[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-291":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Literary Master of Tokyo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2355140,4607,"Chapter 291: A Visit and a Threat","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-291",291,"\u003Cp>As one of the two giants monopolizing the book distribution industry, the headquarters building of Tokyo Publishing Sales is grand and imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The building is not only over 300 meters tall, but its entrance is also bustling with traffic, with people in suits and leather shoes passing by in a hurry from time to time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Akiwara Yuto and Nishijima Sota walked through the main entrance, they saw a long queue in the business area to the side of the lobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked just like a service window at a government department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Akiwara Yuto’s puzzled expression, Nishijima Sota began to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akiwara-sensei, this business area in the first-floor lobby is mainly responsible for handling book procurement volume for publishing houses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto was a bit confused; in his impression, both Tokyo Publishing Sales and Japan Publishing Sales would send people directly to the publishing houses for business negotiations. Could it be that other publishing houses don't do this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akiwara-sensei, it’s like this,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nishijima Sota waved his hand and explained: \"There are about 3,000 publishing houses in Japan. With so many, Tokyo Publishing Sales and Japan Publishing Sales certainly don't have time to visit every single one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, some micro-publishing houses have no choice but to come here themselves and queue up to negotiate business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto understood immediately; it meant that the two distributors only visit in person once a publishing house reaches a certain scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, upon hearing the number of over 3,000, he couldn't help but feel shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have to know, the total number of publishing houses in his previous life’s home country was less than 600, only one-fifth of Japan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But another doubt arose in his mind: with the small publishing market in Japan, can it really support so many publishing houses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a commotion broke out in the business area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, order 2,000 more copies! I beg you! Our publishing house is about to go under!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 50-year-old man wearing an old shirt was pleading bitterly with a man in a suit behind the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter waved his hand, putting on a \"polite smile,\" and then two people immediately came over to take the man away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others seemed accustomed to this, and the people behind in the queue even stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this scene, Nishijima Sota sighed and said helplessly: \"Akiwara-sensei, this is the current situation for publishing houses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto didn't reply, but he also had an inexplicable feeling in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the economy remains sluggish, more and more micro-publishing houses are bound to face the fate of bankruptcy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, in the next ten years or so, Japan’s publishing industry will face a reshuffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his previous life, someone wrote a work called \"The Great Collapse of the Japanese Publishing Industry,\" which was recognized by many industry insiders after its release.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps what he was seeing today was just a microcosm of this historical backdrop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the interlude, Akiwara Yuto and Nishijima Sota went to the front desk together to collect their badges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the guidance of a receptionist, the two arrived at an office on the 7th floor, preparing to meet today’s main target: the department head responsible for literature book publishing in Tokyo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after arriving at the office, they were told that the department head was temporarily unavailable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Apologies, Akiwara-sensei, President Nishijima,\" a man in a gray suit said with an \"apologetic\" smile, \"Department Head Katsumoto is busy today, so if you have any business, please discuss it with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, he bowed and handed over a business card, \"Nice to meet you, I am Kuda Kenichi, Section Chief of the Literature Publishing Department. Please treat me well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto felt somewhat dissatisfied; after all, he rarely encountered being stood up like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, one does not hit a smiling face, so the two politely bowed and offered greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some brief pleasantries, the section chief named Kuda Kenichi took them to a reception room to sit down and took the initiative to pour tea for the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akiwara-sensei, President Nishijima, what is the purpose of your visit today?\" Kuda Kenichi asked politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nishijima Sota took the initiative to take over the conversation, \"Section Chief Kuda, regarding our latest release, 'A Personal Matter,' can your company increase the procurement volume?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"'A Personal Matter' is traditional literature, but our publishing house’s previous release of the traditional literature work 'Snow Country' successfully sold hundreds of thousands of copies. So, by common logic, I believe this will be a bestseller. I hope your side will reconsider.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto didn't speak from the side, only staring intently at the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was only reasonable for Nishijima Sota to discuss distribution with the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fact that the department head wasn't there gave him a bad feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he faintly guessed that this trip might not be that simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, upon hearing this request, Section Chief Kuda showed a troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, Nishijima Sota presented a wrapped gift, \"This is a gift for you, it's a Suwa-brand fountain pen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could I accept this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuda Kenichi went through the motions of being polite, then accepted the gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pondered for a moment and said, \"How about this: Tokyo Publishing Sales will order an additional 1,000 copies. Do you think that is acceptable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this result, Nishijima Sota was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They originally ordered 3,000 copies; adding 2,000 more would only make it 4,000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to previous works, it was still pitifully low!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuda Kenichi seemed to feel he had done his best and advised, \"This is the maximum amount I can decide on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Nishijima Sota tried to persuade him further, Akiwara Yuto sneered, \"President Nishijima, let’s go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other party’s attitude was already obvious; begging further would be of no use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuda Kenichi saw Akiwara Yuto’s dissatisfaction and gave a bitter smile, \"Akiwara-sensei, regarding the order quantity, it was a unanimous decision by our department. I am very sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto replied indifferently: \"Section Chief Kuda, do you know what our publishing house’s sales volume was in the first half of the year? A full 3 million copies, of which your company ordered 1.3 million.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I originally thought we could cooperate very happily, but I didn't expect your company to be so pessimistic about my next work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looking at it this way, I will also have to consider whether to entrust the subsequent editions of my previous works to your company for distribution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Kuda Kenichi broke out in a cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reduction in orders for Akiwara Yuto’s new book this time was an order from his superiors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the higher-ups also said to try their best to appease Akiwara Yuto, as there were significant mutual interests between the two sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Akiwara Yuto really got angry and refused to allow orders for his previous books, it would undoubtedly be a serious dereliction of duty for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Akiwara-sensei, look...\" he tried to appease the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Akiwara Yuto waved his hand, not bothering to continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called for Nishijima Sota, and the two walked straight out the door, leaving the headquarters of Tokyo Publishing Sales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the distant sky, Akiwara Yuto made a decision in his heart...\u003C\u002Fp>",1212,"2026-06-21T03:58:02.196Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","7e671802e148e693aedb9c2f1aa7dfcfe23da38de8f9d473d7b652795fd42a95","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-292","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-290",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]