RECON REPORT FROM SEPT. 6, 2001

My feet were killing me due to the fact that I did a tour of Kyoto on foot yesterday. Actually I’ve been walking almost everywhere in the past 2 weeks. So today, I thought I’d go light and visit Nintendo’s headquarters. I didn’t know exactly where it was, but I asked the kind host of my Ryokan that I’m staying at for some assistance, and she was more than happy to oblige. She showed me the general vicinity of where it could be, and I was off to the train station.

I hopped a train at the Kyoto train station and started my search for NCL’s new building. I was extremely excited. About 2 minutes after I reached my train’s destination, I caught a glimpse of the building through the trees. My heart just raced. I pictured myself getting in all “Metal Gear Solid” style. Shooting the guards with sleeping darts or scaling the wall.

No luck. Hehehehe, I didn’t even get near the front door. I mean, compared to everyone there in Japan, I stick out like a sore thumb. The security guards at the front gate were getting a good laugh while I took pictures, video…and well, generally freaked out.

I asked them if I could walk around, or even get a tour. No luck. “No tours” they responded. That was the only phrase that they said that I could at all understand. I also asked them if I could have a GameCube. Hell, I could have asked for a ham and cheese sandwich…it wouldn’t have mattered. They didn’t speak English, and they basically don’t allow visitors.

I did take the opportunity to get a couple of shots of me as close to the building as I could get. While all this was going on there were plenty of important looking people going in and out of the front gate. I was there around lunch time (that was the plan), and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of anyone. Unfortunately, I didn’t really see anyone I recognized, but I’m sure that I was passed by programmers or developers or something. The Nintendo aura was definitely in the air. I felt like geek Paparazzi. I didn’t want to be rude, so I started packing up my cameras and getting ready to leave.

Someone must have noticed my antics in front of their building because, just then, a woman walked out the front gates and headed my direction. I thought I was busted, and going to be asked to leave. But instead, she handed me this.

What she handed me was something they send out to Japanese investors. It had lots sweet pictures of the GameCube, accessories, and some old screen shots of games they showed at Spaceworld 2000. Either way, it was a pretty slick souvenir.

I asked her in very poor Japanese. “GameCube doku desu ka”, which translated means, “Where is my GameCube?”. She laughed at me. She asked me why I was there, and I told her that I was at Spaceworld, and pointing to the GameCube in the brochure, told her I was staying until launch. I then looked at my watch and pointed to the date, and said 8 days. She smiled and said, “Yes!” We both laughed. Her broken English was a lot better than my ghetto Japanese. I then showed her Shigeru’s business card, and handed her mine, and asked her to give my card to Shigeru. She understood, and said “Yes.” Knowing he would get my business card made me very happy. I thanked her sincerely, bowed, and I decided to run along.

Mission accomplished. Sure I could have made a break for it, but I’m sure I would have been killed. I felt I was on hallowed ground really. This close to launch…you think I’m going to be stupid now? I think not. I walked across the street to the Lawson’s, and grabbed a coke and just observed the building. I was basically just in awe. I mean, I was 100 or so yards for where they create the magic that we love. Sure, I didn’t come away with any breaking news, or a huge interview, but I finally visited the place where it all goes down. Not bad at all.

Overall I am very happy I decided to make the trek to Kyoto. Nintendo’s headquarters aside – it’s a wondrous part of the country. There’s so much culture here your head could explode. This would be Japan’s old country. There are more shrines and temples than in any other part of the country. It is a beautiful place, and I can understand why Nintendo would want to be based out of here.

Launch is just a mere 8 days away. I am filled with excitement and sadness at the same time. In one hand, I’ll be in Akihabara for launch, and I’ll be coming home with a GameCube. On the other hand, that means my Japanese adventure will be coming to a close. I really can’t complain though. I’ve gotten to have the experience of a lifetime, and then wrap it up with coming home with a GameCube. That’s the true mission accomplished. The wait is almost over.

- Billy Berghammer, Director