5/26/2013: Tokyo, Japan – Following Neo-Tokyo’s surprising upset win over the Edo Battousai to clinch their first ever Neo-Tokyo Cup, demanding owner Katsuhiro Otomo was strangely – nay, eerily – silent.  “Rumours of Mr. Otomo’s demise are premature,” is all the PR department of the Akira would offer.

After months of speculation, turns out there are more valid and understandable reasons for his absence.  Seems Katsuhiro was holed up in his mansion, parting like it was 1999 again.  That’s right; the all-business, no-play eccentric mogul spent the off-season holding the greatest victory celebration of all time, lasting over three months.  Sources estimated that the shindig set back the charitable owner about 100 million yen (1,785,960 Turkish Liras).

But now the party’s over.  Otomo has repeatedly made clear that one Neo-Tokyo Cup championship is not enough.  To management and staff, he would hold up all ten fingers, with his championship ring on his left pinky, and ask “How many rings am I missing?”  The implication was clear to all; he would not rest on his laurels, nor let anyone else in his organization do so.  Multiple championships are not only desired but expected.

Granted, the Akira reached the pinnacle earlier than expected, but now nothing less than a Neo-Tokyo Cup run would be acceptable.  The bar has been raised.  So has the pressure on GM Ron Hiscock.  While he has been rewarded with a hefty raise, Otomo has firmly stuck with his insistence on giving him one-year contracts.  “The office cleaning staff has a month-to-month contract, so I guess I’m pretty lucky by those standards.” 

By season’s end, the Akira hope to party like it’s 2012.