Japanese video games have been bringing together technology and creativity for 30 years. I believe that Japan was able to create such unique games because of its 2000 year-old culture.

1. Video Games
and Japanese Culture
Yoshihiro Kishimoto
May 26th 2015
at Gotland Game Conference, Swiden
© Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO

2. Introduction
2
Yoshihiro Kishimoto
(Yoshi)
- game designer
- researcher

3. 3
Video Games
and Japanese Culture

4. 4
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: 3 games I made
#10: Global Math project

5. Part 1
5
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: 3 games I made
#10: Global Math project

6. Where am I from ?
6
Japan

7. Where am I from ?
7
Tokyo

8. Where am I from ?
8
4days ago

9. Where am I from ?
9
2 days ago

10. Where am I from ?
Today
10

11. My career
1982-2001 Namco Ltd.
2001-2010 Koei Ltd.
2012-Present Tokyo University of Technology
11

12. My career
60 games
Mappy Pac Land Baraduke
Toy Pop Family Studium Prime Goal
©Bandai Namco Entertainment
12

13. My career
60 games
Naval Ops Dynasty Worriers Romance of Three Kingdoms
Opoona Neo Angelique Sweets navigator
13©Koei Tecmo

14. Part 2
14
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: 3 games I made
#10: Global Math project

15. Questions
15
Do you like Video Games ?

16. Questions
16
Have you ever played Japanese video
games? For example, Super Mario or
Pokemon?
©Nintendo
©Pokemon

17. Questionnaire
17
Results of questionnaire:
Do you know Japanese games?

18. Japanese Video Games
18
97%
Super Mario ©Nintendo

19. Japanese Video Games
19
93%
Pokemon ©Pokemon

20. Japanese Video Games
20
48%
Final Fantasy
©Square Enix

21. Japanese Animations
21
97%
Pokemon
©Pokemon

22. Japanese Animations
22
89%
Dragon Ball
©BIRD STUDIO

23. Japanese Animations
23
88%
Naruto ©Masashi Kishimoto

24. Japanese culture
24
Over 80%
Manga, Sushi, Samurai, Ninja, Cosplay

25. The 10 Best-selling video game franchises
25
The Sims
http://www.culturellement-geek.com/

26. The 10 Best-selling video game franchises
26
HOG
http://www.culturellement-geek.com/

27. The 10 Best-selling video game franchises
27
http://www.culturellement-geek.com/

28. Questionnaire
28
The results of questionnaire (in Japan) :
Do you know Swedish games?

29. Swedish Video Games
29
78%
Minecraft
©Mojang

30. Swedish Video Games
30
44%
Battle field
©EA

31. Swedish Video Games
31
8%
Goat Simulator
©Coffee Stain Studios

32. Swedish culture
32
39%
IKEA

33. Part 3
33
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: 3 games I made
#10: Global Math project

34. Super Mario (1985, Nintendo)
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
34
©Nintendo

35. Super Mario Maniac quiz
What is the title of the first game
Mario appeared in ?
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
35

36. A: Donkey Kong (1981, Nintendo)
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
36
©Nintendo

37. Pokemon (1996, Nintendo)
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
37
©Nintendo
©Pokemon

38. Pokemon Maniac quiz
Who is the 151th pokemon?
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
38

39. A: Mew
Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
39
©Nintendo
©Pokemon

40. Part 4
40
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9:
#10: Global Math project

41. 41
Technology and creativity

42. 42
And Japan’s 2000-year old culture

43. Japan’s 2000-year old culture
43
the edge of East Asia

44. Japan’s 2000-year old culture
44
2000 year old gold seal

45. Japan’s 2000-year old culture
45
the same culture and language

46. Japan’s 2000-year old culture
46
Japanese games

47. Part 5
47
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9:
#10: Global Math project

48. Kamisama
48
The mountain Kamisama

49. Kamisama
49

50. Part 6
50
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9:
#10: Global Math project

51. tree woods forest
Kanji
51

52. tree woods forest
木 林 森
Kanji
52

53. tree woods forest
木 林 森
Kanji
53

54. Rabbit
Kanji
54

55. Kanji
55
Kanji for “rabbit”

56. Kanji
56
Super deformed

57. Lode Runner(1983, Broderbund)
Kanji
57
© Broderbund

58. Questionnaire after GGC
What are some other game titles that you think
include super deformed characters like Mario?
(Both Japanese games and games of other
countries.)
58

59. Part 7
59
#1: Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario and Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: 3 games I made
#10: Global Math project

60. Shogi
60
Chess
shogi shogi
Shogi

61. Shogi
61
Capture and turn into allied system

62. Shogi
62
Capture and turn into allied system

63. Part 8
63
#1: Where am I from ? Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: Three games I made
#10: Global Math project

64. Japanese picture scroll (800 year old)
鳥獣人物戯画
Japanese picture scrolls
64

65. Japan’s oldest comic(manga)
Japanese picture scrolls
65

66. Japanese picture scrolls
Japanese picture scroll (800 year old)
伴大納言絵詞
66

67. Japanese picture scrolls
Japan’s oldest animation
伴大納言絵詞（12世紀）
67

68. the roots of Japanese Games, Manga, and
Animation
68

69. Part 9
69
#1: Where am I from ? Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: Three games I made
#10: Global Math project

70. Three games I made
70
Pac Land (1984, Namco)
Baraduke (1985, Namco)
Family Studium (1986, Namco)
Total 7mins

71. Three games I made
71
Pac Land (1984, Namco)
2:56

72. Three games I made
72
Baraduke (1985, Namco)
1:55

73. 73
Questionnaire after GGC
Q. How would you do a remake of Baraduke
to be launched outside of Japan, now?
(Baraduke was sold only in Japan. Game
platform, game system, graphics etc)

74. Three games I made
74
Family Studium(1986, Namco)
1:57

75. Part 10
75
#1: Where am I from ? Who am I ?
#2: Do you know Japanese games?
#3: Birth of Super Mario, Pokemon
#4: Japan’s 2000-year old culture
#5: Kamisama
#6: Kanji
#7: Shogi
#8: Japanese picture scrolls
#9: Three games I made
#10: Global Math project

76. Global Math project
76
Global Math
http://www.globalmath.info/globalmath_pfweb/?locale=2

77. Global Math project
77
Global Math
http://www.globalmath.info/globalmath_pfweb/?locale=2

78. Global Math project
20 games that we produced since 2012
78

79. Global Math project
We are going to make over 20 games until
March next year.
79

80. Global Math project
We are going to make over 20 games until
March next year.
We are expecting games from
foreign countries too !!
80

81. Global Math project
Please watch a video message from Japan.
3 min
81

82. You can play these games outside after my
presentation.
82

83. I hope that you make more innovative games
like “Minecraft” !!
83

84. I hope that you make more innovative games
like “Minecraft” !!
And I hope you come to Japan !!
84

85. Any questions ?
Yoshihiro KISHIMOTO
kishimotoy@stf.teu.ac.jp
Video Games
and Japanese Culture

86. Let's enjoy GGC together!