Sunday 19 January 2000.
Right now, Zaboru is in his office, getting ready to head to one of the ZAGE Tower meeting rooms. A thin stack of printed charts sits on his desk beside an unopened cup of coffee, the kind that goes cold during weeks like this. Today's agenda is the yearly 1999 report, a meeting he has kept postponing ever since everyone returned from the long holiday, until the delay started to feel louder than the meeting itself.
He has been too busy bouncing between offices, first to the ZAGE Base in London to check on Team OMNI and confirm their milestones in person. Then to Team Dynasty in Korea to review a project scheduled to release this month, Two of ZAGE's important online titles for Steam Ragnarok Online and Gunbound, where the team's pace told him more than their polished slides ever could. And that wasn't even the end of it.
He only recently returned from China, where the new offices are nearly finished, meaning recruitment can finally begin and the branch can stop being a blueprint and start being a workforce. As usual, China's recruitment is being handled by Red Falcon, ZAGE's official distributor for Korea and China, with support from the Japanese branch, just like they did with Team Dynasty in Korea.
The China team will become a major source of manpower for ZAGE's game development. This year's expansion depends on two key moves: the China branch and a new Japanese team, which is why the China offices matter so much.
After this meeting, Zaboru also plans to fly back to ZAGE USA for the website enhancement release. For now, he steadies his expression, and heads for the door.
Zaboru walks into the meeting room with a light smile, on time as always. The long table is already set with folders and a pitcher of water, and the familiar faces are seated in their usual places. Zanichi Renkonan, ZAGE's CTO, sits closest to the screen with a laptop open. Sayuri Yamaguchi, Head of Finance, has a neat stack of reports aligned to the table edge. Shinsuke Yamaguchi, Head of Marketing, flips through a brief summary sheet. Kurugiya Dousuke, head of the ZAGE legal team, watches quietly with his hands folded. Yuna Kanai, head of subsidiaries management, looks ready to speak the moment she's called. Shiki Spencer, head of the license team, has a folder marked with tabs.
This meeting is mostly a report for Zaboru, a clean overview of what ZAGE achieved in 1999 and what needs attention before the new year moves too far ahead. That's why there are no developers invited. It stays at the executive level, focused on outcomes and decisions. And as usual, by the end of January, each office will hold a small celebration for the year's results, where all employees are invited to join in and share the win.
Zaboru smiles and says, "Good morning, everyone. Sorry this meeting has been postponed for so long. I've been busy, but I finally have time for it now, so let's begin. Since this is our yearly meeting, we'll start with Yuna-san from Subsidiaries Management."
Yuna Kanai nods and delivers her report without wasting time. "Good morning, everyone. In 1999, our subsidiaries performed well overall. They met the targets we assigned, and their results were satisfactory across both Japan and overseas branches. We also invested a significant amount of capital to support their expansion, and the growth rates we're seeing are strong.
"For Japan, where ZAGE holds the majority of shares, our main subsidiaries include HanDai, which handles toys and merchandise; Nanco, which supports our arcade machines and arcade operations; Ninzendo, which manages our card merchandise, including our Pokémon cards and Yu-Gi-Oh cards; YaDo Animation for anime production; Hakushensha and Shonen Jump for manga and magazine publishing , AKAI for Phone and Z-Pod products and Sora Distribution as our official distributor in Japan.
"Overseas, we have more subsidiaries than I can list in one sitting, but the core entertainment holdings include Disney, Marvel, and Pixar. On the technology side, NVIDIA and AMD are also majority-owned by ZAGE, though we allow them to operate independently as long as their direction stays aligned with ours.
"That's why, overall, our subsidiaries are performing well and still moving in line with our vision, but…"
As Yuna says this, the room grows a little quieter, and a few eyes shift toward Zaboru. She speaks evenly, but there is a sharp edge under her professionalism. "There are plenty of them that are starting to get really ambitious. Like AMD, for example. I've heard they've been making deals with other investors besides us. They also want to buy back some shares from us. The amount isn't large, but the intent matters. It feels like they don't fully trust us, even though we've treated them fairly and let them operate with freedom."
