Rebirth Tokyo 1986

Chapter 215: The First Domestic Mobile Phone
Masato Takeshita's wedding was very low-key and quick, and the two parties simply set up a few tables in June.

From the entire business community, he only invited Ichiro Haneda, his good friend before he started his business.

There is no one in the entire political circle.

From the entire academic circle, he only invited his teacher Kunihiko Inoue and Yasuo Tarui, who had made many selfless contributions to him.

As for their own employees, not a single one was invited.

After the wedding, Masato Takeshita became busy again.

In July, he came to Xinghai Semiconductor to check out the first mobile phone that the company had just successfully developed.

This is a black old-fashioned mobile phone designed based on a Motorola mobile phone. It is a bit like an extended version of Nokia's senior citizen phone, but the button layout is not so reasonable.

Masato Takeshita played with it for a while, then raised his head happily and looked at Tomoji Yokoko, the person in charge of the mobile phone project.

"Not bad, not bad. Have you tested the phone calls?"

"Currently, the maximum call time can be 45 minutes, and the minimum can be 35 minutes."

"The standby time without talk time can be up to one and a half days, and in extreme weather conditions it can exceed 1 hours."

……

Yokoko Tomoji spends almost every day in the laboratory and has easy access to relevant data about mobile phones.

He quickly spoke out a series of data about the mobile phone call.

"Beautiful, very impressive."

45 minutes of talk time and a day and a half of standby time were very capable even in the mid-90s, let alone now.

At present, Japan is still a desert of mobile phone manufacturing.

Except for the Motorola phones imported from the United States, none of them can make calls.

Yokoko Tomoji said modestly: "No, there is still a big gap between us and Motorola."

"We have just entered this industry, so it is normal that there is a gap between us and Motorola. There is no need to be overly modest."

"Yes, President!"

Today we are not here to educate the management, so the young man quickly changed the subject.

“How much does a cell phone weigh?”

"About 550 grams."

"No wonder, I was wondering why it was so heavy."

Masato Takeshita weighed the phone twice, then said solemnly: "Our basic goal is to make it easy to carry the phone in your pocket."

"This phone is still too heavy. The weight needs to be reduced to less than 400 grams as soon as possible."

In the late 80s and early 90s, reducing the weight of mobile phones was the general trend.

Whether it is Motorola in the United States or Sony, Kyocera, and Panasonic in Japan, they are all trying their best to reduce the weight of mobile phones.

The company that does the best in this regard is Panasonic Group.

In 1990, the weight of mobile phones was reduced to less than 300 grams.

Panasonic mobile phones also became a very popular mobile phone at the time thanks to this amazing lightweight design.

Xinghai Semiconductor does not have as strong material research and development capabilities as Panasonic, so it does not require itself to reach Panasonic's design level.

But it is still necessary to be below 400 grams.

As for reducing it to below 300 grams, we can only wait for Panasonic mobile phones to be launched on the market, and then refer to the above materials to complete it.

"clear."

Yokogura Tomoji confidently took on the new task.

The social atmosphere in Japan at this time was completely different from that after the bubble burst.

Everyone has full self-confidence and believes that hard work can achieve everything.

It is somewhat similar to China at the beginning of the 21st century.

Therefore, although he felt that the task was somewhat difficult, he was still full of indomitable momentum.

Masato Takeshita praised loudly with satisfaction: "Very good, this is the kind of spirit that researchers should have."

Then he suddenly realized that he seemed to have not asked the price.

“By the way, how much does it cost to produce a cell phone?”

In terms of construction costs, Yokogura Tomoji, who is only responsible for scientific research most of the time, doesn't know much about it.

He looked to his president for help.

Lou Gerstner instantly understood Yokoko Tomoji's thoughts.

他笑着插话道：“如果生产1万部，预计每部成本高达40万元。如果生产5万部，预计成本可以降低到25万元。如果生产10万部，预计成本可以降低到18万日元。”

The manufacturing cost of mobile phones is so high nowadays.

The price of mobile phones is naturally very high, often hundreds of thousands of yen.

Taking into account the expensive call charges, basically only the rich can afford it.

"Don't worry about sales, just produce 10 units first."

Now is the most frenzied stage of Japan's bubble economy, and many people do not regard money as money at all.

As long as they can show their wealth and improve their status, there will be a large number of people who have become rich by speculating in stocks and real estate, waving their money and choosing to buy.

Who doesn’t want to take out their cell phone and make calls on the street in a cool and handsome manner, with everyone looking at them with envy?

