Thursday 9 December 1996 ZEB Japan.
The building that once hosted ZAGE events is now being repurposed for a major company-wide gathering. This grand meeting brings together all ZAGE employees from both the Tokyo and Osaka branches. As of now, ZAGE employs approximately 190 people across these two main locations. This number does not include staff from ZAGE's subsidiary companies such as Sora Distribution, HanDai, or Nanco, who operate independently but remain integral to ZAGE's broader ecosystem. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, as this is one of the largest internal assemblies in the company's history.
The main purpose of this gathering is to announce a major restructuring plan for ZAGE, set to begin in 1997. Starting next year, ZAGE will officially transition its operations into the newly completed ZAGE Tower—a 52-floor skyscraper in the heart of Tokyo, built at a cost of billions of yen. This tower will serve as the central hub for the company, and naturally, the number of employees will also grow to support the expansion.
However, Zaboru emphasized that this growth will be gradual and measured. While the move marks an exciting new chapter for the company, he is mindful of the risks of overexpansion. Drawing from the hard lessons of his previous life, he understands that scaling too quickly and without direction can lead to long-term problems.
Despite ZAGE's rapid rise, the company remains entirely privately owned—100% under Zaboru's control, with no outside investors involved. This gives him the freedom to make long-term decisions without pressure from shareholders, but it also reinforces his desire to proceed cautiously and responsibly. His goal is to grow ZAGE in a sustainable way, one that protects the company's vision and people without compromising its future.
By 9:30 AM, every ZAGE employee had gathered inside the ZEB building. The venue had been arranged in a formal meeting style, with rows of tables and chairs neatly set up, and light snacks placed on each table for the attendees. From senior leadership like CTO Zanichi Renkonan—who was also Zaboru's father—to regular staff members from both the Tokyo and Osaka branches, everyone was present and seated. The atmosphere was focused and expectant, with all eyes on the stage, ready to find out what this important meeting would reveal.
Before long, Zaboru stepped up to the podium. He wore a sleek black suit paired with a red tie, giving him a sharp, professional presence. With a calm yet confident voice, he began to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the valued members of ZAGE—thank you all for coming. A special thanks to our Osaka branch, who made the long journey from Kansai to be here today. I truly appreciate every one of you."
Applause filled the room. Zaboru smiled and continued.
"First of all, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has helped shape ZAGE into what it is today. From our humble beginnings to where we are now—standing strong and proud as a leading force in the video game industry. Just five years ago, we were rebuilding from nothing. And now, we're here, standing tall."
The room erupted into another round of clapping, louder this time, filled with pride and recognition.
Zaboru continued, "Starting early next year, we will begin a restructuring of our company. As ZAGE continues to grow, the demands of creating high-quality video games will require more manpower and coordination. That means expansion is not just necessary—it's essential.
As many of you already know, after more than four years of planning and construction, the ZAGE Tower—our new headquarters in the heart of Tokyo—is finally complete. It stands tall as a symbol of how far we've come. So today, I'm officially announcing that beginning in January next year, both the Tokyo and Osaka branches will be relocating to ZAGE Tower to operate under one roof."
The room filled with applause once more as Zaboru continued, "As for our current employees, there will be an upgraded contract. At ZAGE, we will provide a housing allowance—a percentage to help cover lodging costs for each of you. Of course, it won't be enough to fully cover luxury accommodations, but if you choose a modest, reasonable place to stay, the support should be more than sufficient."
Zaboru smiled warmly as he finished, and the employees were visibly pleased. Murmurs of approval spread through the room—ZAGE really was looking out for them, and it showed.
"I want ZAGE to operate under one roof. So far, both the Osaka and Tokyo teams have done an outstanding job, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. But I believe we can accomplish even more if we're working side by side, in the same space, where we can fully coordinate and make the most of our time and resources. That's why this merger is not just a step forward—it's a necessity."
Every employee nodded in agreement.
Then Zaboru smiled and said "Also in future all of the employees will have special access to our ZAGE tavern so you can eat there with discounted prices and the ZAGE Tavern is beside the ZAGE tower itself."
Zaboru smiled. "Next, I want to introduce a new structure for our development teams. Starting out, we will divide our employees into three core teams. These will be the foundation of our game development division. Each team will operate with its own sub-teams as needed, and of course, if we need to expand further in the future, we'll create additional teams as required."
He paused for a moment as the big screen behind him lit up, revealing the new team names.
"These teams will include all Developers and Quality Control staff. What sets them apart is that each team will be assigned to a different game project. This way, they can fully focus on their assigned titles from start to finish. And now, I'd like to introduce them."
The screen displayed the names:
ZAGE 1st Team: NOVA
ZAGE 2nd Team: IZAN
ZAGE 3rd Team: NIWA
Zaboru smiled again. "These will be the three core teams of our Japan Branch—NOVA, IZAN, and NIWA. As for their specific project assignments, those will be revealed once the migration to ZAGE Tower is fully complete."
Zaboru then said, "For now Each team will consist of 25 Developers and 25 Quality Control members. Each team will also have Lead Developers and Lead Quality Control specialists. Additionally, there will be composers assigned to each team to handle music and sound design. The leads—both for development and QC—will manage the projects and oversee the workflow. Of course, a team can have more than one lead depending on the scope of the project."
He smiled, then added, "I understand that project managers are often seen as necessary, but I've seen too many cases where hiring them too quickly brings in the wrong people—people who don't understand the company culture or the work. Honestly, I believe 70% of project managers on the market are not a good fit. That's why I'd rather promote trusted leads from within—people who already know our projects and values—to take on project management responsibilities when needed."
Zanichi smiled and nodded, clearly in agreement with Zaboru. As CTO, he would also play a key role in managing and supervising the teams, ensuring that each one operated smoothly and stayed aligned with ZAGE's overall goals.
Zaboru then said, "These teams will focus strictly on game development. However, not everything within ZAGE revolves around creating games. Other critical departments—like marketing, finance, legal, HR, administration, Subsidiary management and IT—will remain separate from the game development structure, though still operating under the same roof.
I want to formally recognize this segment of the company as 'ZAGE Core.' This internal core will continue to handle the essential functions that keep the company running smoothly behind the scenes. They're the foundation that allows the development teams to focus on building the best games possible.
From payroll and budgeting to public relations and logistics, ZAGE Core will be responsible for maintaining structure and stability as we grow. Of course, collaboration between ZAGE Core and the development teams will be frequent and necessary."
The meeting then transitioned into a lively Q&A session. One by one, employees raised thoughtful questions—ranging from the logistics of relocating to the new tower, to how teams would be onboarded into the new structure, to long-term growth strategies and benefits. Zaboru responded to each question with calm confidence, offering detailed answers that reflected both transparency and trust in his team.
There was a noticeable energy in the room—a mix of curiosity, excitement, and reassurance. It was clear the employees appreciated the openness and clarity with which the leadership was approaching the changes.
After the final question was addressed, Zaboru gave one last nod of thanks to everyone before officially concluding the meeting. Applause echoed through the hall one more time.
With the announcements made and the roadmap clear, the focus for the rest of the month would be the big move. ZAGE employees from both Tokyo and Osaka would now begin preparing for their transition to the newly completed ZAGE Tower. For many, it marked not just a change of scenery, but the beginning of a new era in their careers.
To be continue
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