She turns a page in her report, then continues without hesitation. "And AMD isn't the only case. There are a few similar signs across other subsidiaries, especially the ones with expanding projects and stronger leadership. They push for more autonomy, more leverage, and more room to act without waiting for our approval. That ambition can be useful, but it can also turn into a power struggle if we ignore it."
Yuna lifts her gaze again. "So how do you think we should approach this, boss? Do we talk to them directly and set clearer expectations, or do we tighten our control before it spreads? The subsidiaries are becoming more confident with their own plans. Should we remind them who owns them, or do we handle it in a softer way before it becomes a pattern?"
Zaboru exhales slowly. Yuna is ruthless, but she moves with clean efficiency, and she never oversteps her boundaries. She will offer hard options, then stop the moment he doesn't approve.
He gives her a calm smile. "Relax, Yuna-san. It's normal for subsidiaries to think that way. They have their own vision, and AMD simply wants more shares so they can hold more weight compared to other investors. They still respect us as the majority owner because our vision and goals are aligned. I also know Jerry Sanders personally, so it's fine. Still, you're doing a good job bringing this up."
Zanichi sighs and leans back in his chair. "Yuna, you should relax a bit. Everything doesn't have to be insanely efficient, you know?"
He chuckles, but Yuna only nods once and writes a note. "My motto is to work efficiently, Zanichi-san. That's who I am. Don't worry, I know my boundaries."
Zanichi sighs, scratching the side of his head. "Heh… sometimes I wonder how you're even twins with Yugo. You two are like fire and water."
Yuna doesn't blink. With the same stoic face, she answers, "It's simple, Zanichi-san. Yugo is idiot, and I'm not."
A couple of people choke back a laugh. Zanichi chuckles, lifts both hands as if surrendering, and shrugs. "Brutal as always hahaha"
Zaboru smiles again, reminded how different she is from her twin brother, Yugo Kanai. Even with the same face, Yugo is easygoing and full of wild ideas, the type to throw out ten impossible plans just to see which one sparks. Yuna is the opposite: rigid, precise, and always cutting straight to the outcome, as if anything extra is wasted time. In a strange way, it makes them a perfect split—one chaos, one control.
Around the table, the other executives let out a small chuckle. This is Yuna, as always, and they're used to it.
Zaboru turns to Shinsuke. "Shinsuke-san, how are we doing on marketing? Are we seeing growth in ZAGE fans worldwide, and do you have any concerns about our expansion from the fan side?"
Shinsuke nods and answers carefully. "Overall, the fanbase is still growing. Game sales are steady, merchandise is moving well, and interest hasn't slowed. In most regions, people are excited about how wide ZAGE's lineup has become. Our core fans aren't the issue."
"In Japan, because our fanbase is already large, we didn't see a major increase in new fans. However, product sales in Japan still rose by 11% compared to last year, which shows stronger spending per fan and better conversion on merchandise and repeat purchases.
"In Korea and China, the situation is different. The fanbase surged, up around 30% year-over-year. That growth is tied to our stronger local presence, faster word-of-mouth, and our boss is really famous and being loved as Chinese and Korean people.
"Europe is also performing strongly. Across many European countries, our fans increased by about 20% compared to last year. We're seeing better visibility through retailers and our brand recognition is finally reaching the level we expected.
"Latin America is steadier. Growth is slower, but it's still positive, with around a 10% rise overall. The market there is building gradually, and our distribution deal with BEAK in Brazil has helped drive these positive results.
"And in the USA, we recorded a 21% increase compared to last year. That's impressive given the heavier media pressure and the size of the market. If we protect the brand narrative properly, the USA can keep accelerating." Everyone claps.
He pauses, then taps the edge of his summary sheet. "But there's one concern that keeps coming up. In 1999, we released or supported several titles that became controversial, like Medal of Honor, GTA, and Hitman. The attention is big, but the tone is hostile. Some media outlets frame us as the company pushing violent content, and that sticks.
"Our main audience understands ratings and choice, but the loudest backlash is coming from parents and family groups. They're worried about what their children are exposed to, and they trust headlines more than the facts. We're seeing more complaints, more calls for restrictions, and more pressure on retailers to 'be careful' with our products. Even if it doesn't hit sales today, it can turn into a long-term problem, especially in the USA where these stories spread fast.
