Tokyo 1970: I'll draw Doraemon?

Chapter 129 Planning for the Future

This is the best era for the Japanese, with an average annual economic growth rate of over 8%, a full-scale boom in manufacturing, exports, and infrastructure, and people's incomes increasing year after year, making life better every day.

Thanks to the United States' monopoly on the oil market, oil prices were as low as $3 a barrel, which was very beneficial to resource-poor Japan.

With favorable timing, location, and human resources, all industries are expanding in all aspects. As long as you are a graduate, you can find a good job. After investing your entire year's salary in the stock market related to automobiles, home appliances, etc., you can earn far more than you would earn in several years of working.

Airfares are discounted everywhere; you can fly to any island with just a week's salary.

Walking casually through the streets of Tokyo, you'll see that everyone's expression is one of pride and vitality.

The Japanese have entered a golden age.

The manga industry expanded rapidly under these circumstances, with circulation soaring, exemplified by Weekly Shonen Future, published by Mirai-sha.

In just a year and a half, its monthly issuance volume increased from 20 to a staggering 52.

Each issue requires adjustments, and with readers' ever-increasing purchasing desires, Future Publishing House is printing larger and larger quantities.

In the past, growth in the tens of thousands would have been astonishing to people like Fujiwara Maki and Takei Toshiki, but now even ordinary employees find it unremarkable and think that perhaps they could be a little bolder.

The vast market is there, seemingly never to be filled.

Therefore, now that there is sufficient funding, Maki Fujiwara has proposed the "Fuji Prize" plan that she had agreed upon with Fushimikawa long ago, in order to increase the competitiveness of Weekly Shonen Future and attract more readers.

This is something the entire Future Society has been looking forward to. They have long been preparing to show their skills at the Newcomer Award, to find the hidden gems and polish them until they shine.

Fushimikawa, however, offered the opposite idea.

That day, he talked with Fujiwara Maki for a long time and finally managed to persuade her.

……

The next day, the first half of 1973 was over.

All 172 employees of Future Society, whether long-term or new, were filled with anticipation as they awaited the start of the all-staff meeting.

"Last year, the company office area could accommodate all members, but this year we have to come to the clubhouse in the city. It's really troublesome."

Noguchi Masakyu turned around and looked at the sea of ​​heads, his tone filled with pride.

"It's just a small venue now, but in the future..." Kamei cleared his throat and emphasized, suppressing his longing and trying to make his words as powerful as possible, "we'll have to rent a place like the Housheng Cultural Center to be enough!"

Noguchi Masahiro nodded, then a brilliant idea struck him, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Maybe in the future we'll have our own building for Mirai-sha, with a venue big enough to hold thousands of people!"

"What! What!"

His voice drew the attention of others, and everyone spontaneously joined the conversation.

“What do you mean ‘maybe’? It’s a certainty!” Fukuda Tomoyuki grinned. “The profits from Naruto alone are enough. From now on, let’s call it the Naruto Building!”

"Or it's the Parasite Building," someone said.

"Blackjack Building!"

"I said 'Touch,' does anyone have any objections?" Osamu Kamei raised his hand timidly.

With anticipation for the future, the editors brainstormed ideas for the building's name, area, floor height, and interior decoration.

“It’s also possible that this honor belongs to a manga that hasn’t appeared yet,” Shinsuke Kitahara said, turning around from the front row. “Just go for it and find the next Oikawa-sensei. When that happens, my place will be yours.”

“How could there possibly be a second Mr. Oikawa? Editor-in-Chief, you must be joking,” Noguchi Masakyu waved his hand, but his eyes were shining, clearly looking forward to that day.

"Perhaps such talent will be among those selected for the upcoming 'Unparalleled Awards'."

He looked around at his colleagues, whose eyes were shining, and felt a sense of urgency.

"We must seize this opportunity."

Just as he was making up his mind, someone suddenly whispered, "Don't talk, the president and the others have arrived."

……

President Maki Fujiwara, director and manga artist Ji Oikawa, manga department head Toshiki Takei, and backstage management department head Masashi Utsunomiya all took the stage one after another.

The employees in the audience immediately fell silent, and not long after, Maki Fujiwara gave her opening remarks.

"Everyone has worked hard over the past six months. I have seen all your efforts. The six-month bonus will be paid to you in accordance with three times your monthly salary."

She didn't say anything empty; she directly offered generous compensation.

This is also why Future Society employees have a strong sense of ownership and hope that the company will get better and better.

As the company grows, individual salaries and benefits also increase; these are mutually reinforcing.

Applause immediately erupted and lasted for a long time.

Parasyte has been serialized for over a year, with five volumes printed so far, averaging around 650,000 copies sold per volume. This manga has brought Mirai Publishing a huge revenue of over 300 million yen.

