Shigeru Miyamoto’s Grand Vision: Making Nintendo Consoles a Childhood Rite of Passage!
Imagine a world where receiving a Nintendo console isn’t just a birthday present, but a significant milestone, a true “rite of passage” marking your entry into a new phase of childhood. That’s the ambitious dream brewing in the mind of Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator behind iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda.
Miyamoto, a senior figure at Nintendo, recently shared his fascinating philosophy on how he envisions the company’s consoles integrating into the lives of young gamers globally. He’s not just thinking about selling hardware; he’s dreaming of creating cultural moments, suggesting that parents might gift a Nintendo console to their children as they come of age, much like a cherished family tradition.
To illustrate his point, Miyamoto drew a parallel to a unique Japanese custom. In Japan, when children begin elementary school, they traditionally receive a special type of backpack called a ‘randoseru’. These aren’t your average school bags; they are high-quality, often handmade, luxury items that can cost hundreds of dollars. With their hard shells, multiple pockets, and exceptional durability, a randoseru is expected to last a child through all six years of elementary school, and sometimes even be passed down to younger siblings.
For a six-year-old in Japan, getting their randoseru is a monumental occasion – a tangible symbol that they’re about to embark on their first major step into adulthood: starting school. While a hypothetical new Nintendo Switch might be more affordable than one of these premium backpacks, Miyamoto’s idea isn’t about the price tag. It’s about the emotional significance and the cultural weight. He pictures a scenario where a child turns six, and a parent says, “Now that you’re six, I’ve got you a Nintendo! Which Nintendo would make you the happiest?”
Miyamoto’s overarching goal is simple yet profound: to give people around the world as many compelling reasons as possible to choose Nintendo. He wants Nintendo to be more than just a source of entertainment; he wants it to be an integral part of growing up, a cherished memory, and a gateway to shared experiences. This isn’t a new sentiment for the visionary. He has previously noted that when the original NES was developed, PCs were often seen as superior to consoles. The NES was built to bridge that gap, proving that a console wasn’t “just a toy” but a powerful and meaningful device.
This vision from Miyamoto highlights Nintendo’s long-standing commitment to creating experiences that resonate deeply with players, young and old. If his dream comes true, a Nintendo console could soon become much more than a gadget; it could become a universal symbol of childhood’s grand welcome.
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