"So yes, growth is strong, boss. But if we don't address the narrative now, we risk letting fear define the brand for people who don't know us yet."
Zaboru nods, understanding the problem immediately. "I understand, Shinsuke-san. We can't just make good products and assume the story will defend itself. If the media wants attention, they'll try to get it by turning us into a target, and controversy makes an easy headline."
He sets his folder down and speaks more firmly. "We need our own media strength to push back, not by attacking, but by controlling the facts. Clear messaging, consistent ratings guidance, and visible responsibility. Right now, Aoshidan, our security partner, is expanding their reach into media monitoring and response, so we can catch false narratives early and stop them from spreading."
Zaboru's eyes narrow slightly. "But Aoshidan is based in Japan. For the USA, we need a stronger plan. Most of the loudest framing starts there, and once it spreads in the American press, it echoes everywhere. We'll need local relationships for US Media."
Zanichi nods and adds, "Yes, this needs focus. We can't treat it as something trivial. Media has the power to steer the masses, and they can repeat stories that aren't even true until they become true in the eyes of the public."
He glances toward the legal side of the table. "And this can affect legal matters for ZAGE as well, right, Kudou? Not just lawsuits, but pressure from retailers and politicians if the narrative gets bad enough."
Kurugiya Dousuke, or Kudou, nods. "From a legal perspective, having strength in the media is protection, not vanity. ZAGE is already large enough that we attract lawsuits the moment a narrative forms. If this escalates, parents will sue us over their child's behavior. It sounds ridiculous, but in the USA it's common. They won't argue facts. They'll argue fear. And once a story is repeated enough, retailers, schools, and local officials start acting like it's proven."
He keeps his tone even, almost clinical. "If we can ensure accurate coverage, or at least stop false framing from becoming the default, it helps us long-term. It reduces the chance of copycat claims, it steadies partners, and it gives us room to point to consistent public messaging when we have to defend ourselves."
Zaboru nods. "I agree, Kudou-san. We'll take this further in the next meeting and put a concrete plan on the table. For now, do you have any other concern Kudou?"
Kudou nods and says, "It's about piracy, boss. ZAGE games are being copied, and even our ZEPS 1, 2, and 3 consoles are already being pirated. There are people selling our games cheaply, especially in China, but there are cases in other countries too. It's growing fast, and the distribution is getting organized. If we ignore it, it becomes normal."
He opens his folder and points to a few notes. "Some of the copies are crude, but some look almost official. That creates confusion in the market and makes enforcement harder. It also risks our brand if a bad copy breaks or contains something dangerous and people still blame ZAGE."
Zaboru smiles, but his eyes stay alert. "Right now, we're already doing what we can. We have anti-piracy measures in our games, and we're improving them with each release. If players still break it, then for now we don't panic. Piracy can extend our reach and create future customers, especially in regions where people wouldn't buy at full price anyway. That exposure has value. Right, Shinsuke-san?"
Shinsuke nods, then answers more cautiously. "Yes, boss, it can expand reach. But it still makes us lose money, and it teaches people that our work is something they can take for free. If piracy becomes too common, it will hurt retailers, hurt pricing, and make it harder for us to launch properly in new markets."
Kudou adds, "And from the legal side, once it becomes widespread, it attracts opportunists. The more visible it is, the more likely local authorities will demand we 'do something,' even if their systems are slow. If we ever need to take action later, it's easier when we can show we never accepted it."
Zaboru nods once. "I understand. For now, we won't take drastic measures. If we implement foolish rules that punish honest players, it will do more harm than good. We'll keep improving protection quietly, and we'll prioritize cracking down on large sellers, not ordinary people.
"But we should also shape the message. We can run proper ads and public reminders that piracy hurts development and support, without sounding like we're threatening anyone. Calm, firm, and consistent. That's enough for Piracy at least for now we should discuss this in different meetings."
Zaboru then continued then he said "Okay let's move to the next event. Sayuri-san, how much did ZAGE bring in from games in 1999? Please give us the detailed report."
Sayuri adjusts her glasses and smiles. "Alright, boss. Here's the detailed report…"
To be continue
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