10 November 1995 Saturday
Today marked the official release date of the PZ-DVD Player in both Japan and the USA. Despite its relatively high price tag, the player sold remarkably well on its opening day, generating strong interest among consumers. Japanese media outlets, from television to newspapers, enthusiastically reported on what they described as the beginning of a new era in home cinema. Thanks to DVD technology, it was now possible to store an entire movie on a single disc—eliminating the need for multiple CDs and revolutionizing the viewing experience for households everywhere.
While newspapers and television were buzzing with coverage, discussions were also heating up online. On the ZAGE Forum, a dedicated thread titled "PZ-DVD Player" quickly gained traction among users.
Inside that thread, the original poster explained that the DVD Player was the result of a collaboration between ZAGE and Philips. He went on to describe how both the DVD player and the DVD format itself could represent the future of movies and television series. The discussion quickly became lively, with users sharing insights, asking questions, and speculating about the impact this new technology could have.
Questions like "Is it really worth 600 bucks?" or "Are Philips DVD Players actually any good or just hype?" began to flood the thread. These types of conversations not only sparked curiosity but also encouraged people to share firsthand impressions and speculation. The buzz grew rapidly—users posted early reviews, unboxing photos, and even comparisons with existing CD players. For many, it wasn't just about technical performance but also being part of a cultural shift. The sense that something groundbreaking had just been released pushed buyers over the edge. Those who had the money wasted no time; they rushed to their nearest electronics store and grabbed a unit, further boosting sales and feeding the growing excitement. What started as a few questions turned into a driving force behind the product's viral momentum.
But not everyone is happy.
Monday 12 November 1995 Toshiba offices.
Zanki frowned deeply as he reviewed the latest sales reports for the TEN CD Player. The numbers were dropping sharply, and it quickly became clear why—consumer interest had shifted dramatically toward the newly released DVD format. The launch of the DVD and the PZ-DVD Player had made the TEN CD Player seem outdated almost overnight. What once seemed like an innovative concept—playing up to ten CDs without swapping—now looked like a bulky inconvenience. With DVDs, a full-length movie could fit on a single disc, and switching to another film required just one simple swap. The efficiency, simplicity, and elegance of the new format were undeniable. Zanki was furious; this was his brainchild, his vision—and now it was being overshadowed and ridiculed by a superior technology.
"SHIT! How can this be?! F*CK Philips!" Zanki was enraged beyond measure. The TEN CD Player had been his own idea—an idea he once believed to be revolutionary. Now, in the wake of the PZ-DVD Player's success, it had become a complete joke. Burning with frustration, Zanki began reading up on the new device reports. As he dug deeper into the details, his eyes widened in disbelief. It wasn't just Philips behind the development—ZAGE was involved too. The realization struck him like lightning, adding betrayal to the humiliation.
"ZAGE! Zaboru! Damn it!" Zanki shouted, pacing furiously. "First that fucking Zaboru—protected by the damn government so I can't even touch him! AGHH! And now, before the ZUSUGA Handheld is even ready, he's already ruining my Toshiba projects! DAMN IT!" In a fit of rage, Zanki hurled his glass at the window, the shatter echoing through his office. He stood there fuming, then forced himself to breathe, to calm down. He had to gather himself—he had a crucial meeting with Toshiba shareholders next week, and he needed a strategy to defend his position and explain the unfolding disaster.
"Those old, greedy bastards will definitely blame me—like it's my fault—when they can't even come up with a single decent project themselves! All they do is throw money around and expect miracles!"
Zanki sighed but remained composed. "For them, I've got this. I'm sure I can persuade them—those old farts have simple minds," he muttered confidently. Ever since he was a child, Zanki had a knack for persuasion, always knowing the right words to say and when to say them. It was as if he had an instinct for navigating delicate situations, and now was no different—he felt in control. "Still, I need to prepare for my departure from Toshiba. They're most likely doomed without me anyway."
Even without this failed plan, Zanki was already preparing to fully leave both Toshiba and Mitsubishi behind in order to focus solely on ZUSUGA. Unlike his previous ventures, ZUSUGA was entirely his own family creation. Especially after his incompetent brother Zukechi's disastrous handling of the early development, Zanki saw ZUSUGA as his opportunity to prove himself on his own terms, without legacy baggage or internal sabotage.
Zanki sat back, lost in thought. "What should I do now... I put the ZUSUGA Handheld on hold for several months just to focus all my energy on the Toshiba TEN CD Player project. And now, it looks like this whole thing is going to crash and burn—and my name is going to be dragged down with it."
Zanki's forehead throbbed with tension. "This is all because of that damn Zaboru. Should I hire an assassin to take him out? No... too risky. Hamazou's protecting him," he muttered through clenched teeth. He leaned back, eyes narrowed, lost in thought. "What if I spread a rumor about Hamazou's involvement with ZAGE? But that would make me an enemy of Hamazou and Rashomon..." A chill ran down his spine. "That guy's terrifying. Sometimes I wonder if he really does have that 'Demon Intuition' everyone talks about—he's infamous for sniffing out schemes from miles away."
Zanki shook his head. Harming Zaboru would be a terrible idea. First, there was the government, and then Hamazou—both powerful entities protecting him. If it were just one of them, Zanki might be reckless enough to take the risk. But with two formidable forces behind Zaboru, he couldn't—and he shouldn't.
Zanki let out a heavy sigh and took a long sip of his whisky. He was determined to get drunk tonight. "This was supposed to be a good day... damn it," he muttered bitterly.
Meanwhile at Sonaya, Hikaru Kurata was in a meeting with the CD division team, discussing the company's response to the sudden rise of DVD technology.
"So you're saying it's possible for us to recreate these DVD players on our own?" Hikaru asked. One of his CD engineers nodded. "Yes, boss. Legally, we should be able to. Since we, along with Philips and Toshiba, own the rights to CD technology, we technically have the grounds to develop something similar. We could reverse-engineer the DVD technology and repackage it under a different name with our own proprietary features."
Sonaya considered the idea carefully. "Interesting... but using a different name might be a bad move. 'DVD' already has strong market recognition and sounds solid," he thought. "Alright, time to set up a meeting with Philips—Jan Timmer still owes me a couple of favors. I'll negotiate the rights to use the DVD name." Hikaru Kurata grinned, already planning his next move.
Hikaru Kurata also knew there was no way Philips could have developed something like the DVD on their own—especially when Sonaya had spent years failing to do so. It had to be Zaboru's influence. Hikaru let out a quiet sigh. "Zaboru again..." with that Hikaru are telling his secretary to contact Jan Timmer of Philips.
Meanwhile at the Renkonan household, Sanika and Keiko—Zaboru's sister and mother—were having a wonderful time enjoying their new PZ-DVD Player. Zaboru had generously purchased every movie currently available on DVD for them, including the complete collection of Disney films released so far. The living room was filled with laughter and nostalgia as the two delighted in watching timeless classics like "Snow White" and "Pinocchio." The PZ-DVD Player had quickly become the centerpiece of their evenings, bringing the magic of cinema right into their home.
To be continue
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