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AnonymousDemonX
Citizen
IGN: AnonymousDemonX
Preferred Name: Taro Yakazuki icly
Discord: 509.trippy
Age (optional): 29 icly
OOC:
Why do you want a business on Echoes: 1984?: I'd like to start a business for a lead in the industry and because there are more business spots open compared to other rp communities. I'd also like a good way for people to get to know me and meeting people at my shop is a great way of doing that. Earning money is also a goal im trying to make as i'd like to be rich enough to buy me and my friends what we want. Opening a business in a community is also a unique experience especially when first starting it up.
Business Discord: In-Progress
What will your business sell and/or do? Alcohol and Accessories including any cigars/cigarettes in the server
Provide the lore of your character, and how they came to open a business. Please attempt to limit yourself to more-or-less 1,500 words (maximum 2,500):
Taro Yakazuki: The Journey from Russia to America
Taro Yakazuki was born in 1975 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, during a time of political tension and uncertainty. His father, Kenzo Yakazuki, was a Japanese businessman who moved to the Soviet Union in the late 1970s. He sought opportunities in the industrial and trade sectors, especially in the face of the communist regime’s gradual weakening. Taro's mother, Irina Sokolov, was a native Russian, a cultured woman with a passion for art and literature. Their marriage, blending two vastly different worlds, was one of cultural fusion, and it gave Taro a complex and diverse upbringing.
Growing up, Taro was immersed in the tension between two vastly different cultures. His father was pragmatic, focused on business opportunities in an often volatile environment, while his mother was intellectually driven, fostering Taro’s appreciation for art, philosophy, and Russian history. This unique blend shaped Taro into someone who understood the value of both intellect and pragmatism. As a young child, Taro watched his father skillfully navigate the intricacies of the changing political and economic landscape of the Soviet Union, but he also witnessed his mother's deep dissatisfaction with the cultural stagnation under Soviet rule. The world Taro grew up in was filled with contrasts: the rigid, state-controlled system of the Soviet Union, and the growing undercurrents of a new era brought about by global trade and capitalist ambition.
The early 1990s marked a transformative period for Russia. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 sent shockwaves through every aspect of society. Taro was in his late teens during this time—an age when one begins to forge their own identity—and witnessed the turmoil and opportunity created by this dramatic political shift. The country was plunged into economic chaos, but also into a new world where freedom and capitalism reigned. His father quickly adapted to this new environment, leveraging his international connections and business acumen to secure a foothold in Russia's burgeoning market economy. Meanwhile, his mother struggled to make sense of the changing cultural and social norms that followed the collapse of communism.
Despite the political upheaval, Taro found an opportunity to study economics in Moscow at the age of 18. By the mid-1990s, the capital was buzzing with entrepreneurial energy. The streets were filled with new businesses, shops, and restaurants offering products from all over the world. However, Taro’s academic pursuit was overshadowed by a growing fascination with the world of luxury and indulgence. Moscow’s elite were building fortunes, but they were also redefining how to enjoy the finer things in life. Bars, nightclubs, and lounges were becoming the new centers of power, where the exchange of ideas, business deals, and socializing were as important as wealth itself.
Taro, though initially focused on his studies, began spending more time in Moscow’s emerging nightlife scene. These venues offered more than just entertainment—they were spaces of exclusivity, where fine alcohol, cigars, and luxury accessories became the tools of status and connection. Taro’s keen business sense told him that there was a significant gap in the market—Moscow lacked a sophisticated, modern establishment that combined all these elements.
At the age of 22, in 1997, Taro moved to Moscow with a clear vision. The country was still adjusting to its newfound market economy, and Taro recognized an opportunity in the growing demand for luxury goods and services. While studying economics at Moscow State University, Taro spent much of his free time exploring the city’s thriving underground luxury scene, attending elite gatherings where cigars and fine whiskey flowed freely. He understood that there was an emerging class of people seeking an experience rather than just a product. A place that combined quality spirits, cigars, and accessories with an elegant social environment could become a hotspot for Moscow’s elite.
