RBCT Chapter 160: Total Sales and Sincere Gifts
Chapter 160: Total Sales and Sincere Gifts
Chapter 160: Million-Dollar Total Sales and Sincere Gifts
Two hundred thousand copies of "Summer of the Ubume" sold out quickly on the first day they were available in bookstores.
This is not only due to the immense popularity of Maijo Kyosuke.
It also features a cover illustrated by Shigeru Mizuki (of "Dr. Yokai"), comments by Seishi Yokomizo and Takao Tsuchiya, and credit for Kodansha's extensive promotion.
Although Genjiro Noma is not good-looking and looks chubby and silly, as the president of Kodansha, he is very perceptive about the unpredictable publishing market.
He had long anticipated that "Summer of the Ubume" would be a huge hit.
所以在1980年1月31日，《姑获鸟之夏》售罄后的第二天，也就是2月1日。
Under the direction of Genjiro Noma, Kodansha released another 200,000 copies of the "collected volume" of "The Summer of the Ubume".
0
There are two main reasons why a paperback edition of "The Summer of the Ubume" was not released this time, unlike the previous one, "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders".
The first reason is that "paperback editions" are less profitable than "single-volume editions".
The second point is that "The Summer of the Ubume" is almost twice the length of other mystery novels.
The "New Book Review" edition of "Summer of the Ubume" has had its price adjusted from 2,000 yen to 2,500 yen because of its thickness, which makes it look like a brick.
If the length and width were reduced to create a "paperback" edition, its thickness would probably shock readers!
Therefore, only 200,000 "paperback" copies could be produced to help boost the sales of "Summer of the Ubume"!
This time, the "single volume" "Summer of the Ubume" not only had its cover redrawn by "Yokai Doctor" Shigeru Mizuki.
Inside, there are also metal bookmarks featuring two different forms of yokai, "Ubume" and "Ubume," designed by "Yokai Doctor" Shigeru Mizuki himself!
The single-volume edition of "Summer of the Ubume" is priced at 4,000 yen, and the two bookmarks are completely random.
However, if you want to get two completely different yokai bookmarks at the same time, you don't need to buy "Summer of the Ubume" twice.
The "single volume".
Because at the same time as the release of the "Summer of the Ubume" manga, 200,000 copies of the "Tokyo Gyonkuro Murder Mystery" manga were also released!
If you want to get the two bookmarks "Guhuoniao" and "Senjou".
By purchasing the bundle of "Summer of the Ubume" and "The Tokyo Zodiac Murder Mystery" for 7,000 yen, you can get two different yokai bookmarks at once!
This simplest and most unpretentious marketing tactic is the most addictive.
Because "Summer of the Ubume" has the perfect combination of timing, location, and people!
It will not only attract fans of "The Tokyo Zodiac Murders", but also fans of Seishi Yokomizo, Takao Tsuchiya, and most importantly, fans of "Dr. Yokai" Shigeru Mizuki!
As the pioneer of ghost story manga, the originator of the ghost story genre, Shigeru Mizuki, who influenced countless manga artists and created the classic manga "GeGeGe no Kitarō," is a pillar of Kodansha's manga department.
His current influence is definitely much greater than that of Maijo Kyosuke at this moment!
Maijo Kyosuke had no idea how Noma Genjiro had persuaded Mizuki Shigeru to design the cover and make bookmarks for "Summer of the Ubume".
However, due to the influence of master Shigeru Mizuki, coupled with the immense popularity of Kyosuke Maijo.
Two hundred thousand copies of the "Summer of the Ubume" and two hundred thousand copies of the "Astrology Murder Magic" sold out in just two days!
With 200,000 copies of the "single volume" of *The Summer of the Ubume* and 200,000 copies of the "single volume" of *The Tokyo Zodiac Murder Magic*...
sold out.
Kyosuke Maijo's total personal sales have successfully surpassed one million!
This million, although it's the sum of the two books, "The Astrological Murder Mystery" and "Summer of the Ubume".
But it is still much better than many Japanese mystery writers who have been in the industry for ten years and still haven't been able to break the million-sales mark!
And it was from this moment that Maijo Kyosuke successfully shed the title of a new writer.
He has successfully entered the ranks of well-known mystery writers in Japan with total sales of over one million copies!
Although the process may seem very long.
但从1980年1月12日，舞城镜介凭藉着《占星术杀人魔法》成功斩获江户川乱步登龙赏，出道开始到现在的1980年2月3日。
It only took twenty-three days in total!
Such staggering total sales, and such a rapid rise to become a mystery writer with millions of copies sold.
Kodansha's extensive promotion is indispensable!
Although Kyosuke Maijo is not the "youngest mystery writer" in the history of Japanese mystery fiction.
However, Kyosuke Maijo is the "youngest million-selling author" in Japanese mystery history and the "strongest new mystery writer in history"!
