Mitsuhama Computer Technologies
The ascendent top megacorp. They truly do a little bit of everything. Also a family business, much like Shiawase -- though in this case, the family is unambiguously yakuza. Not quite as yakuza-affiliated as in their early days, but nonetheless has every other megacorp beat in terms of criminal connections.
This is the perfect time to talk about MCT, as they’ve leapt to the top of the megacorporate heap. Instead of gloating and just holding steady, they’ve used their position of power to get even further ahead of the pack. Places they touch for resources often end up polluted beyond repair. Whether it’s the tales of Tsimshian or Glowglass (metaplane 2134 in MCT records, if you can find it), we can see how they treat the places they think of as resource rather than residence. People are no different—though the word “people” is often narrowly defined to not include many forms of sapience. Emergents know the horror story of MCT, but before that it was Awakened, and all along the way metahumans and any meat they needed to use for tech tests. Those Emergents—technomancers and their animal kingdom kin—have been ravaged as a people by MCT’s desire to turn their talent to profit. The Yakuza connection still exists, but they no longer have a chance at harming MCT before they are brought to heel. Individuals might be harmed, but individuals are replaceable. The relationship is now more of a business deal, with the Yakuza supplying worthy shadow forces and a black/grey-market distribution and field-testing network for their goods. There just isn’t much the current Yakuza connection can do to hurt this megacorporate monolith. A look ahead shows three things: growth, growth, and more growth. Sure, they’ll need to fight for their spot, but once you’re at the top, it’s all yours to lose. As long as MCT avoids a shadow war, or some damaging international conflict that catches them in a global storm, they should be fine. MCT has even set up an executive council for the sole purpose of keeping them at the top and widening the gap.
Structure
The council, consisting of six separate executives pulled from branches around the world, is called “Ichi” internally (referring to the Japanese word for the number one) and the “Sinister Six” out on the streets. It formed earlier this year and has not let any grass grow under their feet as they launched into action. From North America, they have Even Teeg, who brings connections to the shadows and executive hall- ways alike. The home office provided Kinetsa Motashi. Her Yakuza connections are her only link to the street, but she carries a powerful sense for making money. From MCT-Europe we have Killian Kujiyawa. He’s spent the bulk of his adult life battling S-K on their home turf and making a damn fine game of it. He lacks genuine street experience but also isn’t tainted by the drama that comes from touching reality. Africa generated Grace Mombasi, a master intelligence operative who has seen a tripling in asset value within MCT-Africa while she managed the shadows of Azania. The South Pacific gave over Kenner Ashwood from the Australia office, and while he started as an outsider, he’s settled in nicely. Lastly, Ilyena Mitsuhama (no relation) comes from the NAN half of North America and screams the loudest when it comes to her love for MCT. These six will be working out plans to move MCT forward as a team. Some people thought a single executive leading the charge would be better, but MCT leadership couldn’t decide who to select. Personally, I think it was the safest bet, but it’s risky putting six sharks in one tank.
Culture
The important differences between megacorps are most often found in their core philosophies and culture. Even among the Japanacorps, there are differing cultural expectations in behavior. Different levels within the megacorp also see things a little differently. At the top is the overall megacorporate philosophy. MCT believes in honor, respect, reverence for the emperor, and maintaining face. In truth, face is the most important thing, being a blend of success in all the other philosophies. The view of a person’s honor and face is not singular either. Everything one does reflects not only on them, but on their family, their coworkers, their department, and, from their viewpoint, even the empire and MCT as a whole. This face must be maintained and citizens are expected to atone for their failures. Failures that can only be paid for with death aren’t common but they occur, and are expected, often enough that every citizen of MCT knows the rites of seppuku. The education process also makes a vivid impression on anyone considering a dishonorable act. From the point of view of their citizens, MCT is the greatest megacorporation in the world. They are honored to be part of it. They are protected and live with the blessings of the emperor. They are not rabid animals like others in the world and are not forced to live under the constant threat of reprisal from their masters when a pet AI goes mad. Most of their worldviews are built on highlighting the disasters of the other corps and nations, while pinning blame for their own on singular dishonorable individuals. Up the chain to the world of executives, a little more reality had to set in. They became focused on hard work and the success that comes with it. Failure must be matched with atonement. Here that could be as simple as persistence or acceptance of corporate edicts on your project. It could also be seppuku to preserve the honor of your name and all those around you. Truth be told, even the best fail, and MCT has had a whole mess of top researchers and executives who’ve faked their seppuku. They didn’t die, their family names were still cleared, and now they live under an assumed name with no family to worry about honoring. It creates issues, but the MCT hatchet is always hovering above their heads because the corp doesn’t need to maintain any form of face with them either.
Near the top is the view from the boardroom or highest executive and research positions. The truths of much of the world are revealed, but they didn’t get where they are without living the MCT culture before this. They know seppuku is about control and not about appeasing spirits, but they also respect that control even more than they respect the spirits in most cases. From the top, it’s about maintaining control through any means necessary and knowing that MCT is greater than any one person. They know sacrifices must be made. Usually they are made lower in the corp, but sometimes a head at the top must fall for the betterment of all. On the street, usually through the eyes of runners, MCT is a strange dichotomy. The Zero Zones, where life is forfeit upon trespass, are balanced against solid pay and respect for success as long as you follow the rules. Successful runners are treated like valued citizens. Failure comes with the expectation of atonement. If they don’t atone on their own, MCT regularly pulls out the SAS—“Seppuku Assistance Squads”—to make sure failure is balanced with blood. Let’s talk dirt. MCT has little care for much more than the bottom line outside their personal realm.
History
Simple history is the best for a corp like this. Taiga “Tiger” Mitsuhama played the corporate game well during a recession near the beginning of the century. His success got attention, but attention led to jealousy and problems. Rather than making amends and deals with his fellows, he made deals with the Yakuza. With the help of the crime syndicate, Mitsuhama solidified control, and MCT has been growing ever since. Sure, there’s plenty of complexity and detail in there I’m skipping, but who cares about that? We all know how corps get where they are. On our backs!
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