Traveling Through the Tokyo Bubble Era

Chapter 1066 A Wonderful Plan

Hirokichi Ichihara was curious about what Hideki Hanyu would assign him.

However, Hideki Hanyu only told Hirokichi Ichihara.

"The timing isn't right yet. First, finish the Blockbuster transaction and complete the handover process before you leave. You'll be notified of any new work arrangements as soon as possible."

Just as Hideki Hanyu finished speaking to Hiroki Ichihara, his assistant Kaoru Chiba came to inform him.

"Mr. Yuzuru, President Iwata asked me to tell you that Mr. Joseph Stern, the signing representative of America Entertainment Investment Company, has arrived."

"I see."

Hideki Hanyu responded and turned to Hirokichi Ichihara, saying, "Let's focus on what's in front of us first."

After saying that, Hideki Hanyu led Hiroki Ichihara toward the signing ceremony for today's acquisition.

This is an underground space.

Above is a huge, hemispherical dome made of steel frame and glass.

Sunlight streamed through the shade, illuminating the area below with dazzling brightness.

Around the cover, you can see lush green plants.

Being in this space gives one the feeling of entering a fantastical jungle that seems to exist only in a dream, creating an extremely unreal sensation.

Of course, this is the overall style of Elf Entertainment's North American headquarters today.

The transparent pipes that pass through the greenery and the semi-buried buildings outside, through the combination of technology and nature, create a more awe-inspiring experience.

Since the completion of Elf Entertainment's North American headquarters, it has topped countless architecture media rankings and won numerous awards.

Although it is nominally the North American headquarters, in the hearts of many Elf Entertainment players, this is the "holy land" that best represents Elf Entertainment.

Even supporters of Elf Entertainment in Japan often complain that the buildings at the Japanese headquarters are too ordinary and far less distinctive than the North American headquarters.

To this, Hideki Hanyu could only say that it would be fine to make do with it.

Even the tall and short buildings that were once disliked were sold off and cashed out two years ago.

So to be precise, in the Japanese mainland's Elf Entertainment Building, Elf Entertainment can only be considered a tenant.

Not only Elf Entertainment, but also Cloud Entertainment Media Group and the Elf Entertainment headquarters where Storm Advertising is located were sold by this landlord.

His major companies, though each one is doing very well and has not been affected by the economic downturn in Japan, all of them are renting offices.

As for the location of Hideki Hanyu's planned new headquarters, he is still eyeing land in Odaiba.

Now he only owns a small plot of land in Odaiba. The acquisition of Fuji Television also brought back another plot of land, but that's all he owns.

If they want to buy more land, they will have to wait for an opportunity.

Firstly, the Japanese real estate market has not completely collapsed.

Secondly, the current Governor of Tokyo, Shunichi Suzuki, has formulated an ambitious "Tokyo Waterfront Sub-Center" development plan for Odaiba, claiming that he will take advantage of the World Urban Exposition to transform Odaiba into the waterfront heart of Tokyo.

The combination of these two factors has led to persistently high land prices in Odaiba, making it unsuitable for him to enter the market at this stage.

It is only when the Japanese real estate market collapses this year, followed by Shunichi Suzuki's defeat in the election and his successor halting the World Urban Expo and the "Tokyo Waterfront Sub-Center" plan, that investors' confidence in Odaiba will be completely destroyed, turning Odaiba into a desolate wasteland with no one to care about it.

In another timeline, because Fuji Television moved its headquarters to Odaiba in 1997, it used its media advantages to continuously promote Odaiba, helping it become a famous tourist destination.

In addition, the improvement of various basic transportation infrastructures in the late 1990s and early 21st century, such as the extension of the Capital Expressway and the opening of coastal rail transit and light rail.

Ultimately, this helped Odaiba achieve its revival, transforming it into the prosperous Odaiba of later generations.

The opportunity that Hideki Hanyu was waiting for was when Odaiba was deserted for several years. He then took over a large amount of land in Odaiba and built a comprehensive park there to serve as the Japanese headquarters for his companies.

