At #gamescomlatam, many journalists and developers asked me the same question: "Why did you come all the way to Brazil?" In response, I told them a story about a certain Brazilian band. The CD was actually the first one I ever bought when I was fourteen years oldβnot a Japanese band, but one from Brazil. Every time I showed the CD to a journalist or developer, they were visibly thrilled. As it turns out, that band is a legendary fixture of the Brazilian rock scene. Word of my story eventually spread through the gamescom latam press room, even reaching American journalists who reached out to ask, "Do you like this band? What about that one?" One of them even introduced me to another colleague. My point is this: networking isn't just about "games" and "business." Networking expands and deepens truly when there is a genuine respect for one another's culture.