With the reports appearing everywhere.
Newspapers throughout Tokyo spontaneously began to publicize the legendary journey of Maijo Kyosuke.
Every single company's front page featured a photo of Kyosuke Maijo, along with related news reports!
This further boosted Maijo Kyosuke's popularity.
Along with Kyosuke Maishiro, the editor-in-chief of the publishing department, Hideomi Uyama, and the founder of the magazine "Top Hat," which publishes Kyosuke Maishiro's works in every issue, Miri Eri appeared in the newspaper along with Kyosuke Maishiro.
This was also an unexpected event for the two of them.
Although Hideomi Uyama nurtured many new stars of "social mystery" during his fifteen-year editing career.
But no one has ever reached the heights of Maishiro Kyosuke, let alone advertised his discovery of talent in the newspapers!
Therefore, Hideomi Uyama was very happy and wanted to thank Kyosuke Maishiro for giving him the opportunity to be in the newspaper.
Although being featured in a newspaper doesn't generate any actual profit, the very act of being featured in a newspaper is something to brag about to one's parents, wife, daughter, and in-laws!
Jiang Liumei's ideas were also very different from those of Uyama Hideomi. Although she had served as the editor-in-chief of "Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine" at Hayakawa Publishing, and was known as the "youngest magazine editor-in-chief" within Hayakawa Publishing, she was quite famous in the industry.
But that was only within the industry.
For example, some newspapers even conducted special investigations into my background in order to get this publicity published.
This alone is enough to make Jiang Liu Meili worthy of showing off to her mother, Jiang Liu Bieji!
Let her see her daughter; she hasn't wasted these past few years, she's truly been working hard!
Although Uyama Hideomi and Jiang Liu Meili did not communicate with each other.
However, since both of them are editors at Maijo Kyosuke's company, they have a lot of contact with each other and can be considered to have a tacit understanding.
Naturally, we wanted to celebrate together the million-unit total sales of Maijo Kyosuke!
But what I didn't expect was...
Uyama Hideomi and Eri Miri were not the only people who had this idea.
While the two were still at get off work.
Noma Genjiro then sent someone to inform Uyama Hideomi and Eri Miri to go to the president's office.
Jiang Liu Meili followed behind Yu Shan Hideomi and walked together toward President Noma's office.
Push open the door to President Noma's office.
Besides President Genjiro Noma in his office, Sales Manager Yasunori Mikoshiba was also inside.
There was also an elderly man in his sixties wearing thick glasses, a goatee, and a beige suit.
The elderly man in the beige suit was very familiar to Uyama Hideomi and Eri Miri.
He is Ito Noboru, who talks about finances, whenever funds are needed, or when receiving salaries or bonuses.
All of these are handled by Ito Finance.
Ito, the finance director, was a confidant of the previous president, Eiji Noma, so he was naturally the person Noma Genjiro trusted most.
At that moment, Ito, the finance manager, was holding a form and tapping away on the calculator with a serious expression, as if he were calculating something important.
Seeing that the three people in the president's office were all silent, Hideomi Uyama could only ask a question out of confusion.
"President Noma, what brings you here?"
Upon hearing Uyama Hideomi's words, Noma Genjiro turned his massive body around.
When Jiang Liumei saw Noma Genji's enormous body sitting in the chair, she inexplicably thought of a stemmed red wine glass.
Noma Genjiro seemed to be in a good mood.
Looking at Yu Shan Ri Chen and Jiang Liu Mei Li, he smiled and said, "You two know that Teacher Wu Cheng's total sales have exceeded one million, right?"
Jiang Liu Meili and Yu Shan Ri Chen nodded together.
Noma Genjiro continued, "They were able to achieve a total sales volume of one million copies with just two works in a short period of twenty-three days."
"Just this impressive achievement, and the title of 'youngest million-selling author' alone..."
The phrase "he's more than just a genius" is enough to describe him.
Noma Genjiro twirled the gemstone ring on his hand, his smile shifting from satisfaction to smugness: "While I love money, I love talent even more."
"A writer with no background and who has only been in the industry for less than a month has managed to win the favor of the market."
"The fact that he was able to gain the favor of Yokomizo-sensei and Tsuchiya-sensei alone is enough to make other Japanese mystery writers blush with shame."
"As a specially invited writer of our company, Ms. Maicheng has achieved such remarkable results. As the president of the company, I must express my gratitude."
"We must not let Teacher Wu Cheng feel disheartened."
"So, one reason I called you two here today is to invite you to the celebration banquet for Teacher Wucheng's million-dollar sales."
"Another reason is that I wanted to ask you two about Mr. Mai's personal hobbies."
"For example, what are Mr. Mai's preferences? What does he like to eat? What does he use? Or is there anything he needs?"
"After all, just having a meal seems like a lack of sincerity."
