noveldepot Chapter 73: Takashimaya, Ichiro Sato
Chapter 73: Takashimaya, Ichiro Sato
During the flight, Li Jiagang kept thinking about the suggestions made by his uncle.
This method of cooperation is indeed very good.
Most importantly, he has great confidence in his washing machine. He believes that even in Japan, a country with advanced electrical appliances, his product can still succeed.
That's why he approved of this cooperation method.
Moreover, in his opinion, his uncle's suggestion was no longer a collaboration, but a carefully designed scheme to trap the other party in a performance-based shackle.
Of course, this kind of cooperation requires a high degree of confidence in one's own products, while the other party does not necessarily approve of them.
Otherwise, the other party isn't stupid.
What you can think of, how could others not think of? And why would they agree to cooperate in this way?
"So, have you figured it out?"
Seeing his nephew still pondering his suggestion, Li Yongsen smiled and asked him.
"Hmm! Uncle is indeed cunning..."
"Hmm!" Li Yongsen glared at him.
"No, no, no... it was a slip of the tongue," Li Jiagang corrected with a smile, "it should be 'shrewd and calculating'."
"Of course, after all, I've been in this industry for decades, so I've accumulated some experience."
"You're lucky, kid. You have someone to guide you. Back then, we had to figure everything out on our own."
"You must remember, there is no such thing as benevolence or righteousness in business," Li Yongsen solemnly instructed. "I believe you have also learned something from what happened with Meng Weimin yesterday. Business is like a battlefield; you must be careful in everything you do."
"In Hong Kong, if this happens in our own home base, we can use the ICAC and the power of the system as a weapon to eliminate the enemy."
The same principle applies to Japan. If you naively believe that the local system will treat you "fairly and cooperatively," you won't even be able to leave the airport.
He looked at Lijiagang and said seriously again, "Toshiba, Panasonic, Hitachi, Sony, which brand is the most trustworthy?"
Having cultivated a strong presence in the domestic market for many years, their official connections are already extensive. They have long since shut out countless intermediary brands by using reasons such as "technical standards," "safety certifications," and "environmental barriers."
If you don't bring a bit of "poison" with you, people will just think you're a country bumpkin who's coming to his death.
Throughout the journey, Li Jiagang listened attentively to his uncle's teachings and kept them firmly in mind.
Every conversation with his uncle about business experiences would greatly benefit him, and he would gain knowledge in many areas that were previously unknown to him.
Time flies...
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye.
The plane slowly landed at Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Through the porthole, the Tokyo sky appeared a cold, gloomy gray, as if shrouded in layers of icy smog.
It was clear that the temperature in Tokyo was much lower than in Hong Kong. At that moment, an announcement was made in Japanese and English, in a mechanical and polite manner.
Li Jiagang unbuckled his seatbelt, put on his coat, and prepared to disembark.
I just stepped out of the airport terminal.
Li Jiagang and the others suddenly heard a shout. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw many people holding up posters and shouting someone's name.
"What happened?" Li Jiagang asked, puzzled.
"Chairman, these people are welcoming some celebrity, her name is Matsuzaka Keiko," his secretary, Xiaomei, reported to him.
"Matsusaka Keiko?"
Li Jiagang had barely finished speaking.
A woman emerged from the airport; despite wearing sunglasses, her alluring and slender figure was still clearly visible.
Li Jiagang's eyes lit up.
"Who is this celebrity? Is he famous?" Li Jiagang couldn't help but ask curiously.
At this moment, his uncle glared at him and said, "Stop having such frivolous thoughts."
Upon hearing this, Li Jiagang dared not act rashly.
He glanced at the actress one last time with a hint of reluctance. He was quite fond of her alluring figure. If he hadn't been busy with official business, Li Jiagang would definitely have found an opportunity to get to know her.
"Let's go." Li Yongsen stared at Li Jiagang and called out. His movements were unhurried, yet he exuded an imposing aura. "Remember, the first thing you say when we meet is not about cooperation, but about respect."
Li Jiagang nodded, his gaze calm.
He knew this was not just a negotiation, but a psychological game. The other party was one of the top department store tycoons in Japan, a conglomerate that valued "face" above all else.
Honestly, for a small company like his, if it weren't for his uncle Li Yongsen's connections, it would have been impossible for his company to cooperate with Takashimaya, at least for now.
If you don't know your place and don't respect others from the start, and directly propose things like "betting" or "management rights," it will definitely fall through.
As I walked out of the airport, several black Toyota Century cars were lined up and waiting by the roadside.
