Sensei Alexander (part 7)

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(Inventor’s sketches)

Outside was 1988. According to the Japanese calendar and Asian numerology, a year with two eights brings true wealth and happiness. It was this particular year that I met Alexander Kairis (my scientific guru or Sensei). He was visiting our first-throne capital from Japan. It was a quiet evening.  We were celebrating a PhD dissertation in a small cozy restaurant. Alexander was introduced to me by Vladimir Ivanovitch Loschilov – my research advisor and the head of the “Biomedical Technical Systems and Devices” department of Bauman Moscow Tech University (we used to call him Chief behind his back). Chief told me: «Vladimir Aleksandrovitch, if you work with this man all the technologies of the world will be available for you!» Then Alexander gave me his fancy business card, where in big red letters in English and Japanese was written: WACO Corporation, Japan, Tokyo. Back then I was a graduate student not from Moscow and lived in a hostel full of cock roaches, of course I did not have any business cards.   But I put on a bold face and wrote my name and department telephone number on a small piece of white paper and gave this improvised card to Alexander. He smiled and said: «You are a fast learner, Vladimir Aleksandrovitch! Handmade business cards – very cool!»

The beginning of the crazy 1990s was flying by; it was the second wind for midsize and small businesses in our country.  The first wind happened back in the 20s, during  the New Economic Policy (1920s Russia). I managed to create a Medical technology business and to work in my own scientific laboratory. In 1991, using my quite extensive experience in commerce I got a job at a joint venture called “Chance” as the deputy general manager. Back then there was not much asked from a joint venture company: buy cheap abroad and sell here either expensive or very expensive. To do that of course one had to have connections, be smart and willing to experiment. I remembered Alexander Kairis’s business card and called his Tokyo number about purchasing personal computers, which was a rare commodity here back then. We had a very simple conversation: «Hi Sasha, this is Vladimir from Moscow!» –  «Hi Volodya, what can I do for you!» – «Alexander, I am working for a joint venture and we need to buy a batch of PCs assembled in Japan. Preferably not expensive! You think you can help?» After a few seconds of silence he said: «Come to Japan, we will sign the contract and supply you with what you need!»

Two weeks later, after our life-changing telephone conversation, Valeryi Voronin (director of Chance) and I were marching through the streets of Tokyo.  It was intolerably hot, but we were confidently making our way to the WACO Corporation offices located in the very heart of downtown. Back then, there was not a lot of Europeans in Tokyo and people were staring at us as if we were some exotic birds. White people usually stare like that when they see an African dude for the first time in their lives. We were at the WACO offices, where the walls, floor and part of the ceiling was fitted with expensive wood.  Beautiful reception desk with a massive corporate logo, huge shiny conference desk with drinks, leather chairs on wheels. This took my breath away – the air was filled with the nice aroma of unreachable civilization. I felt overwhelming respect for Alexander; he left Moscow in 1979 without any money, all he had was a couple of boxes of books! And now, he was a director of a serious corporation located in the center of Tokyo. Hope that our negotiations will be successful gave me wings!

A week passed by unnoticed, and yet we continued bargaining with Kairis about the price, supply terms and PC settings. My director of commerce finally gave up and said: «Volodya, davai, please persuade your friend, otherwise our trip to Japan will be a waste. He is holding on to his guns too tight». On the last day of our visit I went to Kairis’s office and said: «Sasha please be flexible, give us a good price, otherwise they will sack us without explanation and could even beat us up!» This scenario was very possible in those daring times. «You will be able to make money on future deliveries!» – I said at last. On that day Alexander signed the contract which satisfied both parties. That is exactly how 20 years ago my first encounter with Sensei went.

To be continued…

Vladimir Elin  
October,  2011.

Индикатор ионизирующего излучения ДО-РА с функцией дозиметра-радиометра

  • Эксклюзивный дизайн и дорогие материалы отделки
  • Работает с собственной батареей
  • Подходит для iPhone
  • Может использоваться с ноутбукоми через переходник
  • Бесплатное ПО с расширенным функционалом
  • Конструкторская документация в международном формате IPC
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