"I plan to give Teacher Wucheng a gift —"
Noma Genjiro's words surprised both Uyama Hideomi and Eri Miri.
Because neither of them expected that Noma Genjiro would actually have the idea of currying favor with Maijo Kyosuke.
But neither of them had anything to hide from Noma Genjiro.
After all, this kind of thing isn't exactly a secret.
Uyama Hideomi spoke first: "What are Mr. Maishiro's preferences—"
"I don't know much about the others, but Ms. Maishiro seems to have a particular fondness for Chinese food."
"During our previous conversations, and when he invited many of us to dinner, Teacher Wu Cheng always hoped to choose a Chinese restaurant."
Upon hearing Uyama Hideomi's words, Noma Genjiro nodded slightly and said to Uyama Hideomi, "Editor-in-Chief Uyama, then I'll trouble you with this."
"You know Teacher Wu Cheng better, so I'll leave the restaurant reservation to you."
"Remember, this isn't just a casual get-together; it's a major celebration to mark Teacher Wucheng's total sales surpassing one million!"
"So you don't need to worry too much about the budget. Just buy as many good things as possible."
99
"Anyway, there are only five of us: Teacher Mai, myself, Taiden, you, and Ms. Jiang Liu."
"Even if you order all the top-quality ingredients, it won't cost much."
Upon hearing Genjiro Noma's words, Hideomi Uyama nodded and turned to leave the president's office.
Immediately, Noma Genjiro set his sights on Jiang Liu Meili.
When Jiang Liu Meili saw Noma Genjiro looking at her, she replied, "President Noma, what are Ms. Maishiro's preferences?"
"Then it must be for collecting, right?"
"Your Excellency Mikoshiba must have already told you about Ms. Maijo attending the centennial celebration at the Tatara Used Bookstore in Jimbocho the day before yesterday, right?"
"The reason Mr. Maijo attended the centennial celebration of Tatara Used Bookstore was because the owner of Tatara Used Bookstore, Katsunori Tatara, gifted Mr. Maijo with an extremely rare manuscript by a renowned author."
Upon hearing Jiang Liu Meili's words, Noma Genjiro seemed intrigued: "Manuscript? What manuscript?"
Jiang Liu Meili smiled and said to Noma Genjiro, "President Noma, that's 'Mr. Ultramoor's Hands,' which beat Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Stolen Letter,' Conan Doyle's 'The Red-Headed League,' and was praised by Ellery Queen as 'there's no more exciting crime story than this!'"
Upon hearing Jiang Liumei's words, Noma Genjiro's face showed a hint of surprise: "Such a high evaluation? How much is that manuscript called 'Mr. Ultramoor's Hands' worth?"
Jiang Liu Meili continued, "Because Ms. Mai Cheng asked me for help at the time, I was present the whole time. The value of that manuscript was exactly fifty million yen!"
"hiss-
"6
Upon hearing Jiang Liu Meili's words, Noma Genjiro gasped, then rubbed his triple chin, lost in thought: "Fifty million yen, that's no small sum."
"Moreover, a manuscript that can fetch such a high price shouldn't be easy to find."
Noma Genjiro rubbed his chin with his hand, his eyes rolling around in their sockets.
After a while, a faint smile appeared on Noma Genjiro's face, clearly indicating that he had thought of something happy.
"I remember that my father had a manuscript of Lord Dunsani's 'Two Bottles of Seasoning' in his private collection."
"Although I feel that this manuscript is not as famous as 'Mr. Altmore's Hands'."
"But I remember my father telling me that the trick in 'The Two Bottles of Seasoning' influenced many mystery writers."
"If we give this manuscript to Ms. Mai, she'll be happy, right?"
When Jiang Liumei heard Noma Genjiro's words, she felt a little dizzy for a moment.
The manuscript of Lord Dunsani's "Two Bottles of Seasoning"?
President Noma really doesn't understand!
Lord Dunsani? That's Lord Dunsani!
Although Lord Dunsonny is not highly regarded in the world of mystery fiction.
But in the realms of horror and fantasy novels, he is also a legendary figure!
He was not only one of the pioneering authors in the history of fantasy literature who attempted to create a completely fictional worldview and explored the entire fictional world through adventure.
It also influenced two world-class masters.
One of them is H.P. Lovecraft, who created the "Cthulhu Mythos"!
The other one is J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote the masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings"!
Simply put, Lord Dunsonny's "Two Bottles of Seasoning" is incomparable to Thomas Burke's "Mr. Altmore's Hands" in the world of mystery fiction.
But Thomas Burke was nowhere near as high a status or as famous as Lord Dunsony!
Therefore, based on the fact that "Mr. Ultraman's Hands" could sell for 50 million yen, the value of "Two Bottles of Seasoning" could be over 70 million yen!
Of course, Jiang Liumei could never say these words aloud, after all, her heart belonged to Maishiro Kyosuke.