Shitamachi Rocket (下町ロケット)

Seeking the patent for the valve system, the main component of a rocket engine,

Teikoku Heavy Industries' Zaizen visited Tsukuda Manufacturing.

There, he was met with unexpected news.

We want to supply you with the valve we manufacture here.

Zaizen, who was set on manufacturing all major parts in-house, showed reluctance, but

but the fact remained that without Tsukuda's patent,

President Toma's Stardust Project would be aborted.

Meanwhile at Tsukuda Manufacturing, younger employees' dissatisfaction with Tsukuda,

who was dead set on supplying parts, was starting to surface.

There seems to be people within Tsukuda's Technology Dept. who oppose supplying parts.

Zaizen was contemplating to use that as a reason to reject them as a parts supplier and visits Tsukuda.

However...

- Would you like to take a look inside? - Pardon me?

What he saw there was a courteous and cheerful corporate culture,

and superb technical capability to

achieve the maximum level of precision by the hands of its skilled workers.

That was markedly different from the picture of a small business that Zaizen had envisioned,

and it even surpassed the manufacturing site of Teikoku Heavy Industries.

This surpasses Teikoku Heavy Industries'

valve system.

Zaizen, who saw that with his own eyes,

had a certain look of determination.

Please allow me to consider the possibility of

procuring the parts from Tsukuda Manufacturing.

Are you telling me that we should ignore President Toma's intent to self-manufacture?

If we refuse to procure parts from them without a valid reason,

Tsukuda would solidify his stance and it would be difficult to even get a license agreement.

If that happens, the Stardust Project itself will collapse.

That was Zaizen's challenge to Teikoku Heavy Industries as well.

Why didn't you tell us sooner!

How can you let another company beat us to getting the patent for the valve system.

I just found out recently myself.

I was planning to report it to you after I had a firm grasp of the situation.

Naturally, we are in the process of negotiating to buy the patent from them.

That's fine then.

If we're buying the patent, there's no problem at all.

Tomiyama ventured to recommend a test for Tsukuda Manufacturing to

Mizuhara, who was fearful of going against President Toma's wishes.

That if he, in place of Zaizen, was put in charge of conducting a test

to see if they can meet the financial and quality criteria to be their subcontractor,

he would ensure that the test would result in failure.

And Mizuhara...

I see.

If they fail the test, that would be a valid reason to reject them as our supplier.

Then we can proceed to negotiate for a patent licensing agreement...

Yes. What do you think?

All right. You handle the negotiation with Tsukuda.

Post-Zaizen, huh?

- What the heck is this? - All this?

Is there a problem?

No...

Listen now. Supplying parts to us means

you're going to be our subcontractor.

With that in mind, if you still want to be our supplier, you'll have to abide by our procedures.

It can't be helped if that's your procedure. But still, this is quite an elaborate test.

We will not only be testing for the quality of your products, but for your financial condition as well.

Also, we will be looking at your actual manufacturing facility

to check if it meets our standards.

At the same time, you will produce 20 test models of the valve specified here

and deliver them in a week at the time of the test.

- 20 in a week? - You can't do it it?

No, that's fine. That's not a problem.

Those valves will be tested for operation and endurance under various

barometric pressure and temperature at Teikoku Heavy Industries' research facility.

However, in the event the results are below our standards,

the test will be called off at that point and considered a failure.

Is that understood?

Yes. We'll do our best.

That's the gist of the test. We don't have much time.

Therefore, I decided to form an internal project team to support this endeavor.

First, from the Technology Development Department which has the main role,

- Nomura. I'm counting on you. - Yes, sir.

Mano, I'm counting on you to support Nomura too.

And to handle the financial affairs,

I'd like to ask Sakota from Accounting and Ebara from Sales.

I imagine you all have your own thoughts, but this is a great opportunity.

Let's all work together and win this contract to supply our parts.

I have a question.

Is this your final decision?

I don't think this is going to work out when you're ignoring our opinion and proceeding with it.

It's not that I'm ignoring your opinion.

It's a conclusion I reached after much deliberation.

I know how you all feel.

- No you don't! - Hey, who said that!

The knowledge we'll gain by carrying out this project is immeasurable.

Anyway, let's work together and get through this test.

