Kotaku: hiroshi yamauchi

Pokemon Could Have Been Muscular Monsters

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:00:00 MDT

When cutesy monster series Pokémon was being prepped for the Western market, localizers told Nintendo this: No way will adorable monsters be accepted by Americans.

In a recent interview, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata reveals, "We were sent a proposal of muscle-bound characters to use if we wanted to do well in the U.S." Nintendo didn't sign off on the beefed-up Pocket Monsters.

The-then-Nintendo-honcho Hiroshi Yamauchi viewed releasing the cute monsters in the States as a worthy challenge. The fact that these characters were different could be appealing to Western gamers.

Pokémon went on to be a hugely successful franchise in America, causing a national craze at one point. It's a shame Western gamers will never get to play titles like Pokémon: Muscle or its inevitable corresponding title Pokémon: Flab.

岩田聡・任天堂社長—日本人が面白いと思うものは世界で見ても「面白い」！ [Toyokeizai via はちま起稿] [Pic]

Former Nintendo President Not As Rich (Still Filthy Rich, Though)

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:00:00 MST

Hiroshi Yamauchi, who ran Nintendo from 1949 to 2002, was the richest man in Japan last year with a net worth of approximately US$7.8 billion. What about this year?

With even Nintendo hit by the global financial crisis, the 81-year-old Yamauchi's net worth plunged by $3.3 billion to $4.5 billion. He is now ranked third by business magazine Forbes Asia's March 2 issue.

Japan's 2009 top ten plutocrats are:

1. Tadashi Yanai (Uniqlo), $6.1 billion
2. Kunio Busujima (Sankyo), $5.2 billion
3. Hiroshi Yamauchi (Nintendo), $4.5 billion
4. Akira Mori (Mori Trust), $4.2 billion
5. Masayoshi Son (Softbank), $3.9 billion
6. Eitaro Itoyama (free agent), $3.7 billion
7. Hiroshi Mikitani (Rakuten), $3.6 billion
8. Nobutada Saji (Suntory), $3.5 billion
9. Hiroko Takei (Takefuji heiress/widow), $2.8 billion
10. Takemitsu Takizaki (Keyence), $2.4 billion

Yamauchi ruled the company with an iron hand and oversaw Nintendo's transition into video games.

Fast Retailing's Yanai Tops Japan Rich List, Forbes Asia Says [Bloomberg via Mutant Frog Travelogue]

Japan's Richest Man Is...Yes, Hiroshi Yamauchi

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:40:00 MDT

You want a single man's fortunes by which you can gauge the current success of Nintendo? Look no further than former chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi, who in the past three years has gone from being Japan's 11th-richest man, to it's 3rd-richest man, to now it's richest man. That's what happens when you own mountains of Nintendo stock, and said stock goes through the roof. While there's been no reports of Yamauchi smashing any marble tables over the news, he is expected to spend at least some of his winnings on a new leather face.

Japan's 40 Richest [Forbes]

Wii, DS Make Yamauchi 3rd Richest Japanese

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:40:13 MDT

Bloomberg is reporting that Hiroshi Yamauchi, former chairman of Nintendo, has become the third richest man in Japan, now with a net worth of $4.8 billion (about 582 billion yen). With Nintendo DS and Wii performing pretty darn good in the hardware charts and Nintendo published software fairing mostly okay as well, the company's stock has tripled in value since the beginning of 2006. Ol' Yamauchi is smiling all the way to the bank with his billions, then cursing and spitting venom at the tellers, shattering marble tables with his cobra-headed walking cane.

Back on topic, Bloomberg reports that Yamauchi, 79 years old, rose from spot 11 on the charts last year to claim the number three spot. I can't wait for next year's chart! Michael McWhertor

Mori Tops Softbank's Son on Forbes List of 40 Richest Japanese [Bloomberg]