The reason for doing this was not simply that Hideki Hanyu wanted to save money.

Instead, it was Tokyo, a city with a large population and limited land, especially the bustling areas that he found appealing. The land that could meet his needs had already been taken up by established companies and powerful entities.

If he didn't want all companies to be crammed into super high-rise buildings, but instead wanted to create a headquarters style that suited his taste, then the land in Odaiba was the only opportunity he could seize to build his headquarters in a prime location in Tokyo.

So for the time being, he can only make do with the companies under his control.

Even though the headquarters of Cloud Entertainment is gradually becoming unable to meet the needs of Cloud Entertainment's development, the days of renting a place still have to continue.

If we wait patiently for two or three years, the new headquarters will be in sight.

Perhaps it won't take that long; with the Japanese real estate market collapsing this year, he can gradually acquire land in Odaiba.

Putting aside everything else, he has a good chance of acquiring the land that Seibu Group bought in Taiwan this year.

Although Yoshiaki Tsutsumi "borrowed" a large sum of money from him through cooperation.

However, for the Seibu Group, which has been expanding wildly and developing blindly, this is just a drop in the ocean.

The tightening of financial lending in the real estate sector by the Japanese central bank was the fatal blow to the Seibu Group.

Despite its seemingly glamorous exterior, the Seibu Group is already facing undercurrents, and it will definitely run into serious trouble if it encounters a real estate crash this year.

Hideki Hanyu hadn't forgotten that when Yoshiaki Tsutsumi asked him for "money," he had given him quite a few good things as collateral.

At that time, both the land in Odaiba and the "Elf Paradise" they jointly built will be bountiful fruits that Hideki Hanyu is waiting to reap.

As for other things like ski resorts, shopping malls, hotels, and resorts, in Hideki Hanyu's view, they are just extras.

“Mr. Seraphim, it’s been a long time.”

Just as Hideki Hanyu was lost in thought, a greeting suddenly brought him back to his senses.

Hideki Yuzuru looked in the direction of the voice and found that the person greeting him was none other than Joseph Stern, the general manager of America Entertainment Investment Company and the representative who signed the acquisition agreement.

"Joseph, welcome to Elf Entertainment."

Hideki Hanyu gave Joseph Stern a warm hug.

Because of Karl Mapu, the two also had a friendship that went beyond mere self-interest.

Carl Mappe introduced Joseph Stern to manage America Entertainment Investment Company, and Hideki Hanyu later relied on this man quite a bit.

Therefore, Hideki Hanyu also highly valued his relationship with Joseph Stern.

"How are Mr. Seraphim and Carl doing in Los Angeles lately?"

Joseph Stern did not discuss the acquisition with Hideki Hanyu, because the signing was merely a formality; everything that needed to be discussed had already been done before the signing.

So Joseph Stern was actually more interested in other things than signing a contract, such as Hideki Hanyu's collaborations with his friends.
As a seasoned veteran who had spent decades in Washington, D.C., Joseph Stern knew that behind the Gulf War, a host of energy businessmen were sharpening their knives, from the central giants to the loose alliances on the periphery. If he wanted to know, he could probably find out some of the details.

Of course, Joseph Stern knew about Hideki Hanyu because Hideki Hanyu hadn't hidden it from him.

It's a pity their field has nothing to do with energy, otherwise they would definitely try to catch this sure-fire way to make money.

"Not bad, considering the battle at the front is going very smoothly. I believe we'll reap the rewards soon."

Hideki Yuzuru gave a casual explanation.

Joseph Stern smiled and said, "Then congratulations in advance to Mr. Seraphim."

Hideki Yuzuru, however, said nonchalantly, "It's just a small business deal. Compared to Blockbuster's transaction, it's nothing at all."

Upon hearing this, Joseph Stern nodded in agreement, "Yes, an $8.7 billion deal would definitely shock everyone if it were exposed, considering that the previous MCA Global deal was only $6 billion."

