It is after midnight here in Kyoto, and I finally found some time to process the (opening) day at the Nintendo Museum.
It is too early for a full report and review, but I give you 10 things that gave me joy today, and 2 things that can be improved (imo).
Good thing number 6: the details.
Across the buildings there are many nice details, with humour. Never in your face, requiring some exploring.
Gameboy catridge lockers? Check.
Kirby vending machine. Yes.
A rare picture (taken in 1971) of the Nintendo taxi company, one of many businesses started by Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi in the 1960s.
(Source: www-4gamer-net)
Good thing number 3: the vintage games and toys collection on display.
For me very important, and I must admit I was a bit worried about this after the Nintendo Direct, but the museum did not disappoint at all in this department; it surpassed expectations.
Wow! This super rare anniversary edition Nintendo Game & Watch, never before seen for sale, just sold for ¥1,001,000 (US$9100 / €8000) was created in 1982 upon request by Gunpei Yokoi, to celebrate the 20 million games sold milestone.
Can improve number 1: please explain.
It seems Nintendo is a believer in "show not tell", as there is hardly space in the museum for telling stories about the people, ideas and events behind the great products. While there is so much cool history to share.
Good thing number 4: the workshops.
We partipated in the Hanafuda making workshop, which was both well thought out and lots of fun. Bonus points for the Animal Crossing music playing in the background during our crafting.
Good thing number 9: the goodies.
The gift shop (aptly called Bonus Stage) is stocked to the brim with mostly museum exclusives. Maybe it is too much, and maybe the plush controllers are too big, but I loved almost all of it.
Final first thoughts.
We had a wonderful time at the Museum, with plenty of surprises, even for hard-core Nintendo enthusiasts, and we left happy and satisfied.
And hope to visit it again soon.
Good thing number 2: The Nintendo community.
We met so many cool, friendy and positive people today. As a place for this group of like-minded folks to meet eachother, it is awesome.
Good thing number 5: the staff.
Lots of staff was present, never obstructing, always helpful where and when needed. Special shout out to the friendly gentleman who gave us a petsonal tour.
Can improve number 2: the blend burger bar.
Despite what Nintendo is capable of (see Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan), the restaurant decor is frankly a bit boring. Not much going on here, which is a lost opportunity.
Good thing number 10: crowd size.
Never during our stay was it too crowded. No long queues (except the giftshop in the last hour of the day, and the zapper/superscope games all day), and usually plenty of free space too move around and enjoy the exhibits at your own pace.
The big reveal: all displays ready, dusted and lights added.
Nintendo electronic gaming history from 1970s (Color TV Game consoles), to 1980s (Game & Watch, Famicom) to 1990s (Game Boy family, Virtual Boy).
This is quite spectacular!
Fabrice (
@Yamafuda
) just showed us the latest addition to his collection, which he picked up at an antiquarian bookstore in Kyoto yesterday:
A Kyoto travel quide with the oldest known Nintendo ad, from 1894 (!), when Nintendo was only five years old.
Today a very rare piece of Nintendo arcade history was sold for only 41,500円, or about the price of a Switch OLED! Maybe because it was pick-up in Osaka, or folks simply did not recognize it for what it is.
What is it? A 1975 Nintendo EVR Race, video based arcade game.
Two years ago, an ultra-rare gem from Nintendo's past emerged: the 1965 Time Bomb, licensed from MB. It was totally unknown in collector circles for decades.
Guess what? Another one just surfaced, and I'm happy to say it's on its way to me! More details will be on the blog soon!
As you may have heard, the original Nintendo headquarters in Kyoto has been restored and turned into a hotel called Marufukuro (丸福樓 旧山内任天堂), opening in April.
I am sure there are many interesting details to be discovered, like this white 'art piece' in the hotel bar.
Yesterday we were surprised with a nice cake commemorating the opening of the Nintendo Museum, and incredibly well (hand) made cookies with Nintendo logos through time. どうもありがとうございます。🙏🏻
The Famicom Disk System (ファミリーコンピュータ ディスクシステム) is the only Nintendo console / peripheral that has it's own mascotte: Diskun (ディスくん).
