat, "Yes! I'm sure!"

However, after saying this loudly, Kitahara Eri sighed immediately afterwards.

“Hey, Xiaoshansang and I had originally agreed to go to his house this New Year to discuss our engagement, but I didn’t expect the stock market to suddenly experience such a big change.

He told me that his family was also severely affected, so he had to postpone the engagement."

Kitahara Eri said this, looking out the window at Tokyo. "After the stock market problems, this New Year has become deserted. Many of our partners' operations have been affected, and even the year-end reception has been cancelled."

Hideki Hanyu also looked out of the car window and felt that the originally dazzling modern city seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze because of the sharp drop in the stock market.

But after hearing what Kitahara Eri said, he spoke as if he was talking to himself.

“The sudden stock market crash is just a superficial phenomenon. It is actually a starting signal for the Japanese economy to turn from prosperity to decline after the carnival from reality to virtuality.

The tightening of the financial market will inevitably affect the flow of funds, and in turn affect various industries in Japan that now rely entirely on loans for operation and expansion.

Yasushi Mieno wanted to achieve a soft landing for the Japanese economy, but no one realized, or perhaps no one dared to admit, that behind the economic prosperity of the past few years, the foundation supporting the Japanese economy had been destroyed bit by bit by Japan itself.

Therefore, rather than saying that the stock market crash was too sudden, it is better to say that the central bank's adjustments indirectly stimulated the neon economy and brought it back to its true position from its false height. "

Kitahara Eri asked, "Are you so pessimistic about the future of the Japanese economy, Hanyu-san?"

Hanyu Hideki shook his head and said, "It's just a matter of abandoning illusions and facing reality.

And what I am really pessimistic about is not the neon economy.

The economic foundation accumulated by Neon over the past few decades cannot be completely destroyed by a huge crisis.

Next, Japan may suffer a tragic lesson that will last for decades, but it will not collapse yet.”

Kitahara Eri asked curiously, "Then what makes Hanyu-san so pessimistic?"

Hanyu Hideki replied, "It's confidence, it's the overall belief of Japanese society.

Over the past few decades, Japan's rapid development has accumulated not only huge wealth, but also the national confidence and national faith that were re-consolidated with the help of post-war economic development.

Look at all the praise that everyone gave to Akio Morita's book, and look at all the people cheering for Mitsubishi's acquisition of Rockefeller Center.

At a time when Japan's economy is at its most prosperous and national self-confidence and faith in the country are at their highest, if there is a sudden economic disaster, it will completely destroy everything.

This would be something even more terrifying than destroying the neon economy.

Mr. Kitahara wonders, how many more years will it take for Japan to bring all of this together again?

And will this completely different world give Neon a chance to reunite? "

Faced with Hideki Hanyu's question, Eri Kitahara didn't know how to answer.

And Hideki Hanyu naturally knows the answer.

That means there will never be a chance to reunite.

After a tragic economic hard landing, faced with the complete collapse of national faith, no matter what stimulus policies Japan formulates, it will be of no avail.

The entire Japanese society was completely reshaped, and the low-desire Heisei otaku stepped onto the stage of history, quietly bidding farewell to the passionate backs of their Showa predecessors.

At least in the era before Hideki Hanyu traveled through time, he did not see any signs of improvement in Neon, and it was even getting worse.

At this time, Kitahara Eri spoke.

"So Hanyu-san brought me to the event today, is this also related to this?"

Hanyu Hideki nodded, "Yes, I have said that the current stock market crash is just the beginning. For a long time to come, economic problems will affect and reshape all aspects of the entire Japanese society, including the cultural and entertainment industry.

Elf entertainment and elf communication need to find their own position in the tide of change. In order to survive, we must adapt to social and cultural changes.

What is happening now may be a disaster for others, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us.”

Kitahara Eri is self-aware and knows that she does not have the long-term strategic vision of Hanyu Hideki, so she did not make any guesses but asked directly.

