Beforemario
@beforemario.bsky.social
Blog and book about Nintendo toys and games from 1889 to the early 1980s; from before Mario.
(+ occasional transgression into things more recent)
beforemario.com
(+ occasional transgression into things more recent)
beforemario.com
Pinned
Beforemario
@beforemario.bsky.social
· Jul 7
Just wrapped up the 7-part report on our Nintendo Pilgrimage in Kyoto in October 2024:
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Reposted by Beforemario
I have scanned and uploaded the extremely rare Nintendo company guide from 2000: archive.org/details/nint...
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I have scanned and uploaded the extremely rare Nintendo company guide from 2000: archive.org/details/nint...
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
This is my first attempt at archiving my collection so I expect the quality will improve as my process does
The flip side of this (real silver!) medal features the familiar N&B Block playing boy, who is also shown on various boxes and a instruction booklet.
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
November 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The flip side of this (real silver!) medal features the familiar N&B Block playing boy, who is also shown on various boxes and a instruction booklet.
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Did you know that this was the son of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi?
Very happy to add this to the Before Mario collection:
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
October 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Very happy to add this to the Before Mario collection:
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
1960s silver medal "N&B Block Nintendo"
Comes in a small Paulownia box, similar to one used for hanafuda cards
Presumably a prize in a competition, but backstory still unknown
October 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Holo Hanafuda (ホロの花札) for Nintendo Switch, special edition with dedicated card set
September 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Holo Hanafuda (ホロの花札) for Nintendo Switch, special edition with dedicated card set
Today was a nice opportunity to get an instant 3 out of 5 new-in-box Nintendo Color TV Game collection (if you were willing to fork out some yen): Color TV Game 6, Block Kuzushi & Racing 112
September 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Today was a nice opportunity to get an instant 3 out of 5 new-in-box Nintendo Color TV Game collection (if you were willing to fork out some yen): Color TV Game 6, Block Kuzushi & Racing 112
Bonus throwback 1998
September 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Bonus throwback 1998
Tokyo Throwback 1998
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
September 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Tokyo Throwback 1998
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Shibuya crossing
Akihabara
Tokyo Throwback 2004
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
September 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Tokyo Throwback 2004
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
Pokemon Center
Madarake Galaxy
Yoyogi Park
September 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Nintendo DS lite x Bathing Ape
September 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Nintendo DS lite x Bathing Ape
Pre WW2 set of Nintendo ”Mountain of Flowers" (花の山) hanafuda playing cards
August 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Pre WW2 set of Nintendo ”Mountain of Flowers" (花の山) hanafuda playing cards
Unused pack of pre WW2 Nintendo "sunrise" hanafuda (日の出)
August 30, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Unused pack of pre WW2 Nintendo "sunrise" hanafuda (日の出)
Reposted by Beforemario
I want to introduce a new piece of Nintendo memorabilia in my collection. This is a pre-WW2 Nintendo piece that came from a company HQ, likely the Marufukuro location. I bought it at auction on Mercari. I didn't quite know what it was when I bought it, except that it was pre-War.
August 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I want to introduce a new piece of Nintendo memorabilia in my collection. This is a pre-WW2 Nintendo piece that came from a company HQ, likely the Marufukuro location. I bought it at auction on Mercari. I didn't quite know what it was when I bought it, except that it was pre-War.
Finally found a yellow Nintendo Unirack unit, after 20+ years of searching
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
August 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Finally found a yellow Nintendo Unirack unit, after 20+ years of searching
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
Somehow, these are much rarer than blue and orange ones
amiibo collection +7
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
August 9, 2025 at 8:18 AM
amiibo collection +7
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
Over the last 2-3 years I have thought that we got the last one several times, but still no end in sight
It's tempting....
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
August 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
It's tempting....
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
Mario Kart blow-up toy, unused in box (currently on Mercari for ¥38,100)
Nintendo playing card sample book from 1960s, just sold for ¥51,001
July 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Nintendo playing card sample book from 1960s, just sold for ¥51,001
Just wrapped up the 7-part report on our Nintendo Pilgrimage in Kyoto in October 2024:
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
July 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Just wrapped up the 7-part report on our Nintendo Pilgrimage in Kyoto in October 2024:
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Stay at Marufukuru ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #1 ✅
Meeting legends ✅
Nintendo Museum visit #2 ✅
Big Wii-mote cushion ✅
Honoring a legend ✅
Super Nintendo World ✅
All here: blog.beforemario.com/2025/05/a-ni...
Rare 1970s Nintendo Laser Clay Rifle just sold for 150,000円
July 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Rare 1970s Nintendo Laser Clay Rifle just sold for 150,000円
Interesting historic artifact: (empty) box for Broderbund game Raid on Bungeling Bay (バンゲリングベイ), distributed as arcade game in Japan by Nintendo
July 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Interesting historic artifact: (empty) box for Broderbund game Raid on Bungeling Bay (バンゲリングベイ), distributed as arcade game in Japan by Nintendo
Menu options at Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Japan
June 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Menu options at Super Nintendo World, Universal Studios Japan