Shitamachi Rocket (下町ロケット)

At Tsukuda Manufacturing, shaken from its counter claim against Nakashima Industries, appeared

Zaizen Michio, Managing Director of Space Development Business Division at Teikoku Heavy Industries,

with an offer to buy the valve system patent held by Tsukuda Manufacturing.

The valve was a major part necessary to stabilize the rocket engine

and an essential key technology for the Stardust Project which

Teikoku Heavy Industries was pushing forward with.

How about for 2 billion yen (approx. $16.5 million)?

To Tsukuda Manufacturing, who was having financial difficulty due to the lawsuits with Nakashima,

that was money they desperately wanted.

To sell, or to ask for a patent licensing agreement.

Opinions were divided, and Tsukuda, too, found himself unable to come to a decision.

Amidst all this, Tsukuda was called upon to stand in court

in the trial as a witness for the lawsuit with Nakashima.

That day, when he saw the shirt his daughter, Rina, ironed for him,

Tsukuda’s heart filled with joy.

The reason I was happy about my daughter today

is because there was a technician who made the iron,

thinking only about a way to smooth out the wrinkles from clothes more easily.

Patents should be there to protect technicians like that, but

once you let that control you and you're unable to think about anything but money,

there's no technological progress there.

It's better not to have patents like that.

Tsukuda’s enthusiasm turned the tide of the trial.

We, the court, are of the opinion that the claim by the plaintiff, Tsukuda Manufacturing,

that Nakashima Industries infringed on their patent

can be upheld almost across the board.

That recommendation to settle amicably was comparative to a victory for Tsukuda Manufacturing.

Isn't this your father's company?

5.6 billion?

Meanwhile, Zaizen was getting desperate.

If he should fail to buy the patent for the valve system from Tsukuda Manufacturing,

he would be going against the intent of President Toma's declaration to

develop in-house and self-manufacture all the main components. However...

If we can't use the valve system, the Stardust Project itself will be ruined.

That, we must avoid at all cost.

And Zaizen resigns himself to the fact that patent licensing agreement may be the inevitable choice,

but the decision Tsukuda reached was...

Have you decided already? Whether to sell the patent, or

stick with patent licensing agreement.

It's neither.

And 2 days later, the car carrying Zaizen was

speeding down the road to Tsukuda Manufacturing.

What do you mean 500 million yen over budget at this stage?

The thing is, there was a sudden change in specs from the Development Division...

Spec changes are an integral part of development.

It's your job to find a way to deal with it.

- Yes, but... - I don't want to hear any excuses.

- Zaizen. - Yes, sir.

You look a little pale.

Don't neglect your health, you hear?

Thank you for your concern.

Ever since we announced the rocket launch date,

I hear there's been a sudden increase in inquiries from

space venture organizations all over the world.

All eyes are on our Stardust Project.

I'm counting on you.

The problem is, what will President Toma think.

Now that Tsukuda's been awarded 5.6 billion in settlement money,

it's no longer feasible to use the power of money to get them to sell us the patent.

We have no choice but to accept the patent licensing agreement.

Are you sure we can cut a deal with Tsukuda if we go with the patent licensing agreement?

It's what they want.

First, get a firm commitment from them.

I'll talk to the President after that.

Zaizen was determined to do whatever he could to get a firm commitment

for the patent licensing agreement today, but...

I apologize for making you wait so long.

Not at all. Considering the amount of time you expended

in developing that patent, it's to be expected.

Tsukuda-san,

we're confident that we can make use of

your valve system more effectively than anyone else.

Please help us launch our rocket

with your technology.

Director Zaizen. I'm sorry but we can't sell you the patent.

I understand. We will be bending our basic policy, but

in that case, please let us use your valve system

in the form of a patent licensing agreement.

No, that's not it either.

Won't you let us supply the part?

Not by selling the patent or a licensing agreement.

Instead, we want to supply you with the valve we manufacture here.

Look, Tsukuda-san.

I hate to say this when we're the one who's asking for the favor, but

you were hoping for a patent licensing agreement just the other day, weren't you?

We, as the company, conceded as much as we could,

and came here today to wrap up the negotiation along that line.

But now, you say you want to supply the part. What is going on?

We appreciate your concern for us and apologize for sounding ungrateful, but

it's the answer we arrived at after anguishing over it.

Supplying the part means you're going to be our subcontractor.

- Are you okay with that? - Yes, I'm fully aware of that.

In the first place, can you even make it?

Excuse me for saying this, but a company of this scale

- manufacturing a product that meets our standards is... - Please don't forget.

We developed that valve system before you folks did at Teikoku.

