Minoru Arakawa
Encyclopedia
was the founder and first president of Nintendo
of America
(NOA) from 1980 to 2002.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, he attended Kyoto University
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. In 1972, he was hired by Japanese conglomerate Marubeni
as part of their international staff, with the responsibility of helping to develop hotels, offices and condominiums overseas. He married the daughter of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi
, Yoko Yamauchi, but continued to work for Marubeni. He moved to Vancouver
, and Yoko joined him there.
Arakawa impressed Yamauchi with the business acumen he displayed in his Marubeni Vancouver real estate projects. Hiroshi invited him to run a Nintendo production plant in Malaysia in 1979. Arakawa turned down that offer.
Hiroshi approached Arakawa again a year later with another offer: to establish Nintendo of America, an offer which he accepted. The company was founded in New York City
in 1980, and he became its first president. After a disastrous experience with the Radar Scope
arcade game, he rebounded by converting the poorly received Radar Scope to the phenomenally successful Donkey Kong
, which has had many sequels.
Starting in 1985, he and Howard Lincoln
were instrumental in rebuilding the North America
n video game industry (after the crash of 1983
) with the Nintendo Entertainment System
. Arakawa also hired Howard Philips, who would be invaluable to the creation of Nintendo Power
magazine.
In 2002, after 22 years at the helm of NOA, Arakawa retired. Tatsumi Kimishima
, former chief financial officer
of Nintendo's Pokémon
subsidiary, stepped up to take his place. Arakawa won a lifetime achievement award in February 2007 at the Interactive Achievement Awards.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(NOA) from 1980 to 2002.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, he attended Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. In 1972, he was hired by Japanese conglomerate Marubeni
Marubeni
is a Japanese trading company, one of the largest general trading companies in Japan.-Offices:*Head Office - 4-2, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan*Head Office -20-6, Shiba 5-chome, Minato, Tokyo, Japan...
as part of their international staff, with the responsibility of helping to develop hotels, offices and condominiums overseas. He married the daughter of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi
Hiroshi Yamauchi
is a Japanese businessman. He was the third president of Nintendo, joining the company in 1949 until stepping down on May 31, 2002, to be succeeded by Satoru Iwata. Yamauchi is credited with transforming Nintendo from a small hanafuda card-making company in Japan to today's multi-billion dollar...
, Yoko Yamauchi, but continued to work for Marubeni. He moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and Yoko joined him there.
Arakawa impressed Yamauchi with the business acumen he displayed in his Marubeni Vancouver real estate projects. Hiroshi invited him to run a Nintendo production plant in Malaysia in 1979. Arakawa turned down that offer.
Hiroshi approached Arakawa again a year later with another offer: to establish Nintendo of America, an offer which he accepted. The company was founded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1980, and he became its first president. After a disastrous experience with the Radar Scope
Radar Scope
is an early cabinet arcade game developed and published by Nintendo in November 1980. Some sources claim that Ikegami Tsushinki also did design work on Radar Scope. It is a shooter that can be viewed as a cross between Taito's Space Invaders and Namco's Galaxian...
arcade game, he rebounded by converting the poorly received Radar Scope to the phenomenally successful Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong (video game)
is an arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. It is an early example of the platform game genre, as the gameplay focuses on maneuvering the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. In the game, Jumpman must rescue a damsel in distress, Lady, from a...
, which has had many sequels.
Starting in 1985, he and Howard Lincoln
Howard Lincoln
Howard Charles Lincoln is an American lawyer and businessman, known primarily for being the former chairman of Nintendo of America and the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle Mariners baseball team, representing absentee majority owner Hiroshi Yamauchi...
were instrumental in rebuilding the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n video game industry (after the crash of 1983
Video game crash of 1983
The North American video game crash was a serious event that brought an abrupt end to what is considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America. Beginning in 1983, the crash almost destroyed the then-fledgling industry and led to the bankruptcy of several companies producing...
) with the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. Arakawa also hired Howard Philips, who would be invaluable to the creation of Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
magazine.
In 2002, after 22 years at the helm of NOA, Arakawa retired. Tatsumi Kimishima
Tatsumi Kimishima
is the former CEO and Chairman of Nintendo of America. He was the president of Nintendo of America from January 2002 until May 2006, when Reggie Fils-Aime took his place.-Family:...
, former chief financial officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of Nintendo's Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
subsidiary, stepped up to take his place. Arakawa won a lifetime achievement award in February 2007 at the Interactive Achievement Awards.