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Let& #39;s talk about the importance of using Japanese sources to document Japanese video game history.
A case study: The Space Invaders 100-Yen Coin Shortage (thread) 1/
#RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #ArcadeHistory
A case study: The Space Invaders 100-Yen Coin Shortage (thread) 1/
#RetroGaming #ArcadeGames #ArcadeHistory
Background: There& #39;s an old rumor in Japan that during the peak Space Invaders boom of 1978-1979, there was a shortage of 100-yen coins.
In the past few years, there have been a number of Western sources trying to debunk this. The English SI Wiki page lists this as a myth. 2/
In the past few years, there have been a number of Western sources trying to debunk this. The English SI Wiki page lists this as a myth. 2/
A google search for "Space Invaders 100 yen myth" gives a series of results all & #39;debunking& #39; this.
The catch? Not a single one uses any Japanese references. And of course, the actual history is a bit more complicated. 3/
The catch? Not a single one uses any Japanese references. And of course, the actual history is a bit more complicated. 3/
I first came across info related to this when reading Eiji Ohshita& #39;s book Game Sensou.
From an interview with then-Nintendo employee Tokuzo Komai, we learn the Bank of Japan actually contacted Nintendo to ask how many 100-yen coins they had and how they were storing them. 4/
From an interview with then-Nintendo employee Tokuzo Komai, we learn the Bank of Japan actually contacted Nintendo to ask how many 100-yen coins they had and how they were storing them. 4/
Arcade operator Kazumi Takai says in a recent interview that he was contacted several times during the Invader Boom by a local bank to ask if they could go and pick up all of the arcade& #39;s 100-yen coins, since they were out. 5/
http://pubs.iir.hit-u.ac.jp/admin/ja/pdfs/show/2369">https://pubs.iir.hit-u.ac.jp/admin/ja/...
http://pubs.iir.hit-u.ac.jp/admin/ja/pdfs/show/2369">https://pubs.iir.hit-u.ac.jp/admin/ja/...
The Nikkei Shimbun ran an article on May 13, 1979 titled "The Bank of Japan& #39;s Plan to Counter the Loss of 30 Million 100-Yen Coins" discussing the situation.
This is likely the original source for all of the Western news articles. 6/
This is likely the original source for all of the Western news articles. 6/
In 2013, a Japanese blogger investigated the situation in-depth: 7/ http://tiny-p.cocolog-nifty.com/log/2013/04/100-c81a.html">https://tiny-p.cocolog-nifty.com/log/2013/...
Their conclusion? There was a significant increase in the number of 100-yen coins in circulation, although it& #39;s not clear how many (if any) coins were minted in response to the Invader Boom. The unusual situation lasted several months before returning to normal. 8/
Conclusion: There& #39;s no evidence that the Bank of Japan had to increase production of 100-yen coins, but BOJ was concerned enough about the situation that they contacted arcade manufacturers. In some instances, there does seem to have been a shortage of coins at banks. 10/