After all, showing off is part of human nature.

Why is taking a taxi in Roppongi, Tokyo much more expensive than in other places in Tokyo?
This is largely because this is Tokyo's foreign embassy district.

These Japanese who wave huge amounts of money to take taxis are just showing off to foreigners, showing off the wealth of the Japanese.

A similar situation occurred in China not long after.

Those who have money to buy mobile phones, also known as brother phones, will pin them on their waistbands in a very conspicuous place.

I just want to tell others that I am rich now, very rich.

"Hi!"

Lou Gerstner is also very optimistic about the current Japanese mobile phone market and believes that mobile phones will have good sales.

Because Japanese people nowadays just like to buy expensive products.

If the price of a mobile phone is too low, it will not attract people's attention.

Of course, this low price has a certain limit.

If it could be sold for as low as 5 yen, sales would definitely be even more explosive.

After learning about the manufacturing cost of the mobile phone, Takeshita Masato instructed again: "Let's test the call time and quality of the mobile phone now. If possible, contact NTT Director Shunsuke Kishida immediately."

"This is Japan's first real mobile phone."

Although it is not the best in the world, being the best in Japan is enough to make Xinghai Semiconductor famous throughout Japan.

After all, there are only a few companies in the world that can develop mobile phones right now.

"Hi!"

Masato Takeshita's test was very rigorous. He first called home from the company.

"I'm Masato. Are you used to it at home?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to call you."

"Yeah, yeah, okay, don't forget to go out for a walk."

"Okay, um, bye!"

After hanging up the phone, the young man dialed another number and continued his previous behavior.

At the same time, he kept walking around the company.

The test was not completed until the prototype ran out of power.

"The signal is not very stable, but for us now, it is barely acceptable."

"Understood. Next, we will prioritize the quality of calls."

"Yeah, that's it."

Not only the company, Masato Takeshita then conducted a series of tests outdoors.

The feedback we got in the end was very good.

Although there were a series of defects, it was already usable. Since the product was qualified, Takeshita Masato simply called the private phone of NTT Director Kishida Shunsuke.

Xinghai Semiconductor is relatively unknown in Japan, not as famous as its subsidiary that specializes in producing disaster emergency radios.

Masato Takeshita plans to hold a product launch conference with the help of NTT to gain more media attention and further enhance the popularity of Xinghai Semiconductor.

Of course, there is the central figure, Masato Takeshita.

Even though Xinghai Semiconductor is not well-known, it can still obtain huge media resources.

However, having a collaborator is naturally better than fighting alone.

At the same time, this is also good news for NTT.

Not long ago, Japan passed a new telecommunications bill to open up Japan's telecommunications industry.

Companies such as Kyocera, Mitsubishi, and NEC all rushed into this industry at the first opportunity.

NTT can no longer maintain its monopoly and must continue to innovate.

The new mobile phone developed by Xinghai Semiconductor is a great cooperation project
Everyone with a discerning eye knows that the future of mobile phones is bright.

If NTT does not want to fail, it must vigorously develop this area.

Finding a few partners who have not entered the telecommunications industry is a very good choice.

Just as Masato Takeshita expected.

After hearing that Xinghai Semiconductor had successfully developed the first domestically produced mobile phone, Shunsuke Kishida's face immediately showed an expression of surprise.

The moment he hung up the phone, he immediately contacted the president, Mado Tsune.

"President Mado, I have something I want to report to you in person."

"Well, I have time now, come to my office."

"Hi!"

After entering the office of Mado Tsune, Kishida Shunsuke quickly repeated what happened.

"Oh, it turned out that Xinghai Semiconductor was the first to develop mobile phones. It is worthy of being called the Dragon of Japan."

Ever since Masato Takeshita accepted a series of television interviews in February, he has been given the shameful title of "Dragon of Japan" by the second-year Japanese media.

What’s even more speechless is that this title quickly gained widespread recognition among the public.

Although the young man wanted to resist, he was powerless and could only accept it.

It's okay to be a bit immature, at least it will be of great benefit to the company.

When others hear that the company is called "Japanese Dragon", they will look at it with higher regard.

"Yes, they want to use our company's reputation to hold a product launch conference to achieve better publicity effects."

After a brief thought, Mado Tsune said straightforwardly: "Okay, agree to them. As the representative of NTT, you will be fully responsible at this time."

"Hi!"

Kishida Shunsuke was waiting for this moment and he wanted to jump up with excitement.

