Black Swan Event

The celebration party hadn't even completely faded when the critical acclaim and box office success of "Kiki's Delivery Service" soared, seemingly foreshadowing a glorious summer for Yoshita.

Nakayama Takuya was in a great mood because of love, and he even walked around the company with a swagger.

He was humming a tune, reviewing the latest art progress of Sonic the Hedgehog, when the office door was suddenly pushed open.

"Executive!"

His secretary entered, her usually composed face now filled with panic, holding a newly printed fax in her hand.

"Something terrible has happened!"

Nakayama Takuya took the still-warm fax paper, and the moment his eyes swept over the title, all the smile on his face vanished as if extinguished by ice water.

The newspaper headline, in the largest font, was shocking. "<Suspect in Serial Child Abduction and Murder Case Miyazaki Tsutomu, Confesses to All Crimes!>"

The report detailed the nearly 6,000 videotapes that police seized from his home, which included a large number of animation, special effects, and crime videos he filmed himself.

Between the lines, the media has subtly linked the words "animation," "comics," and "videotapes" with a vicious and deranged serial killer.

A media storm targeting the entire subculture has already begun.

Nakayama Takuya put down the newspaper, his face ashen.

He knew this day would come, but when the hurricane that swept across Japan finally arrived, the oppressive feeling that came crashing down on him was suffocating.

The phone then rang incessantly, the first caller being Suzuki Toshio.

"Nakayama -san!" The voice on the other end of the phone was hoarse and urgent, with a lot of background noise. "Did you see the news? Oh my god—"

This is absolutely insane! All the TV stations are reporting on it! They're treating us, everyone who makes animation, like we're accomplices to these psychopaths!

The box office momentum of "Kiki's Delivery Service" plummeted, and some parent groups even began calling for a boycott of all animated films.

"Suzuki -san, calm down." Nakayama Takuya's voice was unusually calm, carrying an undeniable power.

"Calm down? How can I calm down! Director Miyazaki has locked himself in his studio and won't come out! Tokuma Shoten's phones are ringing off the hook!"

"Then let him stay locked up. Anything you say now will be wrong," Nakayama Takuya said firmly. "Don't give any interviews, don't make any statements. The media wants bloodshed, not the truth. If you go out now, they'll just tear you to pieces."

He paused, then continued, "Yoshita's works are about dreams and beauty. Trust your audience; they can distinguish between magic and evil. Hang in there, the storm will eventually pass."

After hearing Takuya's story, Suzuki Toshio seemed somewhat relieved. Takuya offered him a few more words of comfort before hanging up the phone.

After hanging up the phone, he immediately dialed Nakagawa Eri's number.

"It's me."

"I saw it." Eri's voice on the other end of the phone was grave. "My father just finished an emergency meeting. The station has decided to temporarily reduce the broadcast time of all animation programs and to conduct a 'purification review' of the content."

"As expected." Nakayama Takuya leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

"And what about you guys? What about Sega?" Eri's tone revealed undisguised worry.

As an emerging entertainment industry, games are often seen by many conservatives as something that leads to "wasting one's life and neglecting one's duties."

Now, this bucket of dirty water has been poured over them even more forcefully.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Nakayama Takuya's tone was calm. "They could kill us all in one fell swoop, but they'd have to see if I agree to it."

He had barely finished speaking when the office door was pushed open again.

Nakayama Atsuo Jixiong walked in with a livid face, followed by a group of company executives who looked bewildered.

"Takuya!"

Nakayama Takuya whispered "Wait for my call" to the person on the other end of the phone, and then hung up.

He stood up, looked at his father and the stern-faced board members behind him, and spoke calmly.

"President, everyone, please calm down."

One of the directors couldn't help but step forward and exclaimed excitedly, "Executive! People outside are saying that we game developers are poisoning the minds of teenagers!"

The stock price has already started to fall!

"Yes! And those animations we sponsored, they've all become a hot potato now!"

"I think we should immediately suspend all projects that collaborate with anime IPs! Let's wait and see how things develop!"

Arguments rose and fell in the conference room.

Nakayama Takuya remained silent, simply listening attentively.

He only spoke slowly when everyone had finished talking and turned their attention to him.

Have you all finished speaking?

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire conference room.

"Because of a criminal named Miyazaki, should the entire 'animation' industry be destroyed?" He looked around sharply. "Then should we shut down all the banks in Japan just because a banker embezzled public funds?"

"That's not the same!" someone retorted.

"Nothing's different!" Nakayama Takuya stepped forward, his aura imposing. "A criminal is a criminal, and a work of art is a work of art! The media will stop at nothing for sales, and the public is losing their minds out of fear. Are we, as the leaders of this industry, going to go crazy with them?!"

"Now is not the time to back down!"

"Gentlemen, I know how you all feel right now." Takuya surveyed the room, his voice carrying clearly through the speakers to every corner, "Panic, anger, and helplessness. But I didn't invite you all here today for a venting session."

He paused, then said, word by word, "The media and the public need a target, and we are the most conspicuous and easiest target to attack. If we don't stand up, define our own boundaries, and establish rules, then soon, others will use their own methods to create a cage for us."

"The public needs cultural and entertainment works. As long as we distance ourselves from those works that are unacceptable to the public, we won't be completely condemned. The criticisms of animation, comics, and games may be influenced by other traditional cultural and entertainment industries. In recent years, the animation, comics, and game industries have flourished, with profits soaring, which has more or less squeezed the profit margins of traditional cultural and entertainment industries. It's hard to guarantee that there aren't envious parties involved."

His words stunned everyone present.

"Therefore, we must establish our own self-regulatory organization!" Takuya's voice suddenly rose. "Anime, manga, and games should each establish their own review bodies, unite, and formulate a clear and explicit rating system!"

"Let's label all our works! 'All ages,' '15+,' '18+'! And invite reputable and socially conscious figures to participate in the oversight. Clearly tell all parents and the whole society what is for children and what is not!"

"Just like the ' Eirin ' in the film industry."

"At the same time, all our companies jointly issued a statement, unequivocally resisting and condemning any works that feature children as protagonists and depict erotic content! We must remove such true rubbish from our industry!"

"While this kind of content can't possibly disappear from our industry, we should at least keep it out of the sewers."

"This is both for our own protection and to preserve the foundation for the industry's voice."

The entire venue was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by Nakayama Takuya's bold and clear concept.

Faced with annihilation, this young man not only did not back down, but instead found a way to survive.

After a brief silence, someone started clapping.

Immediately afterwards, applause erupted like wildfire, instantly filling the entire conference hall.