Traveling Through the Tokyo Bubble Era

Chapter 1031 Crescent Moon Trading Company's "Shortcomings"

For Hideki Hanyu, the birth of Shinsuke Itō's son was just a minor incident after he returned to Tokyo.

Accompanied by two beautiful women, Hideki Hanyu rested at the Yorozuya for two days before returning to work.

On the morning of November 20th.

Inside the president's office of the Minato Ward New Moon Trading Company, Hideki Hanyu, who had come for some business in the country, was pushed over by the young lady as soon as he entered.

Hideki Hanyu swears to God that he was completely willing to participate.

After the long, decadent music stopped, Hideki Hanyu, while getting dressed, looked at the buttons on his custom-made shirt that Haruko Naito had torn off. He could only put it on casually for now, giving up on fastening the buttons and temporarily exposing his well-defined, angular chest and abdominal muscles to the air.

After instructing his assistant to fetch him new clothes, Hideki Hanyu turned to look at Haruko Naito, who was still lying on the sofa, looking satisfied but exhausted.

He said in a deliberately mocking tone, "You were so proactive at first, I thought you were so amazing, but it turns out you're just as useless as before."

"Humph……"

Haruko Naito let out a soft snort, still immersed in the afterglow of pleasure, and didn't care about Hideki Hanyu's mockery.

However, when she saw Hideki Hanyu's current look, she couldn't help but light up, her gaze immediately fixed on the open shirt.

Seeing this, Hideki Yuzuru teased, "How come I never noticed before that you're such a little pervert?"

Haruko Naito said, "It's your fault for not coming back for so long after we parted ways in Switzerland."

"I'm doing this for business."

Hideki Yuzuru offered an explanation, then, seeing that Haruko Naito was still watching, asked, "What, are you still planning to overestimate yourself?"

Feeling unwell, Haruko Naito immediately looked away and replied somewhat guiltily, "Let's talk about business. Didn't you come here for work?"

Seeing that Haruko Naito had backed down, Hideki Yuzuru shook his head with amusement. "Alright, let's talk about work then."

Immediately, he casually sat down in Haruko Naito's boss's chair.

Then he directly asked Naito, "What is the biggest weakness of Crescent Moon Trading Company right now?"

"Shortcomings?"

Haruko Naito began to ponder.

Lack of foundation?

Although Shingetsu Trading Co. was only established in early May, it is actually quite strong in terms of industry experience because it acquired Kanematsu and Tomen.

Furthermore, by leveraging her identity, Hideki Hanyu made a deal with Itochu and Marubeni, acquiring some of their resources in the Chinese market.

Moreover, with the support of a large number of companies under Hideki Hanyu, New Moon Trading Co., Ltd. has nothing to lack in terms of regular business.

Therefore, even though Crescent Moon Trading Co., Ltd. was established not long ago, it is not lacking in foundation.

Does Crescent Moon Trading Company have any shortcomings?

In particular, what are its shortcomings when compared with those established trading companies?
In fact, there are still some.

After a moment's thought, several shortcomings came to mind for Haruko Naito.

Of these shortcomings, there are probably two that have the biggest gaps.

The first thing is investment.

Established large-scale trading companies such as Mitsui, Itochu, and Marubeni have long since expanded their business scope beyond trade, and even make direct investments for their own development.

For example, Mitsui has invested heavily in mineral resources in Africa.

Tadanori Ito has made a variety of investments in Southeast Asia, with his real estate and factories flourishing everywhere.

Marubeni, on the other hand, prefers to buy large farms in Oceania, and so on.

Neither Kanematsu nor Tomen had undertaken this aspect before, and the newly established Shingetsu Trading Company simply couldn't afford to, not even having any related plans or departments.

After all, the main task of Crescent Moon Trading is to serve Hideki Hanyu's industries, stabilize its own core trading business, and rapidly expand its business scale in China.

Hideki Hanyu was aware of this decision, so he definitely wasn't asking about that.

Thinking about this, Haruko Naito pointed out the second major shortcoming that Shingetsu Trading Co., Ltd. had in mind, which was the biggest gap between it and the established general trading companies.

"Is what Yuzuru-kun is trying to say about energy trade?"

Hideki Hanyu clicked his tongue in praise, "Truly worthy of Haruko."

"No matter how optimistic Hanyu-kun is about the future of the Chinese market, New Moon Trading must ultimately be based in Japan."

