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Nichibutsu

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Nihon Bussan Co. Ltd.
日本物産株式会社
Nichibutsu
Native name
日本物産株式会社
Nihon Bussan Kabushiki gaisha
Company typePublic
IndustryVideo game industry
FoundedOctober 1970; 56 years ago (October 1970)
FounderSueharu Torii
DefunctTemplate:End date and age
FateDissolved; intellectual properties acquired by Hamster Corporation.
Headquarters
Kita, Osaka
,
Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Sueharu Torii
  • (president and CEO)
  • Kazuo Torii
  • (executive director)
Products
  • Video games
  • Arcade cabinets
  • Slot machines
  • Yachts
Number of employees
30

, operating under the trade name , was a Japanese company specializing in the development and publishing of video games based in Kita, Osaka. Earlier in its history, the firm also manufactured yachts.

The company's emblem showcased a horned owl, representing good fortune. Besides its main Nichibutsu brand, it produced adult-oriented video games—mainly strip mahjong arcade titles—under the Sphinx (スフィンクス) label.

Following the retirement of founder Sueharu Torii in March 2014, Nichibutsu’s video game catalog was sold to Hamster Corporation. The company officially ceased operations on December 15, 2015.

History

Nihon Bussan was founded by Sueharu Torii in October 1970 in Kita-ku, Osaka, initially concentrating on arcade machine sales. The business was incorporated as Nihon Bussan Co., Ltd in 1972 with an initial capital investment of 3 million yen.

In 1976, the company made its manufacturing debut at the Amusement Machine Show under the Nichibutsu brand and established a Tokyo branch in 1978. That same year, Nichibutsu launched its first arcade game, Table Attacker, a clone of Breakout, and secured a license from Taito to distribute Moon Base, a game inspired by Space Invaders. In 1979, a collaboration with Namco resulted in Moon Alien, a title modeled after Galaxian. Nichibutsu produced beyond the agreed quota for this game, leading to additional licensing fees paid to Namco. The firm also released popular games such as Moon Cresta and Crazy Climber.

In 1983, Nihon Bussan developed Jangou Night, one of the earliest strip mahjong arcade games. The following year saw the introduction of Tube Panic, notable for being the first board game to utilize rotation mechanics. Mid-1980s releases like Terra Cresta and Cosmo Police Galivan featured Yamaha YM3812 FM synthesis sound technology.

Nihon Bussan entered the home console market in 1983 with its proprietary system, the My Vision. Their initial NES release was MagMax in 1986, followed by expansion into the MSX platform by 1989. That year also marked their last mainstream arcade title, Sky Robo (also known as Tatakae! Big Fighter). Subsequently, the company shifted focus solely to strip mahjong games and exited JAMMA membership in 1992 due to industry concerns regarding content.

In 1990, Nihon Bussan released console-first titles on the PC Engine, including the successful racing series F1 Circus. Between 1991 and 1993, they sponsored Team Lotus, obtaining exclusive licensing rights for Lotus vehicles within the F1 Circus franchise before acquiring full licensing from the Formula One Constructors Association.

The company broadened its platform reach to include Mega Drive (1991), SNES (1992), Sony PlayStation (1995), and Sega Saturn (1996). Numerous releases featured mahjong games with adult-themed content such as Sexy Idol Mahjong on PC Engine.

In March 2009, Nihon Bussan collaborated with D4 Enterprise to reissue classic titles through Project EGG.

By March 2014, all video game rights were transferred to Hamster Corporation. Founder Sueharu Torii opted to sell the entire portfolio outright instead of licensing it before retiring.

