UlasanAnime.com – It might seem unusual to discuss “Classroom Crisis” alongside Elon Musk, but perhaps this comparison is long overdue.
The concept of keiretsu systems can be difficult to take seriously within the context of an anime setting. However, contemporary Japanese society bears a striking resemblance to its feudal past, particularly in its socio-economic structures. These vertically and horizontally integrated corporate groups control a vast majority of the economy, encompassing finance, retail, distribution, manufacturing, and more. These keiretsu are the lifeblood of the Japanese economy, holding significant national wealth.
A keiretsu is essentially a network, or more precisely, a cartel of companies with interconnected interests and interlocking ownership. These companies are either horizontally or vertically integrated, or both. Typically, a holding company and a bank are at the core of these operations to facilitate financial transactions. Their operational model is comparable to the associated businesses of Elon Musk: Solar City, Tesla, and SpaceX. Solar City raises funds through energy investments, creating demand for home batteries and encouraging off-grid living. Tesla supplies batteries to Solar City, enabling operational scaling and making electric cars more appealing through home solar solutions. SpaceX utilizes its pre-paid contracts to invest in Solar City bonds, which offer a better return than the lower-yield, safer bonds typically associated with aerospace contracts. Meanwhile, Musk himself buys and sells stock options and provides personal loans from his net worth to ensure liquidity and provide a financial safety net for these ventures during times of need.
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The preceding summary is derived from an article that inspired this post. Examining “Classroom Crisis” through this lens offers an interesting perspective, especially given the prominent role of a keiretsu in its setting and plot. The anime’s depiction of zaibatsu/keiretsu lineage drama is plausible due to several factors:
- The founders were pioneering rocket engineers who developed revolutionary engines, enabling the advanced space travel seen in “Classroom Crisis.”
- These founders were from the two families that managed the Kirishima keiretsu, a concept deeply rooted in Japanese culture but perhaps also appealing to Western audiences.
- The keiretsu originated as a rocket company. Leveraging its pioneering status and superior technology, it established an end-to-end chain, akin to companies like Toyota or General Electric. This vertical keiretsu encompassed banking, distribution, mining, manufacturing, and eventually all businesses necessary for establishing colonies on Mars and in space stations.
- The lineage plays a crucial role because the protagonist’s generation possesses Elon Musk-level talent focused on a specific objective. They must navigate the expectations of their superiors and guardians while pursuing their goals, which may not always align with those expectations. The romantic interests and character backgrounds add relatable human elements to the narrative.
However, the anime does not present itself in the same manner as Musk, who is often perceived as a modern-day Lex Luthor. The story is firmly set in a high school environment, though at times it feels as though a marauding spaceship could easily replace the classroom organization and function similarly.
“Classroom Crisis” also adeptly explores and critiques common issues associated with the zaibatsu/keiretsu system, such as anti-competitive monopolies and links to organized crime. Its primary criticism, however, targets the system’s inherent anti-meritocracy, which allows for incompetent executives and employees to benefit from the system based on seniority and a “first-comer” status.
Initially, this perspective heavily influenced my viewing of “Classroom Crisis.” The narrative seemed to portray a generational struggle where the youth of Japan find inspiration and the courage to resist detrimental influences from their superiors. This touches upon the “lost generation” theme. Yet, as a piece of science fiction, it may have inadvertently delved into something more universally relevant. It raises the question of whether integrated cartels can play a role in space exploration, acknowledging the inherent problems with such a notion, particularly within a Japanese context. Exploring this aspect from a more American or non-Japanese viewpoint could highlight the potential benefits of keiretsu in high-risk ventures like pioneering space exploration, from a shareholder’s perspective.
These observations are merely personal reflections. I wish to conclude by touching upon Musk’s personal charisma and the devoted following he commands. While not reaching the same level of reverence, some have likened Musk’s status to that of Steve Jobs. However, the distinction lies in Jobs’s profound expertise as an engineer and pioneer in his fields. Musk, on the other hand, appears as a science fiction “Gary Stu,” albeit one who is not writing fan fiction but actively shaping world history through his endeavors.
¹This blog post was partly inspired by the Slate article, but Google Now news alerts frequently feature Elon Musk articles due to a past search and a failure to dismiss those notifications. Consequently, I not only read the Slate piece but also delved into numerous finance and investment news articles, alongside green tech websites (and unfortunately, a scarcity of rocket/space-focused sites). This is because these are the types of publications that cover him. It’s common for these articles to portray him as an eccentric figure who defies traditional molds, with various pundits debating the nature of his companies. While amusing, it also carries a slightly unsettling or melancholic undertone, considering the likely readership of these sites consists of the affluent. This footnote serves to digress into a discussion about how valuing a company like Tesla necessitates understanding Musk’s financial interests in it, and vice versa, as well as the interdependencies between his various companies beyond Tesla.
²Establishing space stations and colonizing Mars are significant undertakings. Musk has publicly stated that humanity must become a multi-planetary species as a safeguard against extinction risks, a rationale I find sound but lacking immediate urgency. This sentiment is coupled with an analysis of SpaceX’s near to mid-term risks. While the affordability of Falcon 9 launches is a positive, and will likely improve as the company refines its methods for recovering first stages, the practical applications in space remain somewhat limited. While there are numerous potential uses for space, until space travel becomes a casual endeavor, there must be sufficient demand for companies to invest millions in launching payloads. In essence, the risk lies in the insufficient demand for businesses to capitalize on SpaceX’s cost-effective and frequent launches, thereby justifying the current scale of operations. Space tourism is a viable concept, but it cannot encompass all potential use cases, and its viability as a business hinges on pricing. The International Space Station (ISS) is currently a major client for SpaceX, but the frequency of necessary launches is not substantial. The number of communication satellites and telescopes that can be deployed in orbit is finite, as is the capacity for space agencies and institutions worldwide to manage space probes. This brings to mind companies like Deep Space Industries (DSI) and Planetary Resources. While space-based industry is essential, its current objectives differ from Musk’s immediate focus. This leads to a key conclusion: while going to Mars is one objective, pioneering new businesses and fields is, in its own way, an exploration of uncharted territory. Given the harshness of space, this endeavor is arguably more compelling. After all, who would willingly venture into space for mere amusement, considering it is the most hostile environment known to nature?