Hideki Hanyu said, "Blockstar is great value for money."

“I think so too. I have never seen a company with more terrifying liquidity than Blockbuster. Many of our friends in the financial industry can’t wait to cooperate with us.”

At this point, Joseph Stern suddenly lowered his voice and asked Hideki Hanyu.

"What are Mr. Seraphim's plans regarding the arrangements following the Blockbuster acquisition?"

Hideki Hanyu simply smiled and replied in a pretentious manner, "We'll talk about this after the contract is signed."

Just then, Satoru Iwata and Michael Katz arrived.

With all representatives present, the acquisition signing process officially began. A deal worth $8.7 billion was completed in a seemingly uneventful manner.

As the staff brought out champagne to celebrate, although everyone offered their congratulations, they didn't seem particularly excited.

Of course, everyone present would benefit from this deal.

With such a huge amount of revenue coming in, everyone from top to bottom will receive substantial bonuses and dividends this year.

On the other hand, the investors of America Entertainment Investment Company, apart from Hideki Hanyu, essentially got something for nothing, gaining a golden goose worth nearly nine billion US dollars, with billions of dollars in liquid funds, and still laying golden eggs.

Blockbuster, as the acquiring entity, will also receive rewards from this transaction.

Even a founder whose shares were diluted to a pitiful amount, who held the title of chairman but had no real power, successfully cashed out tens of millions and left the company.

But if we're talking about who benefited the most, then it has to be Hideki Hanyu.

Since he invested in Blockbuster, the total cost has not exceeded $500 million, yet it is now being sold at such an outrageous price, making the return on investment terrifying.

Although the acquisition funds for America Entertainment Investment Company, apart from a portion of financial loans, were mostly borrowed by him, the big boss.

Hideki Hanyu, who was worried about making money too quickly and having too much cash on hand, finally took this opportunity to clear out a large amount of "inventory".

Another crucial point is that the cornerstone bank, as the provider of funding, also took the opportunity to expand its business into North America, thereby showcasing its strength to many people.

Although North America is not the focus of Cornerstone Bank's development in Hideki Hanyu's plans, he would not mind if Cornerstone Bank developed better.

Of course, there is another very important point, which is that Hideki Hanyu spent the money in order to exchange it for something more valuable and important to him.

Blockbuster was just a stepping stone for him.

The most important thing now is to figure out how to make money from Blockbuster and how to pave the way for its future.

This is also what Joseph Stern is most concerned about.

So after the acquisition agreement was signed, Hideki Hanyu invited Joseph Stern to his office at Elf Entertainment's North American headquarters.

This is the tallest building located in the center of Elf Entertainment's North American headquarters.

The building itself is a huge flat disc, supported by several massive steel columns to a height of over forty meters. Apart from the central cylindrical elevator and emergency staircase, it is completely empty with no lower structure.

The building is divided into two floors, and is surrounded by a transparent glass curtain wall.

From a distance, it looks like a sci-fi flying saucer embedded in a green, dreamlike garden.

However, within Elf Entertainment, this building is named Elf Tower.

The outer ring of the first floor of the Elf Tower is a circular observation deck that is open only at specific times. Invited partners and lucky consumers can come here to overlook the entire Elf Entertainment North American headquarters.

The nickname "Dreamland Elf Paradise" for Elf Entertainment's North American headquarters originated and spread from these visitors.

The central area on the first floor of the Elf Tower houses the elevator room, equipment room, experience hall, and other functional areas.

As for the second floor of the Elf Tower, it is a restricted area.

Because the second floor is Hideki Hanyu's exclusive area.

The entire usable space of over 2,000 square meters belongs to Hideki Hanyu alone, from a dedicated office and small meeting room to living areas, entertainment areas, fitness areas, etc., meeting all of Hideki Hanyu's needs.