Chronology

  • 1979 – The main office was transferred to Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka; capital was increased to 24 million yen. Nichibutsu U.S.A. Co., Ltd. was founded in Torrance, California, USA.
  • 1980 – Established Nichibutsu U.K. Ltd. in West Midlands, England; Nichibutsu Kyushu Co., Ltd. was created in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka.
  • 1981 – Launched Nichibutsu Europe GmbH in Rödermark, Offenbach, Hesse, Germany. Opened a manufacturing plant in Sayama, Kumiyama, Kuse, Kyoto.
  • 1983 – Tokyo branch moved to Nihonbashihoridome, Chuo-ku. Founded Nichibutsu Sapporo, Sendai, and Hiroshima Co., Ltd. Released their only console titled My Vision.
  • 1984 – Capital was raised to 36 million yen.
  • 1985 – Capital further increased to 50 million yen.
  • 1989 – Launched their final major arcade title, Sky Robo / Tatakae! Big Fighter.
  • 1991 – Tokyo office relocated to Roppongi, Minato-ku.
  • 1992 – Withdrew membership from Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association due to disagreements over adult-themed mahjong game content.
  • 2001 – Released their last home console game, Virtual Kyoutei 21.
  • 2005 – Published the final arcade game, Koi Suru Cosplay Akihabara.
  • 2007 – Discontinued video game development activities; maintained intellectual property rights for titles such as Moon Cresta and Crazy Climber.
  • 2009 – Became part of D4 Enterprise's Project EGG for reissuing and distributing classic games.
  • 2014 – Transferred game rights to Hamster Corporation and terminated operations.

Breakout Inspired Titles

  • 1978 Table Attacker
  • 1978 Table Attacker Guard
  • 1978 Table Attacker Special
  • 1978 Table Attacker Black
  • 1979 Attacker Ace

Circus Inspired Titles

  • 1978 Table Bonpa
  • 1979 Bonpa

Moon Base Franchise

Initially developed as clones of Space Invaders.

  • 1978 Moon Base
  • 1978 Moon Base Spector
  • 1978 Moon Base Zeta
  • 1979 Super Moon Base

Terra Cresta Franchise

This series was succeeded by the 2022 release of Sol Cresta, developed by PlatinumGames.

Additional Shooter Titles

  • 1980 Moon Alien (a clone of Galaxian)
  • 1980 Moon Alien 2
  • 1980 Moon Alpha
  • 1980 Moon Raker
  • 1980 Moon Quasar
  • 1981 Moon Shuttle
  • 1984 Seicross
  • 1984 Tube Panic
  • 1985 MagMax
  • 1986 Soldier Girl Amazon (also known as Sei Senshi Amatelass)
  • 1986 Ninja Emaki (also known as Youma Ninpou Cho)
  • 1987 Sky Fox (also titled Exerizer)
  • 1987 Legion
  • 1988 Formation Armed F
  • 1989 Sky Robo (also called Tatakae! Big Fighter)

Action Games

  • 1980 Crazy Climber
  • 1981 Frisky Tom
  • 1982 Wiping (alternatively "Rug Rats")
  • 1983 Dacholer (also known as "Kick Boy")
  • 1983 Skelagon (also called "SF-X")
  • 1984 Roller Jammer
  • 1984 Dynamic Ski
  • 1985 Cop01
  • 1985 Galivan (also referred to as "Cosmo Police Galivan")
  • 1986 Mighty Guy
  • 1987 Kid's Horehore Daisakusen
  • 1987 Samurai Assassin (also known as "Kozure Ōkami")
  • 1988 Crazy Climber 2
  • 1990 Die Hard
  • 1993 Galivan 2 (also titled "Cosmo Police Galivan 2: Arrow of Justice")
  • 1996 PlayStation title: Expert (Japanese name: エキスパート)

Quiz titles

  • 1987 Hihoo!
  • 1987 Hihoo!2
  • 1991 Quiz DE Date
  • 1991 Miracle Q
  • 1991 Kotaemon kachi
  • 1991 TECHNO・DOOL

Puzzle titles

Mahjong titles

  • 1983 Jangō Lady
  • 1984 Night Gal (ranked as Japan's highest-earning table arcade cabinet from October to December 1984)
  • 1986 Second Love
  • 1990 Mahjong Triple Wars
  • 1991 Mahjong Vanilla Syndrome
  • 1994 Sailor Wars

Additional titles

External links

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