Hello, I am KOS, your editor-in-chief. With the greatest excitement, I went to the presentation of the new Almost-Nichi Notebook 2024. I would like to tell you about the 2024 lineup so that you can feel the excitement as much as possible. We also feature other can’t-miss collaborations such as One Piece and Obanchusagi, so please take a look at them as well.
This is going to be a bit long, but if you are wondering what an almost-nichi notebook is, let’s start with the “Almost-Nichi Notebook. If you are wondering, let me first tell you about “Almost a Day”. And lest I bore you, I’ll give you my personal view, interspersed with photos from the presentation.
The game that Shigesato Itoi created is still a brilliant masterpiece in the world of video games, and it is called MOTHER.
If you are a fan of any of these games, this collaboration will make your heart beat faster.
First of all, let me tell you about Shigesato Itoi, whom I respect.
Copywriter. He is a man of anecdotes and famous copy: “There are too many to list here, just Google it! He is famous for his kind and expansive words, but his career has been checkered: he was arrested several times during the student movement, and the company he worked for collapsed.
He is famous for his kind and expansive words, but his career has been checkered, with several arrests for student activism and the collapse of the company where he worked. (Column in Almost a Day. (It can be found by searching in the search bar of Almost a Day.) ) is a legendary column in the world of news sites that was cutting-edge at the time and still shines today, in terms of both design and content.
I think Itoi-san was one of the “first influencers” long before social networking started. There are singers, actresses, rock stars, and various other famous people who are working now, and I think the expression “influencer” (not my favorite word) was used decades ago. Unlike Yataro Matsuura, who was a columnist, and unlike Yataro Matsuura, who was a copywriter, his entire mind, his way of thinking and feeling, rather than his knowledge, made the people around him enjoyable. Unlike a thinker like Mr. Takaaki Yoshimoto, his words are very gentle and resonant, but he is not a poet like Mr. Shuntaro Tanikawa.
I have great respect for him.
Let me tell you about the news site “Almost Nikkan Itoi Shimbun” that Mr. Itoi runs.
Almost Nikkan Itoi Shimbun (a.k.a. “Almost Nikkan Itoi Newspaper”) is a website launched on June 6, 1998, and run by Shigesato Itoi. It is operated by Almost a Day, Inc. Although it is called “almost,” the website has been updated every day without a single day off since its first issue. The company has even gone public.
The management philosophy of the company is also very interesting, in the Itoi’s own way.
The contents vary from interviews and columns to photos of pufferfish in an aquarium. The quality of the articles themselves, the sense of fun and good taste, and the enjoyable atmosphere of the people writing them. This is the news site of my dreams. This is where various conversations and ideas are born, which are then turned into products. One of the most representative items is the Almost-a-Day Notebook. I was honored to be able to visit the famous Almost-Nichi Building for the launch event.
This is how an almost-nichi notebook fan uses it.
The examples of use inside, the frame stickers that fit the cells of the day, and the stamps are all optional. The size is made to fit perfectly. Now, people from various countries are enjoying this notebook, not only in Japanese, but also in Chinese, English, and other languages.
This is the main character of the event, MOTHER, a game created by Mr. Itoi.
It is a role-playing game that Mr. Itoi planned, wrote the scenario, and produced the whole game. The music is by Keiichi Suzuki of the Moon Riders. It is a tag team that can only come up with great songs and words of wisdom.
The game is a gentle and witty reinterpretation of the RPG game genre, which had already become a part of Japanese culture at the time,
MOTHER
Don’t cry until the ending.
MOTHER2
For adults, children, and ladies.
MOTHER3
“Strange, funny, and sad. Strange, funny, and sad.
I played the second game, Mother 2, and I still remember how impressed I was with it. The game format is an orthodox RPG (role-playing game). The story is about a boy and a girl who collect “sound stones” to complete a certain song. The music is amazing. The song Smiles and Tears, written by Keiichi Suzuki of the Moon Riders, is still a super on top of super great song that has been covered by many musicians, including Etsuko Yakushimaru, Hyada-in, and Miku Hatsune. Sometimes I come to work early in the morning and cry when I hear it in the empty editorial office. To be frank, the original song and the above covers are all wonderful.
Shigesato Itoi’s gentle and cynical worldview, the many word games filled with love for so-called Japanese RPGs (role-playing games), and the artwork that expresses it all. Personally, I think the 8-bit colors and art of the original game are more wonderful than any figures or plush toys that came after it.
Today’s gaming kids are probably more impressed with the ness of the characters in the Nintendo Switch fighting game, Smash Bros. than the original. I hope that the boys and girls playing Smash Bros. will play the game when they are in junior high school or something.
The 2024 notebook was a brightly colored one with a view of Summers, the everlasting summer town in the game printed on it.
Each cover is also nice.
©Nintendo / SHIGESATO ITOI / APE inc. ©1994 Nintendo / APE inc.
What a surprise, “all” of these stickers are included as a purchase bonus. It’s a great bonus.
The one with the standard logo.
©Nintendo / SHIGESATO ITOI / APE inc. ©1994 Nintendo / APE inc.
The irresistible icon on the back cover of the yellow cover.
It belongs to Dosei-san.
We end our report by introducing the particulars of the back cover of Dosei-san’s stuff.
Let’s think about something
complicated
.
I’m going to be a good person from now on.
From MOTHER2
What did you think? We are looking forward to seeing more and more of the Mother2 Collaboration 2024, and we are sure that its release will be here before you know it, and the end of the year will be here before you know it. I wish you all a wonderful 2024, SMAAAASH‼︎.
©Nintendo / SHIGESATO ITOI / APE inc.
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