Reborn Tycoon Rise

Japan's comics market is huge. Even in the 1970s and 1980s, it included comics newspapers and periodicals, comic books, peripheral toys, animation film and television, and licensing of comic phenomena. Together, these formed a huge profit chain with an annual output value of tens of billions of dollars. It is extremely difficult for external capital to enter this industry and share the cake.

As early as 1979, Changxing Comics began to produce the "Sou Shen Ji" comic weekly in Hong Kong. With its "fantasy" background setting, it caused a good sensation in Hong Kong, Wanwan and other areas where Chinese people gather.

The first company to try to introduce the "Sou Shen Ji" comics to Japan was Akita Bookstore. Although it didn't achieve much success, it wasn't too much of a failure.

Subsequently, Changxing Comics launched a new comic "Crayon Shin-chan". This comic immediately became popular in Japan, achieving an average sales of 600,000 per issue.

This result is still far behind the peak works of Shueisha and other three giants, but compared with the entire history of Akita Bookstore, it has already broken the record.

"Then I wonder how Mr. Xu wants to cooperate?" Akita Nobutada asked.

"My company is planning to build a large-scale printing factory. In the future, our comics will be published and printed by our company. In the Japanese market, I will sell them to Akita Bookstore at a suitable price." Xu Zhi said formally.

"So, Mr. Xu is planning to create a new weekly by himself?" Akita Nobutada looked unhappy. The previous cooperation was that their bookstore purchased each issue's story from Xiangjiang at a fixed price. The subsequent sales were good or bad. The comic provider has no relationship whatsoever.

This is actually a normal way of cooperation between Japanese comic companies and ordinary cartoonists, and some powerful masters can extract dividends from the sales of each copy, and even receive commissions from future copyright development.

Akita Nobutada originally thought that the most he could get was a share of the profit, but he never expected that the other party would actually want to create a weekly magazine of his own. If so, the other party would only need its own sales network.

Xu Zhi nodded and said: "Yes, as for profits, we will never treat our partners badly."

Akita Nobutada frowned and thought for a while, then said: "Mr. Xu, it is very difficult to create a new comic collection in Japan. Our Akita Bookstore's Weekly Champion is already a relatively successful weekly. , wouldn’t it be better to use existing conditions to gain profits?”

Xu Zhi shook his head and smiled: "It is my company's established plan to create its own brand, and this will not change."

Akita Nobutada was silent for a while and then said: "If this is the case, it will be difficult for our company's board of directors to pass such a cooperation plan."

Xu Zhi smiled and said: "Mr. Akita, I think your board of directors may have fallen into a misunderstanding. Don't they think that I can only cooperate with your Akita Bookstore?"

Akita Nobutada glanced at Xu Zhi and said, "Even our Akita Bookstore has a hard time accepting such conditions. Does Mr. Xu think Shueisha and Xiaoshu Library will agree?

Or maybe Mr. Xu will find other bookstore chains for cooperation? In Japan, I'm sure Mr. Xu can't find another one. "

"I believe this." Xu Zhi nodded and smiled. Japan's major comic book giants have monopolized almost all channels, and it is basically impossible to bypass them.

Akita Nobutada asked again: "What does Mr. Xu mean?"

Xu Zhi smiled and said: "My point is very simple. If it doesn't work, then give up on the Japanese market."

"Abandon the Japanese market?" Akita Nobutada was stunned for a moment. Japan is the largest comics market in Asia. The scale of comics here exceeds that of other Asian countries and regions combined. Only the United States in the entire world can compete with it.

However, the comic style in the United States is completely different from the culture in Asia. Some popular Japanese comics can also achieve certain results in the United States, but they are still far from being "hot".

"Mr. Xu, what do you mean?" Akita Nobutada frowned and said, "Abandoning the Japanese manga market is equivalent to cutting off your right arm?"

"Although the profits in the comics market are high, they may not be as good as other industries under my banner." Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Just like after Sou Shen Ji became popular in Hong Kong, your company came to Hong Kong specifically to buy the copyright.

If the comics under my banner do not perform well, there is no point in saying anything.

If the results are good, then there will definitely be a chance to enter the Japanese market. No one will have trouble with money, right? "

Akita Nobutada nodded and smiled: "Indeed, our Japanese comic company will also introduce excellent overseas animation works, but introducing comics is one thing, and agreeing to Mr. Xu to publish his own comic weekly in Japan is another thing, whether it is Shueisha or other comic companies, they will not agree."

"You can't say what's going to happen in the future." Xu Zhi said with a smile, "In this case, I'll take my leave."

Akita Nobutada also stood up and said: "I hope Mr. Xu can seriously consider the cooperation plan I proposed."

"I will go back and think about it carefully. I have disturbed President Akita too much today." Xu Zhi said politely.

…

On the way back, the scenery of Tokyo neighborhoods outside the window receded rapidly.

Xu Zhi asked: "What do you think of what happened just now?"

"Japan's animation market has been completely monopolized for a long time. It is not difficult for external comics to enter, but it is very difficult for overseas companies to independently publish their own magazines in Japan or even control the distribution channels." Ichiro Takizawa answered. Dao, as the lawyer consultant of the Japanese branch, he had just been beside the boss when he was negotiating.

Xu Zhi asked with a smile: "Isn't it okay if I invest in opening hundreds of stores in Japan? Isn't it legally allowed?"

Ichiro Takizawa shook his head and said: "Of course it won't be stopped legally, but comic shops in Japan are already very dense. Even among the three major comic companies, there is a lot of overlap in their channels.

Moreover, many of the real channels for comics are newsstands. The numbers in this area are restricted by the government. If we invest all in stores, the cost will be too high. "

"Well..." Xu Zhi looked out the window, and in less than a minute, he saw two small newsstands. Before the advent of the Internet era, no matter what newspapers, periodicals, weekly magazines, the main channel was through newsstands, because of the cost It is low in price and in a good location, making it convenient for customers to purchase. This area has been monopolized by the first comers, and it is indeed difficult for those who come later to think of a way to crack it.

Xu Zhi then asked: "What if I acquire an already mature bookstore chain?"

Ichiro Takizawa said: "It's possible, but the distribution of comics requires cooperation with many bookstores. If we only acquire one, the effect may not be as strong."

"You don't need to worry about it. We Chinese have a saying that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The road must be walked step by step. You first contact the bank or some securities companies to see if any bookstore chain is willing to sell it. Let’s buy it first and then talk about it,” Xu Zhi said with a smile.

Takizawa Ichiro nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

Xu Zhidao: "In addition, you have to do one more thing. Crayon Shin-chan has already gained a certain reputation in Japan. You need to find a capable animation studio here to produce the cartoon and complete the first episode. After receiving it, send it to Xiangjiang and I will personally review it."

"Understood." Takizawa Ichiro nodded in agreement.