قصة الكتاب :
Shōgakukan (Shōgakukan Bunko), 2013. 496 pp. ¥720. ISBN 978-
4-09-408896-0.
Ikeido Jun
Born in 1963 in Gifu Prefecture. After working at a bank, he was
awarded the Edogawa Rampo Award in 1998 for Hatsuru soko naki
[Without End] and the Naoki Prize in 2011 for Shitamachi roketto.
In 2013 his novels Oretachi baburu nyūkōgumi [We Bubble-Economy
Hires] and Oretachi hana no baburugumi [We Bubble-Economy
Wonders] became a huge hit in the television drama adaptation
Hanzawa Naoki. His other books include Sora tobu taiya [The Flying
Tire] and Fushōji [Scandal].

Working out of a small factory in an unfashionable part of Tokyo, a tiny family
firm called Tsukuda Manufacturing succeeds in developing a rocket engine valve
based on one of its main products. But at the same time, the company faces an
unprecedented crisis, having lost its major client and facing a massive lawsuit for
patent irregularities from one of the industry’s biggest players. The rival plans to
push Tsukuda Manufacturing into bankruptcy and swallow it up for next to nothing.
With the help of a specialized attorney the company manages to overcome
the crisis. But no sooner has the company weathered one storm than another
arises: Teikoku Heavy Industries, Japan’s largest aerospace manufacturer, makes
an offer to buy the patent. Company president Tsukuda Kōhei is determined that
the firm should manufacture the components itself rather than selling its rights
for short-term profits. But the unprecedented size of the offer provokes a conflict
of opinion. Once negotiations start, however, Teikoku’s arrogance sparks the employees’
sense of pride. Banding together to work on product development, they
eventually contribute to the successful launch of a domestically built rocket.
The fast-paced storyline makes the book hard to put down. The story is intricately
plotted, and Ikeido breathes life into all his characters. The scenario of a
small company tyrannized by big business is reminiscent of the good-against-evil
theme of popular historical novels. This tale of the weak overcoming the strong
through superhuman efforts appeals to Japanese readers’ sympathy for the underdog.
(CK)