The fact that they were greeted at the airport shows that the other party respects them quite a bit.
Of course, Li Jiagang knew he received this treatment because of his uncle.
The Toyota Century is a top-of-the-line luxury sedan launched by Toyota in 1967.
It is known as the "Rolls-Royce of Japan".
It is primarily intended for use by the Japanese Imperial Family, high-ranking government officials, and social entrepreneurs.
From a distance, they saw a man in his fifties, dressed in a sharp suit, with a standard smile, stepping out of the car and facing them.
He was none other than Sato Ichiro, one of the bigwigs and directors of the Japanese company "Takashimaya".
Takashimaya is a top-tier chain department store in Japan, mainly engaged in high-end department store retail, and also involved in real estate, manufacturing, construction, finance, catering and other businesses. It is a representative of high-end consumption and urban commercial landmarks in Japan's post-war economic boom.
In short, Takashimaya is considered a very powerful and large corporation in Japan.
"Li Jun, welcome!"
"Sato-kun, oh hi sashi buri (long time no see)."
After a brief greeting, the two exchanged pleasantries.
His uncle, Li Yongsen, introduced him to the man.
"Sato-kun, this is my nephew. The product we're collaborating on is manufactured by his company."
"Oh! Ms. Li, hello."
"Hello, Chairman Sato."
"Mr. Li, I've arranged a hotel for you. We haven't seen each other for so long. Tonight, I'll make sure to treat you well."
"Hahaha... Thank you, Sato-kun."
This would make Li Jiagang feel as if he, the person in charge of negotiating cooperation, was of no importance to the other party.
After a brief greeting, there was no conversation, and the other party treated his uncle with great hospitality, making him feel as if he were dispensable.
This left him feeling quite helpless.
"Once I've developed my business, you'll be begging me one day," Li Jiagang muttered to himself. He was genuinely dissatisfied with Sato Ichiro's disdain for him.
This also reminded him of a saying from the internet in later years: "Today you ignore me, tomorrow you'll be begging for my attention."
Once on the bus, his uncle and Sato shared one bus, while he rode in another.
The convoy drove out of the airport and across the elevated highways of Tokyo Bay. Li Jiagang kept looking out the window; Tokyo's skyscrapers were like a forest, and the streets were so clean it was enviable. He had to admit that at this moment, Tokyo was far more prosperous than Hong Kong.
In 1978, Japan was touted as the world's second-largest economy, and it certainly lived up to that claim. Looking at everything in Tokyo deeply moved Li Jiagang.
"Just wait, soon this place will become the second battlefield for my conquest of Lijiagang." He exuded a burning ambition at this moment.
Hong Kong will always be his primary battlefield.
After all, Hong Kong is his home base.
Tokyo, as the leading economic region in Asia, will undoubtedly become his second battleground in the future, a region where he will primarily reap the benefits of others.
Of course, he also understood that it would be very difficult, even extremely difficult, for a Chinese businessman like himself to develop in Japan, because Japanese companies at that time were quite xenophobic.
Asian businesses seeking to expand and thrive in Japan will inevitably face suppression from local companies. Only American investment in Japan receives different treatment.
At that time, he will also intervene as an American-funded enterprise, catching them off guard.
Soon we arrived at the Tokyo Grand Hotel.
"Li Jun, please go to your room and put your luggage away first. I'll wait for you upstairs at the hotel."
"Okay, thank you, Sato-kun."
On the way to the hotel room, Li Yongsen looked at him with a smile and said, "So, what did you feel?" "That's the arrogance of the Japanese. When there is inequality in status, they will act superior to everyone."
Li Jiagang nodded in approval.
"That's why I told you not to talk about cooperation when you meet, but to learn to respect each other first."
"Let's go, don't overthink it," Li Yongsen patted him on the shoulder. "The only way to earn someone's respect is to make yourself strong."
About thirty minutes.
Li Jiagang and his uncle went to the appointment.
As for Li Junjie, his secretary, bodyguards, and others, Li Jiagang told them to go out and eat on their own.
Inside the private room.
"Mr. Li, Ms. Li, welcome to Tokyo again. Please, don't be shy."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Sato-kun. Please."
During the meal, both sides tacitly avoided discussing work matters and instead chatted casually, with Li Jiagang listening to them reminisce about the past.
Although no cooperation was discussed during the meal, Li Jiagang did not come away empty-handed.
At least understand Ichiro Sato's personality.
This will be more advantageous for him in subsequent negotiations.