Crossover: Pen name: Dazai Osamu, Omega Kasumigaoka

Page 62

in the living room.

Kitahara Makoto sat with a middle-aged man who looked rather plump.

The two of them suddenly burst into laughter, seemingly enjoying a pleasant conversation.

Masayoshi Son said with a sigh.

"Teacher Kitahara is truly a prodigy at such a young age. Not only has he become famous overseas for his writing, but he has also become a literary master at such a young age. Even his entrepreneurial ventures have been so successful, establishing our country's largest video website."

"When I was your age, I was just messing around in school and had no idea what society was like. I admire you!"

"Mr. Yasumoto, you are joking. The SoftBank Group that you built is one of the top ten companies in Japan. My achievements are nothing compared to yours."

Kitahara Makoto said modestly.

Masayoshi Son approached him on his own initiative today.

They used connections at Asahi TV.

Few people know that SoftBank is also a shareholder of TV Asahi, although its shareholding is not very large.

Masayoshi Son asked a high-ranking official at TV Asahi to pass on a message to him.

He said he wanted to visit him at his home.

Kitahara Makoto was somewhat surprised, but he still gave him the address.

This led to the meeting between the two.

"Mr. Yasumoto, please have some tea."

Kasumigaoka Utaha walked over carrying a tea tray.

Mai Sakurajima has been filming outside these past few days and hasn't been home.

She naturally took on the responsibilities of the mistress of the house.

"Thank you, Ms. Kasumigaoka."

Masayoshi Son picked up the teacup with both hands to show respect to the host.

Kasumigaoka Utaha put down the tea and then turned and left.

After she left, Masayoshi Son spoke to Makoto Kitahara.

"Teacher Kitahara, it was a very pleasant chat with you just now. I feel like I learned a lot. But there's actually another matter I wanted to discuss with you!"

"Please say."

A strange light flashed in Kitahara Makoto's eyes, but he remained outwardly calm.

Masayoshi Son said with a smile.

"Since that's the case, I'll get straight to the point: I wonder if NicoNico Animation accepts investment?"

"really!"

Kitahara Shinshin thought to himself.

Masayoshi Son, such a big businessman, suddenly wanted to visit him.

He knew without even thinking that the other party was there for NicoNico animation.

Otherwise, it couldn't be just so he could write a book, could it?

Moreover, after the turn of the millennium, Masayoshi Son's investment strategy became heavily biased towards 'internet companies'.

He believes the internet is the only way forward.

This also led to his investment in that Mr. Ma.

And history has proven his prediction to be correct.

The internet is indeed the future.

With this foresight, he led SoftBank Group to another peak.

Therefore, he couldn't possibly have any other reason than coming for NicoNico animation.

In response to Masayoshi Son's questioning.

Kitahara Shin replied calmly.

"Money? NicoNico Animation has no shortage of it, but!"

"My business philosophy has always been that we should all make money together, progress together, and grow together."

"What, SoftBank is planning to invest in NicoNico Animation, which I own?"

"Yes!"

Masayoshi Son said with a solemn expression.

"SoftBank very much hopes to work together with NicoNico to help NicoNico grow into a more advanced company, and make progress together to make the video website business bigger and stronger."

Kitahara Makoto was silent for a moment before continuing:

"SoftBank Group is one of the top ten companies in Japan. It is powerful and has extensive connections. I personally agree with SoftBank Group's investment."

"I wonder what value Mr. Sun would give to NicoNico Animation?"

"Seventeen billion US dollars!"

Masayoshi Son said without hesitation.

His price was not unfounded.

Just recently, Google spent $16.5 billion to acquire a company that also operates a video website business.

The company's name is YouTube.

Later generations preferred to call this website 'YouTube'!

Masayoshi Son did not know that YouTube would one day grow into a company with a market value of hundreds of billions of dollars.

However, he is very optimistic about the path of "Internet + video".

He happened to see the shadow of YouTube in NicoNico animation.

NicoNico anime is really similar to YouTube.

Moreover, it has now become the number one video website in Japan.

After conducting an investigation, Masayoshi Son personally approached NicoNico, intending to invest in the company!

.......................................

Masayoshi Son, whose Japanese name is Yasumoto Masayoshi, is a Japanese of Korean descent whose ancestral home is Fujian.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Valuation of Three Billion

"too low!"

Faced with Masayoshi Son's offer, Kitahara Makoto shook his head and said.

He had previously offered Toho and Fuji Television a billion dollars.

They thought it was too expensive and didn't invest.

Now, thanks to "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai," as well as Korean dramas, Hong Kong movies, and a large number of high-quality original videos from content creators, the popularity of these shows has increased.

The scale of NicoNico animation has far exceeded that of that time.

In addition, there's the upcoming release of "Your Name".

"Your Name" will have a box office of at least 10 billion.

A mere $1.7 billion valuation.

It no longer meets his current assessment of NicoNico Animation.

Masayoshi Son was somewhat surprised that such a high figure as seventeen billion US dollars could not sway the young man, Makoto Kitahara.

he asked doubtfully.

"So, what price are you planning to quote, Mr. Kitahara?"

Three billion US dollars!

"Sigh~"

Masayoshi Son has met many people in his life, including madmen, lunatics, and cowards.

But at this moment, he couldn't help but gasp at Kitahara Makoto's enormous appetite.

Three billion US dollars.

That's almost double his previous offer.

That's almost enough to buy two YouTube channels.

That's 330 billion yen!

More importantly, this is a new company that has been established for less than a year.

Although NicoNico is now the number one video website in Japan.

But let's not mention that Funny Animation is chasing after it.

Take NicoNico Animation as an example, given its current scale.

The various business lines are not yet fully developed.

They also failed to find a practical way to make a profit.

This company, still in its infancy, is asking for three billion US dollars.

That's a really unseemly way of eating.

Masayoshi Son could only speak in the most tactful way possible.

"Teacher Kitahara, this price..."

"Is it too high?"

"No, it's not high at all!"

Kitahara Shin shook his head and said.

"NicoNico is now the largest video website in Japan, far surpassing the second-ranked Funny Animation, with a market share of nearly 80%."

"Most importantly, I have a well-established profit-making mechanism, so making money is not a problem at all. Under these circumstances, why shouldn't NicoNico be worth three billion US dollars?"

What are NicoNico's profit-making methods?

"I'm sorry, this is a trade secret, and I can't tell you at the moment."

Although video membership fees are a thing.

You'll be able to guess it if you study it for a while longer.

But Kitahara Shin instinctively wanted to hide a little longer.

Once his Beidouxing Animation has fully matured.

That's when he introduced membership fees and started reaping profits from unsuspecting investors.

Facing the confident Kitahara Makoto.

Masayoshi Son pondered for a moment, then asked in confusion.

"But what if you, Kitahara-sensei, don't tell me?"

"Why should I believe that NicoNico Animation can be profitable?"

"..."