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Japan Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition opens this month to celebrate Japanese culture of cute
By Krista Rogers, SoraNews24 Sixty years and over 450 characters after its founding, Japanese entertainment company Sanrio shows no signs of slowing down. What began as the Yamanashi Silk Company in 1960 and changed its name to Sanrio in 1973 is now a global powerhouse for original characters that grace everything from stationery to fashion accessories. It's not a stretch to say that Sanrio is largely responsible for cementing the Japanese pop cultural concept of kawaii, or 'cute,' around the globe. Both longtime and new fans of Sanrio are about to have an opportunity to take a stroll down nostalgic kawaii lane when the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii opens from July 19 through September 15 at the Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History. Five highlights about the upcoming attraction are previewed below. ● Japan's unique culture of kawaii Exactly how did Sanrio get its start in the Showa period (1926-1989) of modern Japan? This section of the exhibit will divulge unique secrets of the Sanrio style, including why it's now common to see adults carrying around Sanrio goods when such a thing was once unthinkable. ● The Hello Kitty revolution Ah, yes–the Hello Kitty boom deserves its own spotlight. Learn why the cat-adjacent-but-not-a-cat mascot has remained the beloved symbol of Sanrio – and by extension, Japan – for 50 years. ● Individual character stories Dig deep into the development process of Sanrio's original characters, their background stories, and why some manage to rise in popularity even decades later. You may be surprised by what you learn about some of the brand's lesser-known mascots. ● Character goods around the world The 1980s in general were awash with character goods globally. How did Sanrio's characters manage to not only survive, but thrive, in this competitive scene? ● Strawberry News and the fans Finally, the exhibition will pay tribute to the relationship between fans and Sanrio's Strawberry News (Ichigo Shimbun), a Japanese-only print newsletter in circulation since 1975 that contains news, interest columns, and even reader fan art. This section of the exhibition will also include stories about various Sanrio shops and merchandise over the years. ▼ By the way, photography inside the exhibition is OK! Visitors are encouraged to post their snapshots to social media using the hashtag #サンリオ展 ('Sanrio exhibition'). Speaking of merchandise, original goods will also be sold at the event, including commemorative masking tape, keychains, and folders featuring popular characters. Day-of tickets for the 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition will cost 1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for high school students and seniors 70 years and up, and 300 yen for elementary school and junior high school students. Advance tickets will cost 1,000 yen, 500 yen, and 200 yen for the above categories respectively. Both day-of and advance tickets are available for purchase electronically through ePlus and JR East's Hitachi no Kuni Travelogue site. In preparation for your visit, you may want to check out this year's hot-off-the-press rankings for Sanrio's annual character popularity contest, for which there's a new top dog in town. Exhibition information 60th Anniversary Sanrio Exhibition: The Beginning of Kawaii / サンリオ展 ーニッポンのカワイイ文化60年史ー Address: Ibaraki-ken, Mito-shi, Midori-cho 2-1-15, Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History 茨城県水戸市緑町 2-1-15 茨城県立歴史館 Duration: July 19-September 15 Open: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.) Closed: Mondays Website Source, images: PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Hello Kitty celebrates her 45th anniversary at Sanrio Expo 2019 with cute plush and goods -- 64 Sanrio characters, decades of kawaii culture history all on one cup from 100-yen store Daiso!【Pics】 -- Sanrio amusement park opening first new attraction in six years: an ultra-cute meet-and-greet house External Link © SoraNews24
Asahi Shimbun
24-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Switch 2 sales go gangbusters, but can Nintendo keep up the pace?
After winning a sales lottery for the Nintendo Switch 2, a customer picks up the new gaming console at the counter of an electronics store in Osaka's Naniwa Ward on June 5. (Takayo Oyama) On launch day, about 20 individuals who won a sales lottery for the Switch 2 lined up in front of a Joshin Denki Co. electronics store in the Nipponbashi district of Osaka's Naniwa Ward before it opened at 10 a.m. "I know only one or two people in my close circle who won the lottery," said a 27-year-old who had taken time off from his job. "I want to go home and play it as soon as possible." Nintendo Co. released its new home video game console Switch 2 at home and abroad with much fanfare on June 5. The company announced it sold a record 3.5 million-plus units globally in the first four days of the Switch 2's release. Following the success of the original model, the video game giant's eventual goal is to have a Switch for every person. While pricing is the key to achieving that goal, looming U.S. tariffs and other factors cast a shadow on the prospect, leaving Nintendo stranded at the crossroads in continuing the independent path it has forged with its popular titles. The original Switch came out in 2017, drawing attention as a hybrid console that was both portable and could be plugged into a TV at home. It has since sold a total of 152.12 million worldwide as of the end of March and holds the title as the company's best-selling console ever in Japan. The Switch 2's improvements include a faster processing speed, improved graphics and a slightly larger 7.9-inch (20-centimeter) screen. But its appearance and operability largely remain unchanged from the previous model, though Nintendo said it is a legitimate evolution. GAMERS WILL PAY MORE Upping the retail cost of each new generation of gaming consoles or their refined versions has become an industry trend. Sony Group Corp.'s PlayStation 5 Pro is notably priced above 100,000 yen ($690). In this, the Switch 2 was not an outlier. Its multilanguage version intended for global consumers is 69,980 yen, including tax. The Japanese-only version is cheaper at 49,980 yen, but is still 17,000 yen more expensive than its predecessor. Though it has historically shown less interest in pursuing heavy-duty graphics, Nintendo's focus on boosting the processing power of its new console was part of its aim to expand its lineup of playable titles the Switch could not handle. Whether this will work in Nintendo's favor depends on if its prices can entice a wider customer base beyond the company's hardcore fans. 'Because it is being sold at a higher price (than the previous model), we are aware it is reasonably difficult (for the Switch 2) to be widely owned at an early stage,' said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. Further adding insult to injury are U.S. President Donald Trump's swathe of tariffs. While the United States is a cash cow for Nintendo, Switch 2 consoles intended for North America are largely manufactured in Vietnam. The company already faces a profit loss of several tens of billions of yen, according to Furukawa. As the gross margin per console is less than the Switch, it is also possible that Nintendo will be pressed to raise the retail price in the United States depending on what policies the government may adopt. IMMOVABLY EXCLUSIVE Part of Nintendo's draw comes from its tight control over its franchises. Video game publishers choosing to simultaneously release or later port a title across multiple platforms has become common practice over the years. This strategy is geared toward maximizing profits due to increased labor costs and prolonged development periods. Meanwhile, Nintendo has stuck to its own way of doing business. The company has yet to make any of its properties, "Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda" among them, available on non-Nintendo consoles. Nintendo has established a business model that licenses its video game characters and their worlds for theme parks and film adaptations. "Those popular characters are what make Nintendo's strategy what it is," said Hiroko Saga, editor-in-chief of the Weekly Famitsu video game magazine. "Rising prices of video game consoles was an inevitable trend. Future sales depend on how many of the new game titles released will be attractive enough to convince gamers to pay for the Switch 2."
