Furnace of Ambition: The Spark Before the Boom
(著) 小津丈夫
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[About the Book]
—Challenging a grand dream with pride as a Japanese and the spirit of a man—
The 1960s marked a period of rapid economic growth as Japan recovered from the devastation of World War II. In this era, Nobuo Okinaya, a businessman at Yamanaka Heavy Industries, was working tirelessly to enter a bid for the expansion of a steelmaking furnace in a city in Buenos Aires.
With companies from around the world competing to win the contract for the steel plant project, Yamanaka Heavy Industries joined forces with trading firms, construction companies, and port operators to take on their global rivals. At a time when Japan was still overcoming the stigma of defeat and had yet to gain international trust in its industrial technology, could Okinaya succeed in securing the international bid?
This full-length documentary novel vividly depicts the fierce struggle of a Japanese businessman competing in an international tender for a steel plant project, set against the dramatic backdrop of the times.
[Table Of Contents]
Chapter 1: Recruiting Reinforcements
Chapter 2: Announcement of the SteelPlant Tender
Chapter 3: Reaching the Decision to Bid
Chapter 4: To Argentina
Chapter 5: On‑Site Investigation One
Chapter 6: Field Survey Two
Chapter 7: Preparing for the Bid
Chapter 8: Activities of the Technical Team
Chapter 9: Shōtetsu’s Cooperation
Chapter 10: Coordinated Play
Chapter 11: The Second Investigation Team
Chapter 12: The Preliminary Demonstration
Chapter 13: Situation Analysis
Chapter 14: The Time for the Decisive Battle
Chapter 15: Pleasant News
Chapter 16: The Atmosphere and Circumstances on the International Stage
Chapter 17: Preparation for the Technical Briefings and the Strategy
Chapter 18: Trials on the Road to Victory
Chapter 19: The Embassy Party
Chapter 20: A Breather Amid the Busyness
Chapter 21: Teachings of Our Predecessors
Chapter 22: At Samuel’s Residence
Chapter 23: Moves by Company G
Chapter 24: Committee Proceedings
Chapter 25: Golf Beneath the Blazing Sun in Palermo Park
Chapter 26: Suspension of the Review
Chapter 27: Completion of the Review
Chapter 28: The Final Stage
Chapter 29: Informal Contract Notice
Chapter 30: Company G’s Counterattack
Chapter 31: The Endgame
Afterword
[Editor’s Comment]
For Okinaya, building a converter steel plant in a foreign land using Japanese technology—while Japan was still shaking off the image of a defeated nation—was an immense challenge. This story captures his courageous pursuit to prove the value of Japan’s industrial capabilities. Witness his inspiring journey as he puts everything on the line to compete on the world stage.
[Author Profile]
Takeo Ozu
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