By 2004, Taro’s business acumen had matured. He had spent the early years of his adult life studying the market, building relationships, and understanding the desires of Russia’s new wealthy class. At the age of 29, he was ready to launch his vision. He opened his first business in Moscow, a bar that sold fine alcohol, cigars, and smoking accessories. He named it Manen, inspired by his father’s Japanese heritage, symbolizing elegance, exclusivity, and mystery.
Manen was designed to be more than just a bar; it was a space that offered a complete luxury experience. The atmosphere was one of refined sophistication, with dim lighting, leather furniture, and dark wood accents. The menu offered premium liquors from around the world, along with a curated selection of the finest cigars. Patrons could relax in the intimate surroundings while indulging in cigars, sipping whiskey, and discussing politics, art, and business. It quickly became a hub for Moscow’s new elite—business tycoons, artists, intellectuals, and politicians who valued a place to connect and unwind.
The success of Manen was swift. Taro’s deep understanding of luxury and the elite’s social needs allowed him to craft a space that resonated with the city’s most powerful figures. The bar’s reputation spread rapidly, attracting high-profile individuals who sought out the exclusivity and class that Taro’s establishment embodied. As the business flourished, Taro knew that his vision could transcend Moscow and expand into a global market, where luxury and exclusivity were universal desires.
Though Manen had gained prominence in Moscow, Taro could feel that his journey was far from complete. The Russian business landscape, while profitable, still felt constrained by political instability and the lingering shadow of Soviet bureaucracy. He realized that to truly realize his potential and build a brand with global reach, he would need to venture beyond Russia.
Taro set his sights on the United States, where the burgeoning luxury market, coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit, presented a new world of opportunity. By 2010, he made the bold decision to relocate to New York City, a place where culture, wealth, and innovation converged like no other. Taro was attracted to the city’s vibrant luxury scene—bars, lounges, and private clubs where people from all walks of life could come together and indulge in luxury without the constraints of the old world.
The move wasn’t easy. New York presented a different set of challenges, but Taro’s knowledge of the luxury market and his international experience helped him navigate the competitive business environment. After spending some time studying the American market and refining his concept, Taro reopened Manen in New York in 2012. This iteration of the business, while retaining the refined essence of the Moscow location, was tailored to American tastes. The focus was still on high-quality alcohol, cigars, and smoking accessories, but the atmosphere was slightly more modern and accessible, with a focus on creating a laid-back yet upscale environment that appealed to New York’s diverse elite.
The New York version of Manen was an instant success. The blend of luxury and social space attracted New Yorkers from all walks of life—finance professionals, creatives, celebrities, and entrepreneurs who sought a haven to relax and network in style. The intimate, exclusive ambiance of the bar made it a perfect place for important business meetings, creative discussions, or simply unwinding after a long day. Taro’s ability to create such an environment, combining refined indulgence with a welcoming atmosphere, set Manen apart from its competitors.
By 2017, Manen had expanded beyond New York City to other major cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Taro’s brand was now recognized not only for its premium offerings but also for its cultural significance. It was a place that represented the convergence of Russian sophistication, Japanese precision, and American entrepreneurial spirit.
Manen had become a symbol of luxury, exclusivity, and indulgence—a space where high society gathered to experience the finer things in life. Taro’s entrepreneurial journey had come full circle, from the chaotic post-Soviet Russia to the vibrant streets of New York City. What had begun as a dream in Moscow had now become an international success, a brand that transcended borders and cultures.
For Taro Yakazuki, Manen was more than just a business. It was a manifestation of his journey—a journey that had taken him from the rigid confines of Soviet-era Russia to the entrepreneurial freedom of America. And in that journey, he had built something lasting: a place where people could come together, indulge in luxury, and connect over the shared experiences of life’s finest pleasures.
What would you do if someone came into your place of business and began to cause trouble OOC? I'd just call staff and let them handle it
What would you do if someone came into your place of business and began to cause trouble IC? I'd kick them out and if they refused i'd call 911 and have them trespassed
How would your business greet and provide service to customers (e.g. “Hello! What will you be getting today? *The man began to click into the register, getting ready to serve the customer.*)?: Well we'd start by saying hi with a little detailrp like waving the person to come forward or if they have traditions like bowing in Japan when saying hello. For example *As he looked at the next person in line he would wave them forward while saying "Hello, what will we be getting today?" Waiting Patiently for the persons response*.
