26 March 1994 Wednesday Morning
After concluding negotiations with Philips the previous day, Zaboru received an update from Akechi. He informed Zaboru that the CEO of AKAI was ready to enter negotiations. Akechi also mentioned that the owner of AKAI preferred to hold the meeting at ZAGE headquarters—a request that Zaboru readily accepted. For the time being, he returned to his work, awaiting the arrival of the AKAI delegation.
It wasn't long before Yumi, his secretary, informed him that Akechi and the AKAI owner had arrived at ZAGE. Zaboru waited in the meeting room and stood to greet Akechi. "Akechi-san," he said warmly. Akechi nodded and shook his hand firmly.
"And this is...?" Zaboru inquired, turning to the other guest.
The middle-aged man stepped forward and extended his hand. "My name is Hyoga Akai. Pleased to meet you, Renkonan-san."
Zaboru smiled. "Zaboru is fine, Akai-san." He then gestured for both men to sit in nearby chairs.
Without beating around the bush, Zaboru quickly got to the point. "So, Akai-san, you're the owner of AKAI Company, which previously operated in the electronics industry and is now one of Japan's phone manufacturers, correct?"
Hyoga Akai nodded. "Yes, Zaboru-san, that's true."
Zaboru smiled. "I heard from Akechi-san that your company is in trouble."
Akai replied, "Yes, it's true, Zaboru-san. My company is struggling, mainly because we lack funds and support from shareholders. Even so, our current product—the AKAI G-01—has similar specs to the Nokia 2110. Our phone's performance is not lacking!" Akai sighed and continued, "When our AKAI G-01, which was released this January, didn't sell well, the shareholders even tried to forcefully sell their shares! I had to buy them with my own money. That's why I now own 40% of AKAI's shares."
Zaboru smiled. "But... your AKAI G-01 is slightly more expensive than the Nokia 2110, isn't it?"
Akai sighed. "Yes, unfortunately, that's the case. Our production costs are a bit higher, and in order to generate enough profit to support the company's growth, we had no choice but to set a slightly higher price point."
Zaboru nodded, and Akai fumed again. "Japanese people should buy Japanese products! Why do they choose Nokia—a phone made by a foreign company—over ours, a Japanese brand?"
Zaboru chuckled. "That mindset isn't healthy for a business owner, Akai-san. It's not about nationality—it's about preference. People will choose the products they truly like. If we want them to choose ours, we have to make something they genuinely want—something great."
Hyoga Akai sighed. "I know... it's just—I'm really desperate. AKAI is my family's company, and it's always been in decline. I want to make AKAI bigger and more successful. Zaboru-san, is it possible for you to... to help me?"
AKAI is a company that has always lost ground in the electronics industry—they lost to Sonaya and Toshiba. And now, after shifting to mobile phones, they're once again being sidelined by the titan Nokia.
Akai continued, "Akechi owns 40% of AKAI's shares. That's because I asked him to buy them for me—to help me. But now, I've failed." Akechi said nothing; he simply observed the conversation in composed silence, his expression unreadable.
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, okay. So how about this—what if I bought a substantial number of AKAI shares so I could take a more active role and help? I do have solutions to the challenges you're facing."
Akai's eyes lit up with renewed hope. "Yes! I currently hold 40% of the shares. Another 20% is owned by shareholders who are willing to sell. You could purchase those, along with 10% from my shares and Akechi's, and that would make you the majority owner of AKAI." Akechi nodded; he didn't mind selling part of his shares.
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "I'd be the majority owner? Why are you willing to do that?"
Akai met Zaboru's gaze without hesitation. "I... I want to trust you, Zaboru-san. I believe you're the one who can change AKAI's future. I want to take one last gamble to make AKAI big—bigger than Nokia or Sonaya. But I can't do it alone. I need your help, Zaboru-san." Hyoga Akai truly admired Zaboru because he knew that Zaboru had the power to create extraordinary innovations and had single-handedly revived failing industries before. Hyoga believed that if anyone could help turn AKAI around, it was Zaboru.
Zaboru chuckled, recognizing just how deeply invested—and desperate—Hyoga Akai truly was. The man's determination bordered on reckless, but it also revealed his sincerity and commitment to saving his family's company.
"Alright then," Zaboru said with a composed nod, "I agree to buy 40% of AKAI's shares. Let's arrange to meet tomorrow with our legal teams so we can finalize the deal properly."
Akai nodded. "But I'm curious, Zaboru-san—what is your plan for AKAI?"
Zaboru chuckled, leaning back slightly with a knowing smile. "Well, that's a secret for now. You'll have to wait until the deal is sealed. But I can promise you this—it will be something bold."
Akechi observed the exchange silently, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, while Hyoga's face showed a glimmer of anticipation. "Okay then, Zaboru-san. We'll meet again soon," Hyoga said, standing.
Akechi and Akai then took their leave, exiting the ZAGE offices with a renewed sense of purpose.
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "A phone company, huh? That could put a serious strain on ZAGE's budget—but even so, I know how to challenge Nokia's dominance. It's wild how they've managed to capture the global cell phone market so completely. Still... every giant has a weak spot."
He picked up a pen and began writing down a list of what would be required to beat Nokia in the cell phone market—at least in Japan.
To be continued
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