KiShin Plays broader plan

KiShin Plays is still in its early development stages, constrained by the relatively slow internet speed, limiting its use to matchmaking and online play. However, the forward-thinking KiShin software department envisions a more comprehensive future for the KiShin Play software.

Tone Matsumi, a dedicated software developer who joined KiShin a year ago, now serves as the technical lead for KiShin Play's ongoing development. Her commitment to KiShin, a corporation she wishes to remain a part of, is driven by the company's distinctive and humanitarian approach—a stark contrast to her experiences with other corporations.

As a fresh graduate in 1990, Tone Matsumi took on the role of a software developer in a particular electronic corporation. It marked her initiation into the professional world, a departure from the college life filled with youthful exuberance, puppy love, and romantic pursuits.

In her earlier, more carefree days, engrossed in romance with the popular young man in her class, Tone held a simplistic view of those working in society. She perceived them as dull individuals fixated on work, engaged in repetitive routines like waking up, eating, working, eating again, and sleeping—a lifestyle she vowed to avoid after graduation.

However, her perspective shifted dramatically upon entering the workforce. The corporation provided her with a confined workspace comprising a desk, computer, chair, and essential equipment. Her daily routine involved monotonously tapping away at the computer until numbness set in. Overtime became a norm, initially accompanied by a bonus that dwindled over weeks, rendering their extended efforts essentially futile.

Within a few months, Tone Matsumi underwent a transformation. The vibrant, cheerful self she once knew faded away, replaced by the very kind of monotonous existence she had vehemently disliked.

Caught in a relentless cycle of waking up, eating, working, returning home, eating again, and sleeping, Tone Matsumi found herself without a moment to relax, drained by the ceaseless routine. The lack of time for personal well-being, even skipping meals, took a toll on her.

In pursuit of a better work environment, Tone left her initial corporate job, optimistic about finding a company that valued its employees. However, upon joining another as a software developer, she discovered little difference and, to her dismay, realized it was even worse.

Repeated attempts to find a more fulfilling workplace revealed a disheartening pattern in Tokyo's corporate landscape—similar practices across seemingly different companies. Frustrated, Tone turned to beer as a temporary escape from the harsh reality.

During a high school reunion, Tone encountered a former classmate who had been bullied but now lived happily with a fulfilling job in a company that offered extensive benefits, including life and health insurance. Skeptical, Tone and her classmates initially thought he was boasting until he mentioned the company's name: 'KiShin Electronics.' Intrigued, Tone and her peers became eager to learn more about KiShin.

In April 1994, Tone Matsumi applied to join the KiShin Rules software department in Minato City.

Upon being accepted and hired, initial skepticism gave way to astonishment as she encountered the workstation. The software department's workspace was impressively expansive, providing ample room for each employee.

What left Tone truly dumbfounded was the additional floor adjacent to the workstation—a dedicated space for employees to unwind. This floor featured a café for conversations, an arcade section for leisure, a restaurant for dining, and even a massage area. The emphasis on creating a relaxing environment for employees at KiShin was a stark revelation for Tone Matsumi.

Moreover, beyond the attractive salary, the computers provided were cutting-edge Apple models not yet available in the market, showcasing the company's commitment to utilizing the latest technologies.

The company also refrains from enforcing overtime unless employees express a desire for it, with a bonus as an incentive. Initially doubtful about KiShin's commitment, Tone Matsumi found reassurance after conversing with her new colleagues.

As time unfolded, a year into her tenure, Tone experienced the genuinely positive atmosphere of KiShin's workspace. She realized that choosing to join KiShin was one of the best decisions she had ever made. The fulfilling time spent with colleagues at the company café, karaoke sessions, and enjoying the various amenities on the dedicated relaxation floor in the KiShin building transported her back to her youthful days.

Thanks to the uplifting environment at KiShin, Tone Matsumi felt a rejuvenation of her lost youth, gradually reclaiming it from the grasp of the oppressive corporate culture she had experienced before joining the company.

Choosing not to conform to a dull routine and finding joy in her role as a software developer, Tone Matsumi earned a promotion within just a year. She ascended to the role of technical lead, entrusted with a small team to spearhead a software development project.

Presently, Tone Matsumi and her team of software developers are actively engaged in the development of KiShin Play software. Reflecting on the past, Tone fondly recalls the excitement shared among her team when they met Shinro Suzuki, who entrusted them with the task of developing the KiShin Play software.

"This software that I have in mind will aim to enhance our video games, such as Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, by facilitating matchmaking through direct TCP/IP connections between players," explained Shinro Suzuki to Tone Matsumi and her team.

Though brimming with excitement, Tone Matsumi and her team restrained their enthusiasm, attentively noting Shinro Suzuki's ideas.

Subsequently, Shinro Suzuki expanded on the concept, revealing that matchmaking was merely the initial stage of the software's development. The broader plan involved extending its support to more PC video games, with the ultimate goal being a platform where PC users could easily download games.

This idea piqued Tone Matsumi's curiosity, and she felt a surge of excitement upon hearing Shinro Suzuki emphasize the software's crucial role in KiShin's future. Her team shared in this sentiment, but alongside the excitement, they sensed the weight of the responsibility and pressure associated with the ambitious project.

[I hope you don't mind the employee's perspective in this chapter...]