With Naruto now up to chapter 24 and its manga volume about to be released, its popularity is even higher than Parasyte's, and its sales are sure to be high.

As Mirai Corporation is expected to become increasingly wealthy, it will allocate a portion of its funds to incentivize its employees—a point that both Fushimikawa and Fujiwara Maki agree on.

The result was quite good, and the employees' excited expressions were clearly visible to the two of them on stage.

Presumably, the employees will work even harder afterward.

"This year is the first year of our Weekly Shonen Future. It has only been half a year since we started with trepidation and difficulty, but now we are at ease and in control."

Industry experts predict that Future magazine will have sold around 70 copies by the end of the year. Many probably share this view.

But I disagree!

Fujiwara Maki's eyes were burning. "This number is far too small. Today I'm going to make a prediction."

Taking a deep breath, she continued, "By the end of the year, Future will catch up with top shonen manga magazines like Weekly Shonen Jump, and its circulation will exceed one million!"

"Whoosh!"

A commotion arose from the audience; disbelief, anticipation, and excitement were all present.

Whether you believe it or not, everyone holds onto the hope that this miracle will happen.

It's so fulfilling to have achieved this unprecedented number by following in the footsteps of the president.

By then, Miraisha will catch up with Shueisha, Shogakukan, and Kodansha, becoming a truly top-tier manga publisher in the industry!

They went out, participated in various activities, met their peers, and felt superior, enjoying envious glances.

“So,” Fujiwara Maki looked at Utsunomiya, “I’m entrusting you with renting more warehouses and stockpiling enough printing paper, fuel, ink, glue, and other consumables for at least six months.”

Following up on the previous topic, she proposed the future strategic plan for the company, which is to stockpile various resources in warehouses to supply future needs.

"Is it necessary?" Fukuda Tomoyuki muttered to himself. "Setting up so many resources will inevitably tie up tens of millions of dollars of the company's cash flow. If something goes wrong, we'll be in big trouble..."

He understood that this was the approach taken by large, comprehensive publishing houses like Shogakukan and Bungei Shunju: building large buildings, warehouses, and storing large amounts of inventory.

However, this does not apply to small and medium-sized comic book publishers like Mirai-sha.

The company's cash flow needs to be used in many other areas.

For example, organizing newcomer awards, running around the market and doing promotions, etc.

But he was a nobody, and since the president had already made the decision, he didn't say anything more.

Utsunomiya Shoji nodded, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the silent Fushimi River.

Prior to the all-staff meeting, the core team of Future Society held a small meeting.

Unlike now, the one who proposed that meeting was Fushimikawa.

He waved a copy of "Petroleum Economics" magazine and talked about the situation in the Middle East.

Topics such as the rise of nationalism in the Middle East and the collapse of the Western oil system.

The main point is: store resources, store resources, and store resources again!

He needed to plan ahead for the potential chaos that might follow.

Unlike Takei Toshiki, who thought he was worrying unnecessarily, Utsunomiya had already begun collecting data.

Whether it's CM Comic Con or Mirai-sha's operational policies, he has become accustomed to Fushimikawa's correctness.

As long as you follow him, you will always succeed.

This sounds like a fantasy. How could the United States possibly fail? Even if the situation in the Middle East is unstable, the United States will definitely be able to suppress it.

This is America, after all.

Takei Toshiki shook his head. Since three of the four people agreed, there was no point in him objecting, so he could only abstain.

"A cartoonist who doesn't focus on drawing comics but instead studies future events, really..."

He thought to himself.

……

At the subsequent all-staff meeting, Maki Fujiwara mainly focused on the topics of "magazine distribution and publishing planning." It wasn't until the meeting ended that the editors belatedly realized:

What about the "Fuji Prize"?

They were all eager to show off their skills, but it turned out to be a waste of their time.

Fukuda Tomoyuki and his group found Takei Toshiki, who looked at them with displeasure and said, "President Fujiwara has already stated this year's development plan: all resources and funds must be used for stockpiling supplies. We'll discuss the 'Fuji Prize' next year."

He left in a hurry without expressing his opinion, leaving behind only a few dumbfounded subordinates.

……

"If the oil crisis hadn't occurred, wasting precious development time, President Fujiwara... wouldn't have stepped down, but she wouldn't have the same level of leadership she has now."

Thinking of Fujiwara Maki, Takei Toshiki shook his head upon returning home.

This president is great in every way; he is fair in his rewards and punishments and is wholeheartedly devoted to the comic book business.

But in front of Oikawa, she becomes like a lovestruck fool, and her usual calm rationality seems to disappear completely.

He believed 80-90% of the shocking stories and even took the initiative to assume responsibility for issuing orders.

"I was worried that if the plan went wrong, it would affect Oikawa, so I made the suggestion at the all-staff meeting. President Fujiwara loves her so much."

"That's the trouble with women."

Chapter 130 Is it really that sharp?