Chapter 16: We Are Screwed
"Taboo Paradise" had been a magazine for a long time. Although the quality of the paper was poor, it had been living well because of its specificity. And due to the same reason, the magazine had also been stable in sales for a long time.
If it was a common magazine, when there was a huge fluctuation in sales, the magazine could send "return receipt" (a questionnaire attached to the magazine) to readers or find the reason from the letters of enthusiastic readers.
However, most readers of adult magazines were shy. Even if they filled in the return receipt, they usually didn't send it back to the magazine's editorial department. It was not hard to understand. After all, it would be too embarrassing to be seen by their neighbors when they sent in the questionnaires. There were fewer readers still who would send letters to the magazine, but most of these readers were perverts, and their opinions were impossible to be used for reference.
Therefore, the readers of magazines like "Taboo Paradise" could be called "silent majority". Once the sales of the magazines fluctuated, editors had to figure out the reasons why for themselves.
"I think it's because of the new mangaka, Beauty Baijie, who has made a breakthrough in the creation of female characters," said Editor Ida Shinji, "His manga improved the quality of our magazine, which eventually led to the good sales."
"It sounds reasonable, however, can a good manga make the sales of our magazine increase so greatly?" asked Kumagai Kazushi in a confused tone, "I feel like I'm dreaming."
"You are right. The quality of a magazine can hardly have such a significant effect on sales in a short time, however, our magazine is different from general magazines, this theory doesn't work with our magazine. First, we don't have to worry about non-paying readers."
Kumagai Kazushi nodded. He understood what Ida meant.
The non-paying readers were those who didn't buy magazines but stood at the bookstore and finished reading them in front of the bookshelves. They belonged to the non-paying reader group.
According to the unwritten rules of the bookstore industry today, the bookstore owners wouldn’t forcibly drive these non-paying readers away. Even if the bookstore owners were not happy with them, they would only take some roundabout measures to expel these readers skillfully, such as frowning in front of them or sweeping the floor at their feet and so on.
Therefore, some “thick-skinned” readers had a strong heart for finishing reading a book standing in the bookstore. Especially when it was a manga, which wouldn't take too much time for them to read. Therefore, the non-paying reader group of mangas was far bigger than the non-paying reader group of other books.
However, "Taboo Paradise" seldom had non-paying readers, because it was an adult magazine!
Very few people would stand in front of the bookshelves, pick and choose adult books.
Another important reason was that the purpose of buying adult magazines. They bought adult magazines for "use"! This required a quiet environment. Most people would read adult magazines alone in their rooms instead of standing in the bookstore.
"I see. Editor Nagaoka, what's your opinion?"
"In my humble opinion," said Editor Nagaoka, "The main reason is like what Editor Ida said, the quality of our magazine has improved because of Beauty Baijie's manga. I think another reason is that Beauty Baijie's manga has opened up a new market for us: the youth market."
Editor Ida felt embarrassed, "Is it suitable to say this?"
"Don't worry, we are just talking about it here. Of course, we must deny that in public, but now, we can trust each other fully. In my view, the youth group is a big hidden gold mine!"
All the three of them nodded.
Adults could enjoy plenty of entertainments, such as going to bars, visiting Ginza, or finding a girlfriend if they wanted. They had places and ways to make themselves happy. However, teenagers were strictly restrained in the school, they had no way to release their pressures. In 1974, there were no mobile phones or computers they could play with, only magazines and books could be used for their source of happiness.
However, adult magazines should refuse to sell to teenagers. At least, this should be their attitude on the surface.
"But, how can teenagers get our magazine? In theory, they can't buy our magazine!" asked President Kumagai Kazushi.
"As you said, it's just 'in theory'," said Nagaoka, "In fact, some bookstores will secretly sell adult books to teenagers, and some hooligans will buy these magazines and sell them to high school students. In short, as long as teenagers are willing to buy adult books, they will always have access to our magazine. Therefore, I think we should encourage Sensei Baijie to draw more mangas for teenagers. This will help our magazine open up a new market among teenagers."
"Nagaoka!" said Editor Ida angrily, "I really misread you. I never expected that your face would be as white as a rice cake, but your heart is already as dirty as bean paste. You're just a rice cake with bean paste inside!"
"Is a rice cake with bean paste inside still a rice cake? Are you talking about glutinous rice ball?"
"Yes, you are a black-hearted glutinous rice ball!" Ida Shinji turned around and said to President Kumagai, "After all, I am a person with morality and integrity, I don't suggest our magazine to do this. I have suggested Sensei Baijie that the male protagonist in his manga should be an adult, I think this can express the attitude of our magazine more clearly."
"Well, I know exactly what you mean, Editor Ida," sighed President Kumagai, "To be honest, even if the male protagonist of Sensei Baijie's manga is an adult, it won't affect the sales of our magazine, we don't need to dirty our hands at all. Well, if it was a month ago, I would have supported your opinion."
Ida Shinji asked, "Why don't you support it now?"
"That's the bad news I'm going to say," whispered President Kumagai, "I'm afraid that our magazine is going to be shut down."
"What?!"
"What are you talking about?!"
Ida Shinji and Nagaoka Itsuki were frightened.
"Yeah, you heard me. The magazine is facing a big crisis, maybe it will be shut down soon…"
"Crisis? Our magazine has been running well and the flow of funds is healthy too. Where is the crisis from?" asked Ida Shinji, "And recently, the sales are rising, everything is becoming better. I don't see any crisis!"
"It's not our problem, it's because of the chairman." President Kumagai touched his bald head and helplessly explained it to them.
Koki Kotaro was the chairman of "Taboo Paradise". He was a very strange businessman, and many people thought that he was a fool. Undoubtedly, he was rich. In this capitalist world, money means everything!
"Taboo Paradise" was Koki Kotaro's first company. After that, he put money in a lot of other industries and somehow, he became richer and richer. Now, when Koki Kotaro looked back, he thought that the magazine "Taboo Paradise" was already out of date.
First of all, it was an adult magazine. Koki Kotaro was a successful businessman, if the public knew that he was also the boss of an adult magazine, he would become notorious. If the magazine could bring him a lot of money, he wouldn't mind it, but the earnings of the magazine wasn't so ideal.
Secondly, the most important thing was that nowadays, Japan was developing at a high speed. There were just too many businesses that could let him make money. The housing market, the stock market… too many people threw a million yen into the stock market and earned 10 million yen a week later. The enormous profits had driven countless people crazy.
"Regardless of Tokyo's housing market, the stock market is crazier. One of my friends complained to me that his casino is going to be shut down, because almost all the past customers are playing in the stock market now." Kumagai Kazushi sighed and lit up a cigarette for himself, taking a deep breath. He looked at Ida Shinji and continued, "Well, Ida, do you know the Yamaguchi Formation?"
"Ah, Yakuza?"
"Yes, one of their team leaders and I are friends. We drank together several days ago, do you know what he told me?"
"Well, what?"
"He said that the Yamaguchi Formation has now shutdown many casinos and nightclubs," said Kumagai Kazushi, who suddenly leaned forward and lowered his voice, "It is said that they have even taken a large part of the money from the drug business and invested it to the housing market!"
Kumagai Kazushi drew on his cigarette and continued, "How crazy the world is! Building houses can earn more money than selling white powder! It's crazy! Do you understand it now? Our magazine has done well, but it's nothing compared with the housing market and the stock market."
