Mathews-Sakura Dealership Offices, Los Angeles, California, late 1963
David was was having his 3rd cigarette of the day, reading through some reports when a knock at the door caught his attention. He beckoned them in, as he turned to look, he muttered an expletive under his breath. His Wife, Claire, was standing in-front of his desk
David: “What do you want, dear?”
Claire: “I want you to come home, okay? We can spend some time together, like we used to before all of this” She motions with her hands to the office, and the papers “Just for one day, David, one day.”
D: “Fine, I’ll grab my things.”
Sakura Head Office, Kurashiki, Japan. Late 1963
Takeiji and his Operations team were in an intense discussion about future plans for the American market, as he is tapped on the shoulder by an Intern
Intern: “Sir, Subaki would like to talk.”
Takeiji: “Tell Subaki to meet me in my office. We can pick up this conversation tomorrow.”
Takeiji half rushes to his office. A meeting with Subaki is never a good sign Takeiji thinks, as he opens the door to his office. A few moments later, the Vice President of KHI - Subaki Meijidora - walks through the door.
Takeiji: “Ah, Mr. Meijidora, what is the purpose of this meeting?”
Subaki: “Well, Kabeno is less than pleased with your expansion into the US.”
T: “We’ve been selling as many cars as we’ve imported, we have a waiting list for Christs sake! How can he be ‘Less than pleased’ with our expansion?”
S: “He doesn’t like your American business partners, he thinks they’re going to run to the hills, and take our brand down in the US.”
T: “So he has no confidence in my decisions?”
S: “That is correct, Takeiji. He’s asking for you to step down as CEO of Sakura.”
T: “And if I refuse? What then?”
S: “Then you lose your job. He’s giving you a year to fix the ‘problem.’”
T: “That seems like a long time.”
S: “6 months to get the US more interested in our Duchess, you don’t meet that target, then you’re in a deeper hole, Understand?”