Kyodo News
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Kyodo News
Nintendo debuts Switch 2 console to strong demand amid reselling woes
KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 20:10 | All, Japan Nintendo Co. on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in over eight years, with strong preorder demand fueling optimism that the device will bolster the company's fortunes, but concerns remain that reselling may distort the set price. The Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected preorder interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen ($350) for the Japanese-only version. The multilanguage version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes new features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the "Mario Kart World" game, its latest installment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 a.m. Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so bad," the 39-year-old said. Online stores and auction platforms have tightened measures against resellers, with some banning the sale of the Switch 2. But by midday Thursday, multiple listings had already appeared on Japanese e-commerce site Mercari, priced well above the official retail level. Many of the units on Mercari were listed for between 70,000 yen and 90,000 yen, with one reaching a staggering 800,000 yen. The unusually high prices have drawn public attention and prompted renewed debate over resale practices in Japan's digital marketplaces. Ken Naganuma, a professor at Doshisha University and an expert in e-commerce, said implementing uniform rules is difficult as reselling is not illegal, but added that it is "rational" for companies to act to protect their brand value as resale becomes a "social issue." Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 percent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units moved. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020. Related coverage: Nintendo to release Switch 2 console on June 5 for 49,980 yen Japanese game maker Sega opens 1st permanent shop in Shanghai
Kyodo News
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Nintendo releases Switch 2 console to strong demand
KYODO NEWS - 21 minutes ago - 13:28 | All, Japan Nintendo Co. on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in more than eight years, with robust preorder demand creating optimism the device will boost the company's fortunes. The Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected preorder interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen ($350) for the Japanese-only version. The multilanguage version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes new features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the "Mario Kart World" game, its latest installment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 a.m. Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so bad," the 39-year-old said. Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 percent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units moved. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020. Related coverage: Nintendo to release Switch 2 console on June 5 for 49,980 yen Japanese game maker Sega opens 1st permanent shop in Shanghai
Japan Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Nintendo releases Switch 2 console to strong demand
Customers line up to purchase Nintendo Switch 2 at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on Thursday. Nintendo Co on Thursday released the Switch 2, its first new gaming console in more than eight years, with robust preorder demand creating optimism the device will boost the company's fortunes. The Kyoto-based gaming giant expects to sell 15 million units of the device globally in the current business year through March. Nintendo said in April it attracted larger-than-expected preorder interest, with some 2.2 million people in Japan applying for a lottery in hopes of securing one at release. The successor to the original Switch, released in March 2017, is priced at 49,980 yen ($350) for the Japanese-only version. The multilanguage version of the device is available for 69,980 yen. The new console includes new features such as screen sharing and voice chat via a built-in microphone. It also features a larger screen with roughly twice the pixel count of the original Switch and supports 4K output on televisions. Along with the console, the company released the "Mario Kart World" game, its latest installment of the popular racing series. In Tokyo, dozens of people who won the lottery lined up in the morning before the opening of an electronics store in the Ikebukuro area. "It's great that players can see each other while playing. I can't wait to go home and play," said Koji Takahashi from Saitama Prefecture, who was first in line after arriving before 6 a.m. Staff and members of the public try the Nintendo Switch 2 during a launch event at an electronics retailer in Tokyo on Thursday. Image: AP/Louise Delmotte Satoshi Ayame was unsuccessful in the lottery but went to the store's release event to get hands-on experience with the long-awaited console. "I took a half-day off because I wanted to try this so bad," the 39-year-old said. Reflecting the solid interest in the Switch 2, Nintendo said in May that it expects the company's sales for fiscal 2025 to jump 63.1 percent from the previous year to 1.9 trillion yen. President Shuntaro Furukawa said it will increase production of the new device in response to the strong demand. The Switch has been one of Nintendo's best-performing consoles, with more than 150 million units moved. However, it has seen declining sales in recent years as the hardware aged after peaking at 28.8 million units in fiscal 2020. © KYODO
