The humid sea breeze from Victoria Harbour, carrying a hint of saltiness, caressed the faces of Takuya Nakayama and his group.
The bustling urban landscape intertwined with a slightly dated industrial area, forming Hong Kong's unique character.
Their first destination for this trip was Hua Ke Electronics Co., Ltd. in Hong Kong.
Anyone familiar with the development of China's electronics industry knows that Hua Ke Electronics was established in 1983, jointly set up in Hong Kong by China Resources Group and the former Fourth, Seventh, and Foreign Economic and Trade Ministries. It was then the largest integrated circuit manufacturing enterprise in Hong Kong and built China's first 4-inch wafer production line. This was considered technologically advanced production capacity even within China at that time.
Upon initial contact, the senior representatives of Hua Ke Electronics wore professional, polite smiles, but their eyes could not hide their caution towards these "distinguished guests" from a large Japanese company and their demands.
When Mr. Ishida presented the preliminary order quantity for the circuit boards and accessories for Sega's "pokémon" electronic pet, a subtle yet clear gasp filled the Hua Ke Electronics conference room.
"This... this quantity..."
Hua Ke's representative, Manager Li, adjusted his glasses, looking at the document in his hand with some disbelief.
They were more accustomed to producing products with relatively low technical content and stable order volumes, such as calculators, electronic watches, and radios.
Game consoles, especially from an industry giant like Sega from Japan, were still a relatively unfamiliar field for them.
Although the order provided by Sega was only for circuit board printing and assembly, not finished products, the quantity of the order still made them realize the immense scale of the gaming industry; the quantity of a single order required them to carefully count the zeros after the numbers.
"Mr. Ishida, Mr. Nakayama, it's not that we question your company's strength."
Manager Li pushed up the glasses on his nose, his gaze behind the lenses carrying a subtle scrutiny.
He cleared his throat, trying to keep his tone steady.
"It's just that such a massive order, and for an entirely new electronic product..."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the conference table.
"We... we need time to evaluate."
"To be frank with you both, Hua Ke's current main production lines are still focused on civilian consumer electronics, such as calculators and electronic watches."
"The technical difficulty isn't high, but the stability is its strength."
"The volume of your company's order poses a significant challenge to our personnel allocation, equipment load, and even supply chain pressure."
Manager Li's gaze swept over Ishida, finally resting on Takuya Nakayama's young yet composed face.
"Additionally, we are very concerned about the product's quality standards and technical requirements."
"After all, we want to ensure everything is foolproof, live up to your company's trust, and avoid unnecessary trouble due to lack of experience."
He spoke sincerely, clearly laying out Hua Ke's concerns.
The other party's doubts were within Takuya Nakayama's expectations.
He maintained a smile throughout, a smile that was not exaggerated but carried a reassuring power.
He nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Hua Ke Electronics' representatives one by one.
"Manager Li, everyone, I deeply understand your concerns."
Takuya Nakayama took the initiative to speak, his fluent and standard Chinese like a spring breeze, instantly easing the slightly tense atmosphere in the conference room.
Manager Li's eyes behind his glasses unconsciously widened a bit.
The other Hua Ke representatives also exchanged glances, showing some surprise and familiarity on their faces.
They hadn't expected this young Japanese man to speak such authentic Chinese.
"Regarding the assembly requirements and quality control standards for the circuit boards, we will provide the most detailed technical documents."
Takuya Nakayama continued, his voice clear and articulate.
"Furthermore, Sega will send an experienced team of engineers to be stationed at your factory, providing on-site guidance and assistance from the initial adjustment of the production line to the training of employees' skills, throughout the entire process."
"Our goal is to work with Hua Ke to create products that meet Sega's highest global standards; please rest assured on this point."
He did not directly refute the other party's concerns; instead, he first offered concrete solutions, demonstrating full sincerity.
"Before discussing the specific technical details, please allow me to take a moment of your time."
Takuya Nakayama changed the subject, his smile becoming more composed.
"I'd like to briefly introduce the current status and future of the electronic gaming industry that we are in."
Manager Li exchanged glances with his assistants beside him and nodded: "Mr. Nakayama, please speak, we are all ears."
For the next period, Takuya Nakayama fully utilized his profound understanding of the industry and his excellent eloquence.
He did not pile up dry data, nor did he dwell too much on abstruse technical terms.
"You may be somewhat unfamiliar with our gaming industry, and may even think it's just a pastime for children."
Takuya Nakayama's opening remarks carried a hint of self-deprecation, eliciting knowing smiles from the Hua Ke personnel, making the atmosphere even more relaxed.
"But I want to tell you a fact that might be somewhat disruptive to your perception."
His voice slightly rose, attracting everyone's attention.
"Last year, that is 1985, the total output value of the global electronic gaming market already exceeded 1 billion US dollars."
"Whoa—"
A slight stir rippled through the conference room; even Manager Li, who had maintained a serious expression, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
This number clearly exceeded their imagination.
"And this is just the beginning." Takuya Nakayama's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable confidence.
"Last year, Sega released a flagship game in Japan, and its first-week sales exceeded one million units."
"What does this represent?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
"It represents a massive demand for millions of circuit boards and millions of sets of accessories."
"And the portable electronic device we are planning this time will only have an even broader market prospect."
Manager Li unconsciously tightened his grip on his pen, and beads of sweat seemed to seep from his temples.
Takuya Nakayama continued to describe the industry's blueprint.
"From the earliest arcade games to later home game consoles, and now to the portable electronic devices we are about to launch, technological progress is constantly expanding the boundaries of gaming and continuously creating new market demands."
"In Japan and Europe/America, electronic games are already a new trend among young people. More and more people are embracing this trend."
"This order we are looking at now, Manager Li, everyone," Takuya Nakayama smiled slightly, "might truly be just the tip of the iceberg."
His words carried a hint of relaxed teasing: "Of course, this will also make your production lines incredibly busy—if you are willing to seize this opportunity."
On the faces of the Hua Ke representatives, the previous caution and doubt had been replaced by an expression mixed with excitement and contemplation.
Manager Li even took off his glasses and slowly wiped them with a cloth, as if digesting the immense amount of information.
"So, by cooperating with Sega, what you gain is not just a seemingly massive order."
Takuya Nakayama's gaze became deep and penetrating, and his tone grew serious.
"It is also an opportunity to grow together with a global top gaming company."
"An opportunity to directly access the latest industry technology and management experience."
"And a commitment to long-term stable cooperation that will continue to flow in the future."
The opportunity to access the latest technology! This sentence, like a precise pressure point, instantly struck the hearts of several Hua Ke executives who came from engineering backgrounds.
And other executives also had quite a few thoughts about "long-term stability."
Seeing this, Takuya also knew when to stop. The senior management of Hua Ke Electronics immediately made a decision—since they had already come, they might as well talk it over.