"What do you need me to do, Hanyu-san?"

Hanyu Hideki asked, "Do you remember the cooperation agreement we signed with Sanrio?"

Kitahara Eri asked, "Sanrio, the company that owns the Hello Kitty brand?"

It is no wonder that Eri Kitahara is so unfamiliar with Sanrio. It can only be said that today's Hello Kitty has not been reborn in the cultural changes of Japanese society, nor has it launched other family images that became popular in later generations, so it has not reached the same heights as later generations.

Therefore, compared with Elf Communication, which has dominated the global cultural toy market with the help of the image of Elf entertainment games, the two companies are not on the same level at all.

Therefore, it is normal that Kitahara Eri, the president of Elf Communications, is not clear about the future development and does not attach much importance to Sanrio.

Hanyu Hideki said, "Yes, it is this Sanrio."

Kitahara Eri recalled carefully, "When I signed the cooperation agreement, I looked at their information.

They had made good progress in the past few years, not only building their own amusement park, but also entering the financial market after going public.

They wanted to expand into the international market and cooperate with us. In order to obtain our channels and financial support, they also mortgaged a portion of their shares to us in the agreement, which seemed to be linked to the stock price. "

Having said that, Kitahara Eri seemed to have understood something.

She looked at Hanyu Hideki and asked, "The stock market has fallen recently. Has Sanrio also fallen?"

Hanyu Hideki said, “Yes, it is about to fall below the price agreed in the agreement.”

Kitahara Eri asked, "Hanyu-san, do you think highly of Sanrio?"

Hanyu Hideki said, "To be precise, I am optimistic about the Hello Kitty image. I think it still has great market potential and may be very suitable for the future Japanese social culture."

Hideki Hanyu thought, how could he not be optimistic.

Hello Kitty is a brand image that will be worth more than 80 billion US dollars in the future. One cat can compete with the entire Pokémon family.

What is more important than the price is the market influence and dominance that Hello Kitty can bring to the company.

If Elf Communication wants to become a giant in the world's entertainment toy derivative industry in the future, the stronger its own brand moat should be, the better.

Kitahara Eri frowned, "But according to the cooperation agreement between Sanrio and us, even if all of the shares are given to us as agreed due to the drop in the stock price, the shares will not exceed 20%. It is difficult for us to take over Sanrio through the agreement."

"Yes, but what if you add this?"

Hanyu Hideki took out a document and handed it to Kitahara Eri beside him.

After opening it and looking through it, Kitahara Eri found that it was a financial investment contract. The service provider was the financial company established by Sanrio, and it involved many aspects such as the stock market and foreign exchange.

According to today's stock market trend which continues to plummet, this contract is already on the verge of default. Sanrio, which serves as collateral, will need to pay a horrific sum of money.

Although the service contract with Sanrio was signed with a company that Kitahara Eri did not know.

But when the contract was handed to her by Hanyu Hideki, how could Kitahara Eri not understand what was going on?

She asked directly, "Did Hanyu-san and Sanrio sign the contract?"

Hanyu Hideki admitted, "It is a company I specially established."

Kitahara Eri asked again, "This contract, as well as the cooperation between Sanrio and Elf Communications, were all planned by Hanyu-san a long time ago, right?"

Hanyu-san admitted again, “That’s right.”

Kitahara Eri finally showed a surprised expression, "Hanyu-san has already started to plot against Sanrio so early?"

Hanyu Hideki said, "How can it be called calculation? I just had high hopes for Sanrio a long time ago."

Kitahara Eri couldn't help but complain, "It's really a terrifying thing to be favored by Hanyu-san."

Hanyu Hideki smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment."

After saying that, he pointed to the documents in Kitahara Eri's hand.

“The president of Sanrio will appear at the event tonight. From what I understand, he is here to resolve Sanrio’s predicament.

