[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-literary-master-of-tokyo":3,"chapter-literary-master-of-tokyo-literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-312":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},2355161,4607,"Chapter 312: Poaching Talent","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-312",312,"\u003Cp>Tokyo, headquarters of the Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai (Tohan) Corporation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koji Kuzumoto walked into the headquarters building, cast a disdainful glance at the \"long line\" at the business office in the lobby, and then stepped into the elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the director of the Tohan Literary Book Distribution Department, he believed that the company setting up a dedicated business lobby on the ground floor to focus energy on communicating with these publishers was undoubtedly a waste of effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These publishers often had to come here and \"beg\" bitterly just to sell a few hundred or a thousand more books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, if they don't sell, won't they still end up being returned anyway?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, in his view, the company should refuse to let these publishers visit in person and instead use the telephone to set specific order quantities and quotes in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even if they misjudged and some publishers fell into a business crisis due to distribution difficulties, it wouldn't matter. As long as they firmly held onto the business of the Big Four publishers, that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the volume of publications from the Big Four is the cornerstone of the entire Japanese publishing market system and the largest source of profit for Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elevator doors slowly closed and rose to his floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped out of the elevator and went straight to his department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Director Kuzumoto, this is bad!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon seeing Koji Kuzumoto, his capable subordinate Kenichi Kuda ran over in a hurry, his expression filled with panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koji Kuzumoto frowned and looked at him, but he didn't reprimand him, only saying, \"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kenichi Kuda stopped and swallowed hard, saying, \"Over at Tsutaya Publishing, they can only allocate ten thousand copies of the subsequent print run of *Snow Country* to us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten thousand copies?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koji Kuzumoto was somewhat puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This number was neither large nor small; if it were based on past business, it wouldn't be strange, but this time, due to the massive media exposure, they had placed an order for sixty thousand copies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Tsutaya Bookstore had lost its mind and didn't want to make money?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or had they reached more cooperation agreements with Nippon Shuppan Hanbai?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kenichi Kuda seemed to see his thoughts and continued, \"It's not just us; Tsutaya Bookstore is only giving Nippon Shuppan Hanbai ten thousand copies as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added, \"Perhaps Tsutaya Bookstore is dissatisfied with some of our previous measures.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was very clear that before this, due to pressure from the major shareholder Keihan Publishing, Tohan had played many dirty tricks in settlement and promotion with Tsutaya Bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, finding excuses to delay settlement times or intentionally omitting Tsutaya Publishing's books when promoting publications to bookstores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So in his view, this was likely retaliation from Tsutaya Bookstore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koji Kuzumoto laughed in anger when he heard this explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the two giants, Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai and Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Tsutaya Bookstore Publishing was merely a \"minor character.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they could sell millions of books a year, they only accounted for about 2% of the business volume within the two distributors' systems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the help of distributors, their books couldn't even sell outside of Tokyo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, just because they had been treated a little worse, they actually dared to do this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply \"insane\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a subordinate, Kenichi Kuda didn't have so many thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was puzzled about was whether Tsutaya Bookstore's president, Sota Nishijima, had some other way to sell the books?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kuda, you don't need to be involved in this matter; I will communicate with the higher-ups.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koji Kuzumoto thought for a while and gave this instruction to his subordinate, but a bitter smile appeared on Kenichi Kuda's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although everyone knew this was caused by the restrictions from the major shareholder Keihan Publishing, Tsutaya Bookstore was, after all, a partner that accounted for 2% of their business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This volume still carried some weight for the Literary Book Distribution Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the person directly dealing with Tsutaya Bookstore, he would likely have to take the blame when the time came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, subordinates taking the blame for their superiors was already a conventional practice in the Japanese workplace, so he couldn't say anything and could only swallow his bitterness in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 9:00 PM, Kenichi Kuda left Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai, preparing to return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To comfort himself, he specifically bought two bottles of beer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he arrived at his doorstep, he unexpectedly saw an \"acquaintance\"—the president of Tsutaya Bookstore, Sota Nishijima.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the other party, Kenichi Kuda was somewhat suspicious and uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that Tsutaya Bookstore regretted it and was prepared to allocate more goods to Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, that would mean the other party should go to the Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai headquarters to talk; why did they come to his house?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know how to respond for a moment and could only walk forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him, Sota Nishijima smiled and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Kuda, sorry to disturb you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Kenichi Kuda could only respond with a polite smile and then asked, \"President Nishijima, is there something you need this late?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sota Nishijima handed over a gift and said politely, \"There is indeed a matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kenichi Kuda took the gift and realized that if he didn't invite the other party inside, it would be too rude, so he had to invite him in and pour him a cup of tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the living room, Kenichi Kuda didn't intend to beat around the bush anymore and said bluntly, \"President Nishijima, please state your purpose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Tsutaya Bookstore was small in size compared to Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai, the other party was a president, while he was just a section chief with few subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sota Nishijima smiled, didn't answer immediately, and instead asked, \"Section Chief Kuda, what is your view on the current industry?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kenichi Kuda hesitated, but still replied, \"Sales are indeed very poor now, but if the economy recovers, the publishing industry might still recover.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the economic downturn, Tokyo Shuppan Hanbai's sales had dropped significantly compared to the past. But he believed that as long as the economy recovered and people had more disposable income, the publication market could still develop further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sota Nishijima nodded and then said, \"I hope you can join Tsutaya Bookstore and change the current industry with us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Kenichi Kuda felt that the other party was crazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One must know that the current industry is completely ruled by the Big Four publishers and the two major distributor giants!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was completely impossible for other publishers to get ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the expression on his face, Sota Nishijima knew he didn't believe his words, so he said, \"Please think carefully: if we didn't have the ability to change the industry, why would Keihan Publishing constantly suppress us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This...\" Kenichi Kuda hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sota Nishijima smiled, \"That is because we are in their most important mystery publication market! But it only took us a year and a half to reach this step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you give us a few more years, we can take away more of their other publication markets, such as traditional literature and magazines, or romance; in the future, we can even extend into magazine and film\u002Ftelevision businesses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kenichi Kuda was silent for a while, feeling that his words had some credibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsutaya Bookstore's greatest reliance was Akiwara Yuto, and the other party could write both mystery and traditional literature; who knows when he might enter even more fields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as long as there were works, businesses with higher profits like magazines and IP adaptations into film and television dramas could also be carried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Kenichi Kuda was somewhat moved, Sota Nishijima bowed and said, \"Section Chief Kuda, please join us! Let's change the industry together!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Kenichi Kuda was tempted, he wasn't some young person just entering the workplace, so he asked a very straightforward question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"President Nishijima, what does Tsutaya Bookstore need me to do? And what can you offer me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1346,"2026-06-21T03:58:02.196Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","d562fa02b8459d0408867030a5eebb40d2d818d3dabec70dfc944ae83155eba7","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-313","literary-master-of-tokyo-chapter-311",334,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fliterary-master-of-tokyo-cover.jpg"]