Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto Envisions Consoles as Coming-of-Age Gifts

Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary Nintendo executive and the creator of Mario, has expressed his desire to provide as many reasons as possible for people to purchase Nintendo consoles. He hopes that parents might consider gifting these consoles to their children as coming-of-age presents.

Miyamoto's Vision for Nintendo Consoles

In an interview with Famitsu, translated by GamesRadar+, Miyamoto shared his philosophy on selling consoles and painted a picture of a world where everyone receives a Nintendo console when they come of age.

"I am always saying that the company should 'create reasons for people from all over the world to pick Nintendo,'" he explained. "In Japan, when children start elementary school, you buy them their own school bag. In the same way, I think it would be great if there was a selection to choose from like, 'Now that you're six, I've got you a Nintendo,' 'Which Nintendo would make you the happiest?'"

Comparing Consoles to Japan's Randoseru Tradition

At first glance, the idea of buying a Nintendo Switch 2 as a coming-of-age gift might seem unusual. However, Miyamoto draws a cultural parallel to the Japanese tradition of gifting a randoseru, a special type of backpack that children receive when starting elementary school.

• Randoseru backpacks are handmade luxury items that typically cost hundreds of dollars.
• Unlike standard backpacks, randoseru feature hard shells, multiple pockets, and exceptional durability. They are designed to last for all six years of elementary school and can even be passed down to younger siblings if needed.
• Technically, children are allowed to bring any type of backpack to school, but the randoseru remains the dominant choice and a cultural symbol for starting school.

In the West, receiving a backpack may not carry the same cultural significance, but for a Japanese six-year-old, receiving a randoseru represents their first step towards adulthood. Miyamoto's vision is to align Nintendo consoles with this kind of meaningful milestone.

Nintendo Consoles Versus Randoseru

While a Nintendo Switch 2 might be a more affordable alternative to a randoseru, it doesn’t quite match the practicality of a backpack. For instance:

• There aren’t nearly as many color combinations available for a Nintendo console as there are for randoseru.
• You certainly can't fit an A4 file inside a Switch console.

That said, given the longevity of Nintendo consoles—consider how long the original Nintendo Switch has remained popular—you might get several years of use out of one, making it a worthwhile investment for families.

Bridging the Gap Between Consoles and PCs

Miyamoto also reflected on the historical evolution of gaming consoles. He noted that personal computers were once "held in higher regard than consoles." The creation of the NES, he explained, was intended to bridge "the gap" between these two worlds, emphasizing that "it wasn't just a toy."

Through his remarks, Miyamoto continues to highlight the role of Nintendo in creating products that are not only entertaining but also culturally significant and meaningful in people’s lives.