Just spotted a bunch of (rare) Diskun merchandise on Yahoo Auctions, including a hand bag, coasters and bento boxes. Hyoi!
Somebody asked about the menu at the Hatena Burger, inside the Nintendo Museum
Here it is
One of the options is a custom burger, where you can select from many ingredients (will try to find the flyer with instructions)
Nintendo Game & Watch production line, quality control, early 1980s
Think of all the millions of LCD games that Nintendo produced, then think of these ladies, checking these are all fully working
Still buzzing from visit to Nintendo's former headquarters in Kyoto.
8 years ago I was happy to take a picture outside a CLOSED building.
Never in a million year would have believed I would be welcomed in by the staff, stay the night and be part of the library!
2015 vs 2023:
One of the more unusual Nintendo consoles: the Dataship 1200. Although a combination of Famicom and Network Adaptor in one form factor, it only supports Network Catridges and no games.
The new Before Mario blog post covers the Nintendo Love Peace electric clock, featuring the Smiley design
One of seven clocks Nintendo made in the early 1970s
P.S. For all folks who cannot make it to the official Nintendo Museum (as well as those who can), here's a short video featuring my own unofficial Nintendo Museum.
Super proud moment. Years ago I was standing outside the (closed) former Nintendo office in Kyoto. And now the beforemario book is part of the library inside, within the newly opended Marufukuro hotel!
The continued adventures of the Wiimote cushion - part 4
Sweet reunion!
Two days after my return home, the doorbell rang, and my heart rejoiced.
A familiar package was handed over, and minutes later the Nintendo Museum Wiimote joined the Before Mario collection.
The end
An interesting section of the Nintendo Museum showed the evolution of controllers, from the D-pad to the most recent times, including a comparison of controller cord lengths!
Oldest item in the Before Mario collection: Marufuku number 1
This is a box of the first set of Western style playing cards produced by Nintendo, early 1900s
What a great way to start 2021: I completed my Nintendo Gameboy original accessories collection, by adding the very elusive 'soft case' (ソフトケース) carry pouch DMG-06. Now all eight DMG family members are gathered. Let's take a closer look at each one, in the thread below.
Twentyseven years ago to the day, Gunpei Yokoi lost his life in a roadside accident.
I am sure he would have been extremely proud, if he could have lived to see his achievements celebrated in the Nintendo Museum, from Ultra Hand to Game Boy
🙏🏻
Did you know that the Diskun stationary set comes in two colours, with white or yellow items?
Diskun was the mascot for the Nintendo Famicom Disk System
The picture of Nintendo founder "Fusajiro Yamauchi" on his wikipedia page (in Japanese, English and other languages) is actually of his great-grandson Hiroshi Yamauchi. Sloppy!
Meet the Collectors Fabrice Heilig (
@Yamafuda
) part 2, with a tour inside his wonderful Nintendo cabin. One of the worlds most extensive Nintendo playing cards collections, with an exclusive video by
@FlorentGorgesFR
The are the last minutes on Japanese soil, before our plane takes off.
Japan is like a (second) home to me, so I would like to say いってきます.
Also, now I need to sleep for a week! 🙂😴
Remember the sad story of the beautiful 1950s Nintendo "Kyoto Souvenir" playing cards that had turned into bricks?
Well, there is a happy end to this story, as I found two more decks, this time in perfect condition!
Or more precise, they found me...
Blog post coming soon.
Full story about the 70-year old Nintendo Kyoto Souvenir Playing Cards, in the latest blog post.
Including why finding unused new-old stock sometimes isn't as fantastic as you initially think.
This looks awfully painfull, but it's the biggest box I could find
Future Nintendo Museum vistors beware, the wiimote (or any other of the three controller cushions for that matter) is cute and BIG
The story of the 1894 Kyoto book that has one of the oldest known Nintendo ads got more spectacular, as - through the help of some friends, who know who they are - we were able to acquire a second copy in Kyoto today!
So now it is also part of the Before Mario collection. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is quite spectacular!
Fabrice (
@Yamafuda
) just showed us the latest addition to his collection, which he picked up at an antiquarian bookstore in Kyoto yesterday:
A Kyoto travel quide with the oldest known Nintendo ad, from 1894 (!), when Nintendo was only five years old.