In this case, with this financial investment contract and the agreement they signed with Elf Communications, is there any problem for Kitahara-san to take over Sanrio?"

Kitahara said, "If they are willing to cooperate, then that will definitely be enough."

Hanyu Hideki said in a domineering tone, "I have arranged for people to take action against Sanrio in the stock market. If they don't cooperate, I will force them to cooperate."

Kitahara Eri asked in confusion, "Since Hanyu-san has everything ready, why don't you do it yourself? Why do you have to let me do it instead of you?"

Hanyu Hideki raised two fingers and replied.

“First of all, Kitahara-san is the president of Spirit Communications. Although I helped a little, it is only natural for Kitahara-san to handle this matter.

Second, I have been very busy recently and have no time to deal with Sanrio. Even if I came to participate in this official event today, it was not for Sanrio, but for other people. "

Kitahara Eri asked curiously, "For whom?"

Hanyu Hideki shook his head. "He's just a personal friend. Kitahara-san doesn't need to know."

As soon as he said this, Kitahara Eri understood that it would be better for her not to know what Hanyu Hideki came here to do or who he wanted to meet today.

In order to change the subject, Kitahara Eri immediately asked about another matter. "I saw some news about Tohoku Energy yesterday. The stock price seemed to have fallen sharply. Is it okay, Hanyu-san?"

Hanyu Hideki spread his hands and said nonchalantly, "It fell 7% yesterday and 12% today."

"Uh! It sounds very serious. Aren't you worried, Hanyu-san?" Kitahara Eri asked with some confusion.

"I cashed out most of my Tohoku Energy shares before, so my loss was not as big as I thought," Hanyu said.

Kitahara Eri slapped her forehead and said, "I almost forgot that you were raising funds to compete with Panasonic for MCA Universal."

Who would have thought that Hideki Hanyu would say, "Who said that I sold the shares of listed companies to raise funds to compete with Panasonic for MCA Global?"

Kitahara Eri said, “Isn’t that how the media reports it?”

Hanyu Hideki said helplessly, "You have my phone number, so why bother reading those unreliable reports in the media? I am selling my shares for other reasons, and it has nothing to do with the acquisition of MCA Global."

Kitahara Eri asked, "Now that things have come to this, do you still want to acquire MCA Global? I heard that Panasonic's stock price is not doing very well."

"Of course I have to acquire it. If the competitor has problems, isn't that the best news for me?"

Hanyu Hideki said with a mysterious smile, "But in this situation, we can ask MCA Global to wait for a while. I want to create some trouble for Panasonic first so that they will give up."

Kitahara Eri was surprised and asked, "Is this another plan by Hanyu-san?"

Hanyu Hideki blinked, "Guess?"

"I……"

Kitahara Eri wanted to continue asking, but before she could say anything, she saw Hanyu Hideki open the car door and walk out.

Only then did she realize that while she was concentrating on chatting with Hanyu Hideki, the car had already arrived at the event venue.

After hurriedly putting away the contract in her hand, Eri Kitahara followed Hideki Hanyu out of the car.

Next, Hideki Hanyu brought Eri Kitahara into the event site.

After some polite exchanges, Hanyu Hideki first helped Kitahara Eri find the target of this trip, the president of Sanrio who was chatting everywhere.

Not long after Eri Kitahara went to see the president of Sanrio, a white man found Hideki Hanyu.

There were a lot of foreign faces at today's event because many foreign institutions, companies and even embassy staff were invited.

Hideki Hanyu has many investments overseas and is an international celebrity, so it is not surprising that foreign guests seek him out.

However, after this man found Hanyu Hideki, he exchanged some seemingly polite words, but before leaving, he left something.

"Mr. Smith is waiting for you in room ***."

Hearing this, Hanyu Hideki nodded slightly.

Not long after that, Hideki Hanyu disappeared from the event and appeared in the room the white man mentioned without anyone noticing.