If we do, I'm sure the answer will become clearer.

Excuse me. President,

I drafted a work plan necessary for the test. If you can look it over.

You can leave it there.

Are you all right?

I thought if I talked to them sincerely, they'd eventually understand.

Maybe I'm not suited to be a manager after all...

That's not true...

Hello. Tsukuda speaking.

Hey, how have you been?

What good is a project team anyway.

Really, huh?

All we have to do is fail the test, right?

Well, I guess so. There's no way we're gonna pass such a rigorous test anyway.

Mano...

why are you against it when you're with the Technology Development Department?

Don't you want to supply the parts?

That'll only make the guys at Hydrogen Engine Development happy anyway.

We have nothing to gain from making things like that.

We're a manufacturer of small engines.

No matter what, isn't this way too rigid?

General Manager Mizuhara entrusted me with the test

and left in me charge of it.

Please don't worry.

I will let you know as soon as the results are out.

At any rate, I don't think it will take too long.

If you'll excuse me.

Tomiyama.

Don't conduct a test just to fail them.

Of course.

Director Zaizen, we just got word that

President Toma will be here shortly to visit the plant.

The President's coming?

Zaizen, is there any problem?

No, there isn't.

I've been wanting to see the plant once before the full-fledged assembly begins.

The development team will be glad to see you.

Hey, guys.

President Toma has come to cheer you on.

Every minute, every second is precious right now.

Don't mind me and please continue with your work.

Thank you, sir!

They're all doing good work.

- President, actually... - Is this an insulation test?

Yes, sir. I'm testing the circuit board for the attitude control system.

This method hasn't changed at all over the years.

This is an important job to prevent malfunctions.

- Keep up the good work. - Yes, sir.

- Here's your order. - So what's this important matter you wanted to discuss?

Well...the thing is,

Professor Motoki decided to retire next year.

Really? Has it been that long already?

Yeah.

And so, Tsukuda,

why don't you come back to JAXS?

The thing is,

your name came up as one of the candidates for the professor's successor.

Sure, you've been away for a while,

but that's no problem with the number and quality of your research papers.

- Add to that your invention of that valve system, and... - Wait a minute.

I appreciate you saying that, but

- I have my job as company president... - Is that

your true feeling?

Do your employees support that philosophy of yours?

Frankly speaking,

you're not suited to be a company president. You're a researcher.

Listen, Tsukuda.

Won't you nurture the youths of the future who will carry on

the aerospace industry of the country with your own hands as their professor?

Give them something to dream about.

Just like you did back in the days.

If you want to quit club activities, so be it.

It's your life, so about college too,

do as you please.

I'm home.

Did you skip your club activity again?

I know you're waiting for your injury to heal, but you can still run or something.

You still have plenty of time to get a sports recommendation for college too.

Don't you get it?

My injury healed a long time ago!

You're not looking at me at all, are you?

That's why you don't notice.

Why are you...

I don't want to play badminton anymore. I'm sick and tired of it!

That's why I decided to take the normal entrance exams, but

you keep on talking about annoying things like a dream!

You know....

I don't want to be like you and Mom.

Chasing after your own dream,

dragging with you everyone around you.

That's disgusting.

Parts Supplier Test Day 1

And the day of the parts supplier test arrived.

In preparation for this test,

Tomiyama chose two men as inspectors in charge.

Evaluating the manufacturing environment and plant management of Tsukuda Manufacturing

was Production Management Department Supervisor, Mizoguchi.

The other one, entrusted with evaluating Tsukuda Manufacturing's financial status,

was company audit specialist, Tamura.

Mizoguchi and Tamura were Tomiyama's peers.

They were allies who had the backing of General Manager Mizoguchi.

Where's Zaizen-san today?

Zaizen's been very busy, so I've been put in charge of the test.

I see.

Well then, we will now begin

the evaluation to assess your qualification as our valve system supplier.

From here on is our Technology Development Department.

Looks like you train your employees well.

However, what we're interested in is the skill level.

Our job would be a breeze if parts could be made with greetings.

- You do it by hand? - Yes.

There's a reason we do it by hand.

It's because we value the feeling we only get by actually touching and seeing.

Manual labor is just manual labor.