While we have no shortage of regular trade business in Japan, we have almost no share in energy import trade, which is the most important for general trading companies and the most important for enhancing their industry standing.

If Crescent Trading Company wants to develop, the most crucial weakness it needs to address is its reliance on energy imports.

After explaining her reasons, Haruko Naito sat up straight and looked intently at Hideki Hanyu.

"Since Mr. Yuzuru is willing to tell me about this, does that prove that Mr. Yuzuru has already found a solution?"

Hideki Hanyu smiled slightly, "That's right."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Haruko Naito looked surprised. "How did you do that, Hanyu-kun?"

In Japan, energy imports may seem like a business, but it's not as simple as it appears.

Because of the scarcity of resources in Japan, energy trade often represents a "privileged" significance that transcends trade itself for Japan's general trading companies.

Therefore, even Haruko Naito's uncle couldn't help her in this matter.

So before Hideki Hanyu could answer, Haruko Naito impatiently pressed on, "What about the quota? How did you resolve the import quota issue, Hanyu-kun?"

"Actually, I have been a member of the board of directors of Neon Oil & Gas Co., Ltd. for a long time. In recent years, I have increased my voice on the board through other means."

So, as long as I'm willing, the share isn't a problem for me at all; it's just that I haven't done it before.

Hideki Hanyu explained it in a nonchalant way.

But to Haruko Naito, it sounded like a thunderclap.

She knew absolutely nothing about it, not even a whisper of it.

Thinking this, the woman immediately twisted her body, snuggled into Hideki Yuzuru's arms with a resentful expression, hooked her arms around the scumbag's neck, and asked, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Hideki Hanyu replied, "Because the external conditions are not yet mature, premature actions will not maximize the benefits."

"And now?" Haruko Naito asked.

"Of course, the external conditions are ripe, and with the support of your Crescent Moon Business, we have both internal and external advantages, and it's time to make our move."

After finishing his sentence, Hideki Hanyu lowered his voice and told Haruko Naito something else.

This outlines the general scope of his cooperation with America's interest groups in the Middle East.

He then added that Crescent Moon Trading Co.'s entry into the energy trade sector involves not only Japan but also China.

Hearing this, Haruko Naito asked with some concern, "In China, what if...?"

Knowing what Haruko Naito was worried about, Hideki Hanyu immediately explained, "Don't worry, the business is run by American merchants."

With just this one sentence, Haruko Naito understood that Hideki Hanyu's influence in America had exceeded her expectations.

She recalled hearing that Hideki Hanyu wielded considerable influence in America, possessing a complex and intricate network of connections, and could even leverage America's power to influence Japan itself. Initially, she thought these were just rumors, exaggerated by many or meant to flatter Hanyu.

But now it seems that the truth is even more exaggerated than the legend.

The rumors that Hideki Hanyu can directly influence the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Department may very well be true.

Thinking this, Haruko Naito's gaze towards Hideki Hanyu gradually filled with admiration, but along with that admiration came a hint of resentment.

She complained that there were too many things Hideki Hanyu didn't know.

With this in mind, Haruko Naito looked at Hideki Hanyu's open chest.

The next moment, Hideki Hanyu suddenly exclaimed.

"Ouch! Why did you bite me?"

As Naito Haruko gently bit his chest through her open shirt, Hideki Hanyu was completely bewildered.

"Hmph, who told you to do things without telling me!"

The haughty young lady said indignantly.

Hideki Hanyu said irritably, "How can you blame me for this?"

"It's your fault!"

As Naito Haruko spoke, she was no longer satisfied with just talking and directly reached down to scoop something out.

Upon seeing this, the scumbag immediately revealed a sinister smile.

"You forced me to do this."

“Ami…”

"It's too late to regret now."
-
Hideki Hanyu's visit to New Moon Trading Company was to discuss more than just energy trade with Haruko Naito.

However, this matter is of utmost importance to Crescent Moon Trading Company at present.

Having made up for this shortcoming, Shingetsu Trading Co., Ltd. has completely established itself in Japan and qualified to enter the first tier of general trading companies.

This was something that Kanematsu and Tomen would never have dared to even dream of before.

Most importantly, Hideki Hanyu relied on the Origin Group to prepare both the external supply side and the internal consumption side.

With this long-term business, Crescent Moon Trading Company was guaranteed a steady income regardless of circumstances, making it difficult for it to decline.