The moment he closed the door of the room, he saw a middle-aged white man in a blue suit standing on the balcony, holding a glass of red wine.

When the white man found out that it was Hideki Hanyu who came in, he immediately greeted him warmly.

"Seraphim, it's great to meet you. Friends in Washington DC, let me say hello to you on their behalf."

Hearing this new name that had become well-known among his network of contacts in Europe and the United States because of Monica Bellucci's manipulation, Hideki Hanyu knew that he could not change it and could only accept it with pleasure.

He walked up to the middle-aged white man and hugged him in a friendly manner.

“I am also very happy to meet you, Commissioner Smith, and I will go to Washington DC to entertain those friends in person when I have time.

But you know the current situation in Japan. The stock market has experienced an unprecedented crisis, so for the time being, Karl Mapp can only express my gratitude to everyone on my behalf."

After the hug, Hanyu Hideki sat on the chair on the balcony at the invitation of Commissioner Smith.

Commissioner Smith pointed to the crowd of people attending the event under the balcony and asked with some confusion.

"I really can't understand why you are so cautious when meeting me, given your wealth and power, and the support of your friends in Washington DC."

Hanyu Hideki smiled and said, “Of course this is for my friends, and for you, Commissioner Smith, to consider.

The media relations between Japan and America are already not good, and the world situation is unpredictable. No one can predict what will happen next.

In this situation, I am worried that our friendship will bring unnecessary trouble to everyone.

Therefore, it is better for our friendship to be known only to us.”

After hearing what Hanyu Hideki said, Commissioner Smith also smiled and said, "It is a blessing to be friends with you, Seraphim, because you always consider us so thoughtfully."

"Haha, this is what I should do as a friend."

Hanyu Hideki said as he reached out and took two file bags from Marco behind him and handed them to Commissioner Smith.

Commissioner Smith did not answer, but asked cautiously, "What is this?"

Hanyu Hideki still smiled and said, "I've already said it, this is what I should do as a friend."

Upon hearing this, Commissioner Smith put down the red wine in his hand, carefully took the two file bags, and opened them one by one to check.

Soon, as Commissioner Smith finished reading the two file bags, the caution in his eyes disappeared, and only joy and gratitude remained.

Looking at Commissioner Smith's eyes, Hanyu Hideki asked calmly.

"Is Commissioner Smith satisfied with my gift?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied!"

Commissioner Smith expressed his gratitude and carefully put away the two file bags.

The things in these two document bags are not cash, checks, or stock transfer documents.

After all, Hideki Hanyu is not stupid enough to directly give such a thing to the other party.

The rules of the game in America don't allow him to play like this.

The two things he gave the other party were actually very simple.

One of them was an offer letter from Morgan Stanley, one of the four largest investment banks on Wall Street, sent to Commissioner Smith’s eldest daughter who had just graduated from college.

The other one is for Commissioner Smith's son who is about to graduate from high school. It contains a letter of recommendation and all the materials that can help his son enter the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, his favorite school.

After putting away the briefcase, Commissioner Smith expressed his sincere gratitude to Hanyu Hideki, and even made some inappropriate promises in his excitement.

Faced with such Commissioner Smith, Hideki Hanyu couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Didn’t those so-called public intellectuals in the past often say that American children are very independent and will be kicked out of the house by their parents and left to fend for themselves when they grow up?
But look at Commissioner Smith in front of him. He is almost abandoning his principles just for the sake of his two children.

However, while he was complaining in his heart, he immediately interrupted Commissioner Smith in order to prevent him from continuing to talk nonsense.

"You're welcome, Commissioner Smith. This is just a small gesture of kindness from a friend."

"Yes, we are friends, we are friends," Commissioner Smith said repeatedly.

Hanyu Hideki then added, "I have some idle funds on hand recently. When Commissioner Smith's daughter starts working at Morgan Stanley, I can give it to her to manage. I have great trust in my friend's children."