Because Mado Tsune has great power within NTT, as long as he gets his approval, he will have the opportunity to move up to the next level.

He was relatively peripheral among the directors before, but this time he finally established a relationship with them.

"Well, okay, go get busy."

"Yes, President!"

Kishida Shunsuke was so excited that he was completely unaware of the fatigue beneath the majestic mask of Mado Tsune.

But this is normal. Who would have thought that the president of NTT was also involved in the Likulut case?
After the Likurut case broke out, the turmoil intensified.

Not long ago in April, even Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita could not bear the pressure and announced his resignation in disgrace.

Of course, Takeshita Noboru's resignation does not mean he has lost his power.

Japan has a unique factional politics. As long as Noboru Takeshita can still control the Takeshita faction, he can continue to control Japanese politics.

In the past, Kakuei Tanaka was very skilled in this. Relying on the Tanaka faction, the predecessor of the Takeshita faction, he controlled the life and death of the Japanese Prime Minister.

Takeshita Noboru's decision to resign was just a replica of Kakuei Tanaka's past story, and he became a secret general in the Heisei era.

So as soon as he announced his resignation, Masato Takeshita went to visit him immediately.

loyalty!

On the other hand, the departure of Noboru Takeshita does not mean the end of the Rekulut case.

The process of selecting a prime minister is a subtle indication that things have not been resolved.

Because of this case, the prime minister's position, which was once fiercely contested, suddenly had no one to take over.

The helpless Liberal Democratic Party, after great efforts, finally found Uno Sosuke, who had no involvement in the case, to take over as prime minister.

As if it weren't so bad, this guy is not an easy person to deal with.

Soon after taking over as prime minister, he was embroiled in a sex scandal with a kabuki actor.

A geisha in Kagurazaka was dissatisfied with getting sex for free, so she directly revealed her various intimate stories with the prime minister in newspapers and magazines.

Masato Takeshita doesn’t know about others, but he just eats as much melon as he wants every day.

It is estimated that soon, this new prime minister who has caused so much trouble will choose to resign.

It can be said that the Likulut case has profoundly affected Japan's political and economic landscape.

The businessman involved, Madoka Tsune, does not have the influence of politicians.

If you are not careful, you will go in and sing Tears Behind Bars.

After obtaining the approval of the president of NTT, Shunsuke Kishida hurriedly contacted Masato Takeshita.

He didn't want the cooked duck to fly away.

"Chairman, NTT Director Kishida's phone number."

"Ah."

Masato Takeshita nodded and took the phone from Keiko Sakai.

"Senior Manager Kishida, is there any news?"

"The president has agreed to cooperate. When will President Takeshita be available?"

"I'm available anytime. How about we meet at Xinghai Group headquarters at 3pm today?"

"no problem."

Both parties were worried that the night would carry on causing more trouble, so after simply agreeing on the time and place, they immediately started to act.

Masato Takeshita instructed the Secretary General: "Notify Xinghai Semiconductor's President Lou Gerstner, Vice President Fujio Masuoka, Executive Director Masaki Morita, and Director Tomoji Yokoko..."

"Xinghai Group Vice President Suzuki Zensuke, Public Relations Director Takaichi Toru, Public Relations Director Tahara Saburo..."

"There will be a meeting at Xinghai Group headquarters at 3pm this afternoon."

"Hi!"

After receiving the order, Keiko Sakai quickly left the president's office.

A man has feelings, and a concubine has intentions.

The two parties first determined the time of the product launch conference, which was 7 o'clock in the evening three days later.

In this way, most Japanese citizens can watch the live broadcast at the first time.

Then, we informed all major media outlets that Xinghai Semiconductor had developed the first domestically produced mobile phone.

The public relations and publicity departments of Xinghai Group quickly became busy.

Saburo Tahara, who also graduated from Waseda University, took advantage of the Inamon family's tremendous power in the media industry.

It was very easy to get in touch with Asahi TV's vice president, Nagahito Wada.

"Good afternoon, President Wada. I am Saburo Tahara from Xinghai Group."

"Yes, that's right."

"Our company has developed Japan's first mobile phone, and we would like your company to help promote it."

"Yes, okay, thank you, Wada-senpai."

After dealing with the Asahi Shimbun, Saburo Tahara immediately called the general manager of the Dumai Shimbun.

Asahi and Yomiuri are the most influential media groups in Japan besides NHK.

If we take down these two companies, we can basically guarantee the impact of the matter.

(End of this chapter)