KBYCON1 officially opened in Tokyo this September.
The Mitsui Building, with its three floors, was more crowded than Kobayashi Tetsu had anticipated, creating a somewhat cramped atmosphere.
However, the venue offered light refreshments and drinks, along with various activities.
Okada Toshio was on the second floor, where Iwata Satoru was the host.
Okada Toshio was actually quite displeased with KBYCON.
Or rather, he was extremely displeased!
Because he had originally wanted to organize this convention himself.
"That President might be talented at making games, but he's no match for me when it comes to organizing conventions!" Okada Toshio reassured himself.
DAICON4 had attracted approximately four thousand attendees, with the actual number exceeding four thousand one hundred. This figure had essentially set a new record for SF convention attendance.
From this perspective, Okada Toshio believed he was still four times more capable than Kobayashi Tetsu.
The art style of this year's convention was uniquely striking. Okada Toshio rather liked the trendy feel of the red and black color scheme, and the sharp, angular patterns exuded a bold, flamboyant energy that perfectly matched his impression of Kobayashi Tetsu.
As the lights gradually dimmed, Okada Toshio joined the others in anticipation of the opening ceremony.
Suddenly, the front rows lit up, and a spotlight illuminated the stage. A gasp erupted from the front row.
Okada Toshio strained to get a closer look, and when he finally focused, his eyes widened in surprise.
Godzilla!
As a foundational figure in Japanese science fiction film and television, Godzilla held immense status. When he had produced the opening ceremony animation, he had deliberately paid homage to the king of the monsters.
However...
Okada Toshio quickly thought to himself, Fortunately, it's just Godzilla, and it's probably just a rented suit.
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than another spotlight swept across the stage, revealing a lithe figure cartwheeling into the arena.
The venue erupted in a unified cheer, but this time it wasn't a gasp of surprise, but a roar of excitement.
"Huh?!"
Okada Toshio was stunned.
It's just the opening ceremony! Why are they using wires?!
A Kamen Rider somersaulted into the venue and exchanged a few moves with Godzilla. They didn't actually fight, of course—this wasn't a film shoot, just an opening ceremony event.
Within minutes, Okada Toshio witnessed the full spectrum of human creativity.
Few members in the audience remained unmoved.
Past SF Conventions, even the grandest, had only featured animated openings. They had never brought in the actual performers.
Even a simple suit performance seemed worth the price of admission.
Well, SF Conventions don't have tickets—
Okada Toshio finally breathed a sigh of relief when the last character had finished their appearance.
Good thing it's just a suit. And good thing it's only a suit.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Godzilla, with the help of staff, remove its head shell, revealing an aged face.
Hiss—
Okada Toshio gasped, his mind immediately going to Anno Hideaki.
Nakajima Haruo.
The most veteran suit actor in Japan, bar none.
He was the oldest.
As the actor who portrayed Godzilla, the first giant monster film to use a suit made of plaster and rubber, Nakajima Haruo was also Japan's very first suit actor.
Most people wouldn't recognize the name Nakajima Haruo.
But at the SF Conventions of the 1980s, members were all seasoned veterans of various works, having seen every aspect of their creation, from the front to the back. They naturally recognized Nakajima Haruo!
Okada Toshio suddenly felt a pang of anxiety.
It's over.
This is really over, he thought.
This year's event might be even more impressive than the one I hosted!
On one floor of the convention hall, Koji Okada and others hosted a panel featuring Moritsugu Kohji and Uenishi Hiroji, who briefly explained the filming process from back in the day.
For instance, Moritsugu Kohji, who played the protagonist, received 5,000 yen per episode, while Uenishi Hiroji, who remained unseen behind the mask, earned 60,000 yen.
These little-known secrets, which most people had never heard before, thoroughly satisfied the members' curiosity.
Hearing that Moritsugu Kohji actually earned five thousand yen per episode was truly enough to make men weep and women shed tears.
If it were them, earning twenty thousand yen a month, they would have already loaded up a ship and jumped into Tokyo Bay to sail away overnight!
In the three-story main venue, Kobayashi Tetsu and Akira Toriyama engaged in a lively back-and-forth, taking the opportunity to share some personal secrets.
"Actually, my favorite work is definitely Arale. Arale holds a special place in my heart. The main villain, Dr. Mashirito, was based on my editor, Mr. Torishima. Mr. Torishima... well, how should I put it? He's quite unique."
Akira Toriyama expressed his views tactfully.
In truth, Akira Toriyama didn't particularly like his editor. While Kazuhiko Torishima had helped make Dragon Ball a top-tier manga, his relentless demands for serialization had pushed Toriyama to the brink of collapse multiple times.
Though it hadn't reached that point yet, Toriyama had harbored reservations about Torishima for a long time.
Kobayashi Tetsu, however, saw things differently.
Torishima's business acumen was exceptional. Without his relentless drive, Dragon Ball might never have become a global classic.
Of course, Kobayashi Tetsu wouldn't say such things to Akira Toriyama.
"I don't have as many experiences as that. My life is actually quite simple. When I first returned to Japan, I had nothing to do, so I told my father, 'Dad, I want to make video games.' He said, 'Sure, I'll support you!'"
"Then he spent two million yen at Sega to buy me a development kit, and with that equipment, I created Kobayashi Blocks." "There are always people whispering behind my back, 'Kobayashi Tetsu, aren't you just riding on your father's coattails? If my dad worked at Sega, I'd be even better than you!'"
"But I never shy away from that. My father simply gave me a higher starting point. The path to Atlas was one I forged myself."
As the time neared, Kobayashi Tetsu took a few steps back, and Akira Toriyama, being perceptive, retreated to the audience.
By the way, I was actually curious to see Project FF too.
"We previously announced to the media that at this year's convention, Atlas would reveal some details about Project FF as part of the organizing committee's showcase."
"The cartridge in my hand is the development version of Project FF! This is just a codename, not the official title, but it's still the RPG Atlas has been painstakingly crafting."
Kobayashi Tetsu gestured with the cartridge, the spotlight illuminating his figure. The entire audience's gaze converged on him and the cartridge in his hand.
Exactly!
These aren't sci-fi fans. They came to the SF Convention for this cartridge!
The spotlight dimmed, and Kobayashi Tetsu casually pointed.
"Alright, who wants to try the Project FF cartridge next?"
In an instant, thousands of hands shot up.
"Me!"
"President Kobayashi, please, just look at me!"
"I'm a huge fan of Atlas!"
"Woof woof woof woof!"
Kobayashi Tetsu was taken aback.
How is there a dog here?!
"I see some of you are raising both hands, but that's not allowed." Kobayashi Tetsu casually pointed at the man barking: "Sir, please come up."
Ando Takashi was on the verge of tears.
He stumbled onto the stage, snot and tears streaming down his face.
Don't even ask how difficult this trip was!
If he hadn't been so resourceful, he would have been rejected from the SF Convention!
Luckily, at the last minute, he claimed to be the boyfriend of a male SF member, which finally secured him entry.
Ando Takashi set up his recorder, his eyes burning with anticipation as he gazed at the cartridge in Kobayashi Tetsu's hand.
Project FF! Atlas had announced this title in April, and now, five months later, he finally had the chance to see it!
Whether the game was fun or not, having this opportunity to play it today would give Ando Takashi plenty of material for his news report.
If he had a choice, Ando Takashi hoped the game would not be fun!
That way, he'd have even more to write about.
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