First, a job was given to Commissioner Smith's daughter, and then performance was given.

Hanyu Hideki's combo instantly made Commissioner Smith, who had calmed down a little, excited again. He kept thanking and saying something like "we are friends."

Hideki Hanyu struck while the iron was hot and spoke to Commissioner Smith in a casual manner.

"Recently, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Division is investigating a case similar to the Recruit bribery case. Does Commissioner Smith know about this?"

"Of course I know. My friends in Washington DC have already told me about this. Let me help you..."

Commissioner Smith stopped talking suddenly in the middle of his speech.

He finally remembered that there were some things he could do but could not say.

Hanyu Hideki ignored Commissioner Smith's gaffe.

Nor did he look at Commissioner Smith’s face.

He just said it in a nonchalant tone.

"The current investigation is too perfunctory, I am very dissatisfied, and my friends should understand what to do next."

"Sir, please don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Hanyu Hideki smiled again and raised his wine glass to Commissioner Smith.

"Cheers to friendship."

"For friendship."
-
Wednesday, December 13th.

Tama Financial Corporation is no longer as lively as it was a few days ago.

One third of the people who originally surrounded Honma were taken away by the Special Investigation Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

After the stock market crash in the past few days, the monkeys scatter like monkeys when the tree falls. In the messy office, only the struggling Honma and a few others are left.

"I haven't failed yet, I still have a chance, I still have a chance."

Honma, trapped in the sofa, did not want to give up and was still trying to find the last chance of survival.

Although Northeast Energy, in which he had invested the most, had completely trapped him due to the sharp drop in its share price.

But I don’t know if it’s because of the sudden stock market crash that affected the financial institutions that provided mortgage loans to Ben Jian and others, so that no one has come to collect debts from them in the past few days.

Moreover, after his accomplices were taken away by the Special Investigation Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, it seemed that they did not uncover anything substantial, and he was not implicated for the time being.

This made Honma feel that this was the last chance God gave him.

Although the situation was bad, his family had many years of business experience at the local and upper levels, so there was still room for improvement.

As long as the stock market does not continue to plummet indefinitely, and as long as the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department does not investigate him for the time being, he still has time to raise funds, smooth relations, and then save himself.

Thinking of this, Honma decided to call a friend of his family in a higher position to seek help.

After all, the other party had made a lot of money in the stock market by relying on him. If he failed this time, the other party would also be finished.

But before Honma could dial the number, the phone rang first.

Honma's short and fat body trembled violently and he was somewhat afraid to answer the phone.

But the rapid ringing of the phone finally made him pick up the phone.

"I'm Honma."

The next moment, the roar of the younger brother who stayed behind in the family was heard over the phone.

"Honma! What on earth did you do? Why would a yakuza come to our house to collect debts? Why would those worms from the gutter dare to challenge our family!
They said you mortgaged your family property and land to them. What on earth is going on? What on earth did you do in Tokyo?
answer me!
Asshole, say something!
idiot……"

Faced with his brother's angry questioning, Honma was speechless.

The arrogance of being a superior person in the past no longer exists in the current desperate situation where he is surrounded by enemies and has no other options.

He also had no idea why the formal financial institution introduced to him by his partner and which generously lent him money was connected with the yakuza.

He didn't know how or what to explain.

Even... there is no chance to explain.

Because a man in a black suit has come up to him.

"Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Division, Kyusuke Araki.

We suspect that Mr. Honma is involved in several cases involving official bribery and we need your cooperation in our investigation."

……

December 14th, Friday.

After the Neon stock market fell for two consecutive weeks, with the whole situation gloomy, Yunshang Satellite TV suddenly broke the news.

"The aftermath of the Recruit bribery case has resurfaced. According to the latest investigation report from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Division, several core members of the Jimei Party were involved in a new type of stock bribery case, and many local forces in Tokyo were also involved..."

(End of this chapter)