Yoshikawa paused, then continued, "Kazuo Hirai has been in the U.S. for so many years, his English is even better than his Japanese. He can chat with university administrators without any barriers. But here I am, a proud Sega board member, sitting in a state legislator's office, having to wait for a translator to relay my words, then wait again for their reply, all while trying to keep a smile on my face. By the end of a meeting, my mouth is practically sore from smiling."
Takuya Nakayama couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Yoshikawa shot him a glare, but soon joined in the laughter himself.
"Seriously though," Yoshikawa said, his expression turning serious as he pushed the documents across the table. "This trip made one thing clear: Sega's business in North America is growing rapidly, but I've been handling the public relations side all along. Tom is our C0, and his energy needs to be focused on strategic decisions, not endless dinners and handshakes with politicians. Sega of North America needs a dedicated PR Director to manage government relations and public affairs. Bernard's connections are mostly in Hollywood, and he can't cover everything effectively. I've already discussed this with Tom, and he agrees."
Takuya Nakayama flipped through the stack of documents, which contained several visit records and memoranda of cooperation, all neatly formatted and meticulously prepared.
"No issues here. This position definitely needs to be filled," he said, placing the documents back on the desk. "Any leads on candidates?"
"Tom is looking into it, and I'll keep an eye out as well," Yoshikawa said, taking another sip of his tea. After a pause, his tone shifted to a more casual one. "Takuya, off the subject for a moment..."
"Please, go ahead."
"You're pushing Sega forward too quickly."
The remark came suddenly, but Yoshikawa's expression wasn't critical; it was more wistful.
"I've been in public relations for so many years. Before, it would take me half a day to explain what Sega does to government officials, and they'd barely understand. It's different now. When I visit California legislators, their secretaries recognize the Sega name and immediately schedule the earliest possible appointment. The Dean of UCLA even proactively asked if Sega was interested in establishing a scholarship at the university."
He set down his teacup.
"These changes have all happened in the last few years. Sometimes, an old timer like me can barely keep up with the pace."
Takuya Nakayama shook his head. "Uncle Yoshikawa, you're too modest. The smooth functioning of our government relations in Japan is entirely thanks to your efforts."
"That's thanks to you," Yoshikawa said with a relaxed tone. "The projects you led, like Disaster Relief Little Hero, have really impressed the disaster prevention department. Ace Attorney has been well-received by the legal system, and even Taiko no Tatsujin has been adopted by local governments for cultural promotion events.
With these successes under our belt, I've saved so much effort when negotiating public partnerships. The government now sees Sega as a socially responsible company, and many approval processes are running much smoother than before."
Takuya Nakayama nodded but remained silent.
Yoshikawa watched him for a moment before changing the subject. "However, the Public Relations Department is definitely understaffed."
"Hmm?"
"I can't keep doing this forever," Yoshikawa said frankly. "We need to train a few deputies who can handle things independently. Otherwise, when you take over..."
He paused.
Takuya Nakayama's teacup froze mid-air.
Yoshikawa smiled and finished the sentence. "When you become President, if the PR Department has no successor, we can't expect the President to personally shake hands with every politician, can we?"
Takuya Nakayama placed his teacup back on the table, his expression complex.
"Uncle Yoshikawa, this matter—"
"Stop pretending," Yoshikawa waved him off. "Your father already spoke to me. Not just me, but Hattori, Terauchi, everyone who needed to know, knows. You think we haven't noticed you visiting the board members one by one these past few months?"
Takuya Nakayama remained silent.
"Let me tell you the truth," Yoshikawa leaned forward. "You must have heard your father mention the 1982 incident. Nintendo's North American campaign against the GG, the one with the slogan 'SEGA gives you cancer.'"
"I've heard of it."
"At the time, Sega's market share in North America was pitifully small, and Nintendo was crushing us, suffocating us. When the GG came out, Hayao was so angry he couldn't sleep for three days. I went with him to a law firm, but we found that in that market environment, suing would have been pointless." Yoshikawa lowered his voice. "I still remember that feeling of helplessness."
He straightened up and looked at Takuya Nakayama.
"Everything you've done these past few years, both in Japan and North America, has knocked Nintendo off its throne and propelled Sega to the top of the industry. This isn't just a business victory; for us old-timers who've been through it all since the 80s, it's like finally releasing a breath we've been holding for over a decade."
The office fell silent for a few seconds.
"That's why I wholeheartedly support your promotion to President. It's not just me; many of our long-standing shareholders recognize you. A major reason is that you've restored their pride. You don't need to be so cautious. The title you deserve will come naturally."
Takuya Nakayama remained silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.
"Thank you, Uncle Yoshikawa."
"No need for thanks." Yoshikawa picked up his teacup, found it empty, and set it down. "I just wanted to remind you—the team I'll be training in the PR department will be new to the job and won't have my experience. Their fundamentals will be solid, but their adaptability and finesse will need time to develop. I'd appreciate it if you'd be patient with them."
"I'm already grateful for you cultivating talent for me," Takuya said, then paused as if remembering something. "But Uncle Yoshikawa, could I ask you to keep an eye on another area for me?"
"What direction?"
"The Greater China Region."
Yoshikawa blinked in surprise. "China? Isn't Terauchi keeping an eye on that? Supply chains and government relations are already quite stable. You specifically instructed him to stay close to the government, stay away from politics, report frequently, and avoid getting involved in other matters. What's going on? Did something happen?"
"Nothing's happened, exactly." Takuya Nakayama hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's just that I might be developing a cross-China, Japan, and South Korea film and television project."
"Film and television?" Yoshikawa's eyebrows rose.
"Rurouni Kenshin, the manga Nobuhiro Watsuki serialized in Shonen Jump." Takuya Nakayama briefly explained the situation. "While negotiating the game rights, Watsuki himself brought up the idea of a live-action adaptation, wanting to emulate the style of Chinese wuxia films. The conversation just flowed naturally, and before I knew it, I'd signed the film and television rights too."
Yoshikawa's expression was priceless.
"You went to negotiate game rights and ended up signing the film and television rights as well?"
"The process was indeed rather absurd." Takuya Nakayama chuckled.
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