As for whether Crescent Moon Trading Co., Ltd. will become entangled with traditional energy groups in Japan due to energy trade, thus becoming a traditional force hindering the development of Japanese technology.

For Hideki Hanyu, that's decades into the future, so worrying about it now is pointless.

Besides, as a time traveler, he wouldn't care at all whether Japan's technological development would be hindered.

As for work outside of energy trade, they basically covered everything in the following playful banter between the two.

When it got to the afternoon, Hideki Hanyu changed into the clothes his assistant had brought him, and then went to Setagaya Ward with Haruko Naito.

Upon entering the home of Haruko Naito's mother, Eimi Naito, Hideki Hanyu, as expected, saw Haruko Naito's uncle, Yuichi Asada, in addition to Eimi Naito.

"President Asada, it's been a long time."

Hideki Hanyu had a fairly good impression of this senior executive at Marubeni, with whom he had a pleasant working relationship.

Of course, this is also related to the fact that he abducted someone else's niece without any legal status.

Of course, that's all there is to it, since feelings of guilt simply don't exist in the hearts of scumbags.

Let alone Haruko Naito, even the eldest daughter of the Samsung family was still cheated on by him without Lee Geon-hee knowing.

"President Yuzuru, good evening. I never expected to run into you when I came just to visit my sister."

Yuichi Asada's face was full of "what a coincidence" expression, but Hideki Hanyu didn't believe it at all.

It's highly likely that Haruko Naito told her mother she was coming home for dinner, and Eimi Naito then told her younger brother about her upcoming visit.

However, he did not yet know why Yuichi Asada had come to see him.

But it was clearly not for casual conversation.

As Hideki Hanyu and Haruko Naito sat down to enjoy the dinner prepared by Eimi Naito, the conversation quickly shifted from everyday banter to business matters.

At first, Yuichi Asada only talked about Marubeni's current and future business plans.

Hideki Hanyu was quite interested in this.

Although he is very successful in his career now, he never really looks down on Marubeni.

The future Marubeni will be a general trading company with annual revenue of nearly 100 billion US dollars at its peak.

It is even hailed by the outside world as a super entity that has already become a "conglomerate".

With diversified investments, stable business, massive industrial scale, and impressive net profit and cash flow, it is far superior to many companies that are famous on the surface but operate with trepidation.

Its food and grain sector alone makes it one of the world's largest grain trading groups.

Marubeni entered the domestic market in the late 1970s and has been developing its business for decades. During this period, it has invested in nearly 200 companies and has a presence in industries such as fertilizer, feed, agricultural breeding and processing, and storage and transportation.

If this description is still not clear enough, then let's compare it with the two most "famous" companies under Hideki Hanyu's control today.

One is Cloud Entertainment, and the other is Elf Entertainment.

If both companies continue to develop at their normal pace within the industry, and Hideki Hanyu does not intervene further, their combined future revenue may not even match that of Marubeni.

So looking at a company's reputation is useless; the industry's ceiling determines everything.

Decades later in another timeline, if you were to ask the average person which they are more familiar with, Nintendo or Marubeni, the answer would undoubtedly be the former.

However, Nintendo's annual revenue is only a fraction of the latter's.

In terms of status and importance in the business world, or influence at the top, the former is worlds apart from the latter.

Of course, in this timeline, Hideki Hanyu's creation of Elf Entertainment is far superior to Nintendo in another timeline.

Furthermore, Yunshang Entertainment's position in the entertainment media industry cannot be simply defined by revenue.

After all, the influence of public opinion is often difficult to measure in terms of value.

But for Hideki Hanyu, this is far from enough.

That's why he acquired Tohoku Chemical Co., Ltd. in a shrewd, acquisition-like manner, using every means to develop it into the current Origin Group.

He then used existing resources to acquire Kanematsu and Tomen, creating a comprehensive trading company under his control.

Because Hideki Hanyu is very clear that only when he himself is strong enough will his position in other interest groups be more secure, such as the Pachinko Copyright Business Alliance, the Xidu Group, and so on.

While thinking about these things, Hideki Hanyu finally heard Yuichi Asada get to the point.

"Marubeni is interested in collaborating with Chairman Hanyu on retail business. I wonder if Chairman Hanyu is interested?"

　I got back too late today, so I didn't have time to catch up on yesterday's content. I'll look at it tomorrow or the day after when I have time.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)