Please let us supply the part.

Fine then. We'll take it back to the company and

discuss with the top if there's a possibility of procuring the part from you.

- Thank you. - We'll put it up for discussion, but

frankly, I can't guarantee that we'll be able to carry out your wishes.

If we can't,

will you agree to a patent licensing agreement?

That

would depend on the reason, I guess.

They can't be serious. There's no way they can undertake supplying the part.

- It's impossible technologically. - But the patent is in their hands.

We can't deny the fact that they beat us to it.

I apologize for that. What shall we do?

We won't do anything. After waiting for a while,

I'll tell Tsukuda we tried, but the answer was no.

- Can that president be convinced with that answer? - We have to convince him.

If we can't, it's all over for you and me.

Damn these presidents of small businesses.

They're under the misunderstanding that they can always get their way.

Tomiyama. I don't care what it is,

find some material that we can use to convince Tsukuda.

You mean find Tsukuda's weakness?

We don't have the luxury to be picky about the means to achieve our end.

Why is there a need for us to be the part supplier?

We're an engine manufacturer, not a company that makes money from patents.

We make the parts and sell them to Teikoku Heavy Industries. That's the natural thing to do.

But if we go with patent licensing agreement, an enormous amount of royalty will be coming in every year.

What's more, we can earn it at no risk and no cost.

It's not just a matter of money. This is a matter of our dream and pride

as an engine manufacturer.

What value is there to pride...

This patent was possible precisely because the President was here.

I think it's only natural that he decides what to do with it.

God knows how much of the profit from the products Sales Dept. 2

ran around frantically and sold was pumped in to develop that valve.

Those products exist because the President was here too.

Are you trying to say that Sales Dept. 2 alone is keeping this company going?

I...if at all possible, would like to

supply the parts for a rocket engine.

To get the chance to be directly involved with a rocket engine is an amazing thing.

It's a great shame to forgo this opportunity and settle for just selling the patent.

I envy you guys who just have to make things without any worries.

But you know, what if the launch fails

and they say it was because of our valve?

Can you vouch for the huge compensation we'll have to pay?

We don't make defective products like that.

If there's an accident and they put the blame on us,

Teikoku Heavy Industries or Tsukuda Manufacturing, who do you think people are going to believe?

We don't have a chance.

That's how it is, isn't it, President?

Someone has to be held accountable.

You're the one who developed that engine.

May I interject?

Sure. What is it, Tono-san?

It's true that we escaped financial difficulty for the time being

with the 5.6 billion settlement from Nakashima.

However, once we pay back Hakusui the entire loan in the amount of approximately 2 billion

and take some out for other expenses,

we're not in a position to sit back and take it easy.

It's just that we escaped bankruptcy. The company itself is still in the red.

Which choice will be more beneficial for Tsukuda Manufacturing 10 years later?

If, by taking on the development of a rocket engine and

that ties in to a new business,

that may be more profitable.

If you consider the future the of business,

to get the money for a while and then just sit and watch

would seem like letting the opportunity slip away.

Who knows how much risk is associated with an optimistic expectation like that.

Is there any business that doesn't have any risk?

Spurred by that statement by Tonomura,

Tsukuda Manufacturing decided to solely pursue the path of supplying parts for Teikoku Heavy Industries.

And that news spread quickly within the company.

However, there were also many young employees who did not agree with this course of action.

Thanks for your hard work, guys.

I think you've already heard by now, but

there's a possibility that we may be supplying our valve system to Teikoku Heavy Industries.

Nomura's team was in charge of developing it, but if it comes down to supplying the parts,

- I want you all to work together as a team. - Wait a minute.

We have to complete the prototype of the new Stella model by the end of the month too.

Of course that's important too. Talk it over with Nomura and work it out.

I'm counting on you, Nomura.

That evening, three employees representing the opposition faction,

Ebara, Sakota, and Mano came to see the President.

No matter what we said, I thought you were impressive.

But why supply parts now?

I'm of the same opinion too.

The trial with Nakashima is now over and our debts have been paid back.

If we can start getting the patent royalties, we'll be secure for a while, right?

Why is there a need to opt for a troublesome path like supplying parts?

I understand what you're trying to say.

But you know,

what will be left after making money with the patent without doing anything?

We'll have the money.

We're sick and tired to being in a situation where we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.

I understand.

I'm sorry.

- Then... - But you know,

I want to launch a rocket with

the engine I made myself.

I want to do that at our company.

We understand about your dream. But this isn't the time to talk about it.

What we have a problem with is the company.

True, I'm a technician who started out as a researcher.

As a company president, there are times I may err in my judgment.