150 Urgency and One Piece

In Tokyo, Japan, despite the popularity of the 'Pokémon' anime in the United States, the KiShin franchise was gradually losing ground due to fierce competition from video games released by Tora and Suzuki. The rapid advancements in graphics, sprites, and the superior 16-bit consoles were becoming increasingly evident.

While many people still enjoyed KiShin's video games for their innovative gameplay, it was undeniable that the graphics were becoming outdated by 1992.

Consequently, KiShin SKT FamiCom sales saw a gradual decline, while Tora and Suzuki's video game consoles experienced a steady rise in sales.

Furthermore, Suzuki also introduced their anime, 'Mechanical Hero,' which revolved around a group of five young individuals operating a massive robot to combat villains or hostile nations with destructive intentions, seeking to conquer or wreak havoc. The 'Mechanical Hero' was always there to save the day.

This series gained popularity, particularly among the youth and children. While it may not have reached the same level of popularity as Pokémon, it captivated young Japanese viewers with a peculiar fascination for robots.

Similarly, Tora released an anime featuring robots, but with a unique twist. It featured a giant robot controlled by a lone individual, with the central character, Akisa Mori, embarking on a journey to become the greatest mecha pilot.

Akisa Mori engaged in duels with other mecha pilots, whether they were heroes or villains, making for an intriguing plot that outshone Suzuki's anime. However, it might not yet be on the same level as Pokémon in terms of popularity.

Tora's anime, titled 'Great Mecha,' not only gained popularity in Japan but also outshone Suzuki's 'Mechanical Hero' in terms of its storyline and overall appeal.

The innovations introduced by Tora and Suzuki in the realm of animation entertainment and video games quickly became evident to the masses in Japan. Many devoted KiShin fans grew concerned about the future of the KiShin brand.

In Asia, a significant number of KiShin's video games were pirated and sold at lower prices in some parts of the continent. This piracy led to a gradual decline in KiShin's video game sales. Moreover, FamiClones from China entered the market. Despite their faulty performance, these inexpensive video game consoles could run some KiShin video games, further contributing to the decline in KiShin's FamiCom sales.

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[Toshima Ward, Tokyo, Japan]

[KiShin Headquarters]

As worries loomed over the fate of KiShin, some eagerly anticipated the company's potential downfall. Shin, upon hearing of the challenges the company faced, wore a grave expression on his face. Beside him, Mira looked at him and asked, "Should we finally release our 16-bit and Gameboy?" Mira was deeply concerned and overwhelmed by the challenges confronting KiShin. She felt as though the world was turning against them after the company's relatively smooth sailing for about a year or so.

Shin shook his head and reassured, "We'll address that, don't worry. But it's not the right time for it just yet."

Mira, still visibly concerned, was about to voice her thoughts when Shin chuckled and retrieved something from his office desk.

He handed a manga to Mira, offering comfort, and said, "To help calm your nerves, read this."

Curiously, Mira examined the manga cover, spotting the title 'One Piece' in English letters. She exclaimed, "A manga?" clearly puzzled about why Shin was giving it to her.

Shin nodded with a smile and explained, "I co-authored this manga, and it falls under KiShin and Shounen Jump's rights," pointing to the KiShin logo on the manga cover.

Mira nodded and opened the pages, her curiosity piqued.

Shin smiled warmly at Mira. Currently, many of their retail partners were inquiring about the release of their 16-bit console. Shin acknowledged the need to release it, but the 16-bit system still required optimization and performance enhancements. As for the Gameboy, since Shin had enlisted the assistance of researchers from Silicon Valley to create a color Gameboy, it was also undergoing testing to determine if it needed further optimization and quality improvements. These tests were expected to be completed around February.

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While KiShin faced numerous challenges due to its ambitious endeavors, 'Dragon Ball,' a manga sponsored by KiShin, was experiencing a tremendous surge in popularity within the manga industry.

The manga 'Dragon Ball' had been largely overlooked by the business world, and KiShin's investments in the industry had been forgotten. However, the popularity of 'Dragon Ball' continued to rise with each passing day.

'Dragon Ball' had already published 15 chapters, completing the first volume titled 'Monkey King' and now moving on to the second volume. Enthusiastic manga fans engaged in lively discussions about the plot of 'Dragon Ball.'

As manga enthusiasts remained passionate about 'Dragon Ball,' another manga emerged destined for great success: 'One Piece.'

Young Okubo Kenji purchased the Shounen Jump weekly magazine with the intention of reading 'Dragon Ball,' but he stumbled upon an intriguing new manga.

The first page of the manga displayed the title "One Piece" along with the 'ONE PIECE' logo, followed by "'Chapter 1: Romance Dawn'." On the same page, a passage read, "[Gold Roger, The 'KING OF THE PIRATES,' had achieved it all. Wealth, Fame, and Power had all been his.]" Accompanied by an illustration of two soldiers crossing swords with a mysterious figure in a coat.

The subsequent paragraph explained, "[Not surprisingly, the final words he spoke before they lopped off his head inspired adventurers throughout the world to sail the seas.]"

In the next panel, a man with a comical mustache wore a wide grin as he declared, "My treasure? Why, it's right where I left it..." He then added, "It's yours if you can find it... But you'll have to search the whole world!!!"

The following panel depicted a jubilant crowd roaring with enthusiasm, shouting, "Roaarrr!!!"

On the upper right side, a paragraph began with the words, "[The world...]" and on the lower left side, another paragraph continued the thought with, "[Is about to embark on the great era of piracy...]"

Okubo Kenji's interest was greatly piqued as he turned the page. The second page featured a drawing of a young woman cheering with her arms raised to the air, surrounded by various unfamiliar characters.

With this, Okubo Kenji became fully engrossed and began reading the first chapter of 'One Piece.'

He couldn't help but chuckle as he read about Luffy's mockery of the overweight female pirate and laughed at the child with glasses and a comical appearance. Everything about the manga felt fresh and engaging. Okubo Kenji particularly appreciated the art style, which he found to be both unique and appealing. The fight scenes had a comical touch, and the characters' expressions seemed to draw inspiration from 'Dragon Ball' or American cartoons like 'Tom and Jerry.' Regardless, Okubo Kenji thoroughly enjoyed the manga, even from just the first chapter.

After finishing the first chapter of 'One Piece,' he continued by flipping the pages to read 'Dragon Ball.'