Although Hideki Hanyu has only visited a few times since the building was completed, and has never actually stayed there for a single day, the designer still thoughtfully considered everything for him.

When Joseph Stern and Hideki Hanyu took the elevator to the top floor of the Elf Tower, they entered Hanyu's office and looked out over the entire Elf Entertainment North American headquarters through the huge glass curtain wall.

He immediately exclaimed, "Visiting here is truly visually stunning; it's so beautiful and dreamlike!"

"Everyone who comes here will have the same feeling as you."

As Hideki Hanyu spoke, he handed a glass of tequila to Joseph Stern, the latter's preferred brand, "Don Julio."

This tequila from Mexico, though later becoming a world-renowned high-end tequila brand.

However, since the brand was only launched in 1987, it can only be considered a niche brand now. Although the price is high, its popularity is not high.

Hideki Hanyu, who is meticulous about details, learned about Joseph Stern's preferences by asking Karl Map before he arrived, and made special preparations for him.

"The wine is really good."

After Joseph Stern finished his assessment, he immediately asked Hideki Hanyu, "Did Mr. Seraphim stay here last night?"

Hideki Hanyu shook his head in reply.

"No, because I don't like mixing work and life, so I don't live where I work unless it's necessary."

This place is certainly nice, but I haven't been here very often since it was built.

In fact, the design of the Elf Tower was not initiated by Hideki Hanyu.

It was simply something that the North American executives of Elf Entertainment created for him in order to curry favor with him.

So stop saying that there's no social etiquette in foreign countries. Often, the reason you feel there isn't is simply because you're not qualified to participate in it.

After explaining, Hideki Hanyu got down to business.

"Let's talk about Blockbuster."

"What are Mr. Seraphim's plans?"

Joseph Stern was a man of self-awareness.

He knew very well that Hideki Hanyu and Carl Mappe had hired him as the general manager of America Entertainment Investment Company not because they valued his business acumen.

Instead, they valued his connections in the upper echelons of American politics and business, as well as his skill in handling complex interpersonal relationships.

Therefore, his main job at America Entertainment Investment Company, besides acting as a figurehead, was to maintain relationships with numerous investors.

As for business operations, Hideki Hanyu sets the overall direction and strategy, while professional managers are responsible for execution. At most, he plays a supervisory role.

Therefore, after Blockbuster's acquisition, he will definitely need to listen to Hideki Hanyu's advice on how to operate and develop the company.

"In the short term, at least for the next two to three years, we will continue to maintain the original development path, distribute dividends according to the investment ratio, and use working capital for cooperative investment to help all investors earn the maximum benefit."

"And then what?" Joseph Stern asked.

"Of course, it's about finding a new buyer for Blockbuster after further development."

Upon hearing Hideki Hanyu's words, Joseph Stern immediately looked surprised.

"Are they going to sell Blockbuster too?"

In everyone's eyes now, Blockbuster is definitely a golden goose.

It seems rather abnormal to spend such a huge amount of money to buy it, only to have to consider selling it after two or three years.

"To be precise, it's not about selling, but about exchanging Blockbuster for something more valuable."

Hideki Hanyu explained it this way.

Joseph Stern, however, did not quite understand.

Seeing Joseph Stern's confused look, Hideki Hanyu asked a question in return.

"Joseph, who has been competing with us for the Blockbuster acquisition over the past year?"

Joseph Stern, a cunning old fox who had managed to infiltrate the upper echelons of society, was quick-witted and immediately guessed the meaning behind Hideki Hanyu's words.

"You want to push for the merger between Blockbuster and Viacom."

"Acquire, extract profits, develop and increase value, and then exchange for something even more valuable. Don't you think this plan is wonderful?"

Looking at Hideki Hanyu's confident smile, Joseph Stern wanted to say that he couldn't understand Hideki Hanyu's plan.

But the young man in front of us is a self-made world's richest man.

Therefore, Joseph Stern could only trust Hideki Hanyu's decision.

(End of this chapter)