There are many stories that have originated within the offices of Nintendo. And we are not only talking about complex projects or last-minute ideas, but also about small anecdotes that will always be remembered by the developers who participated in them. The bar ‘84‘, located in Tokyo, is a location that houses material samples of these valuable experiences, and although the establishment initially limited its exclusive entry to a very specific number of clients, now anyone can go there and enjoy a piece of Nintendo history.
Illustration of ‘Super Mario 84’ drawn by Shigeru Miyamoto. Source: VGC.
Although the most hardcore fans of Nintendo were aware of the existence of this bar, it was journalist Chris Scullion from VGC who allowed us to learn more about its owner, Toru Hashimoto, with a report published in 2023. This figure, also known by the affectionate nickname of Chokan, joined the Great N back in 1984 during the NES era and was present in the SNES era, but also tried his luck founding an external company that acted similarly to a support studio. However, it wasn’t until 2015 that he opened the doors of 84 presenting a place with a great emotional load for any Nintendo fan.
84, a significant number
Now, why use the number 84 to baptize a bar dedicated to Japanese video games? Chokan explains that part of the reason has to do with his entry into Nintendo in 1984, but there are more reasons that give meaning to the name: “Another reason is because my name is Hashimoto, and in Japanese ‘ha shi’ is a way of saying ‘eight four‘. Hashi is also the Japanese name for chopsticks, so it also has that connection. And finally, the last level in Super Mario Bros. is World 8-4“.
84 exhibits games signed by their original authors, illustrations drawn by key figures in the industry, and unique objects.
Speaking only of the value of what is exhibited on the walls and shelves of 84 would take several paragraphs that would leave more than one fan speechless. After all, we are talking about an establishment that combines the presentation of games signed by their original authors, such as Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian with the strokes of Fumito Ueda, with unique objects among which is an original Super Mario Bros. label (for its NES cartridge) unused. However, the most notable aspect of Chokan’s bar is the drawings hanging on the walls, all of them delivered by Nintendo’s developer friends.
Here comes a hand-drawn illustration by Miyamoto showing Mario dining under the title ‘Super Mario 84’, an artwork of Pikachu signed by key members of Game Freak, or a sketch courtesy of Eiji Aonuma showing Link eating a bowl of rice. “All the art you see on the wall was drawn by personal friends,” the bar owner explained to VGC. “Some of the art has written messages of support, addressed to me, where you can read things like ‘Do your best’ and wishing me the best for the future,” he continued. “But as for the customers of this place, many of whom are game developers, they do not see this as a message of support directed at me, but as a message of support directed at them. They can interpret it as an encouragement to strive harder, and perhaps one day they can have their own art on the wall.”
Illustration of Link signed by Eiji Aonuma. Source: VGC.
The bar has now opened its doors to visitors
As we mentioned at the beginning of the text, 84 is no longer an exclusive bar for Chokan’s friends. This change occurred after the Covid period, when the owner seriously considered closing the bar due to the difficult situation. However, this led to the idea of ‘84tour‘, a guided tour for tourists that could save this establishment and its historical exhibited objects.
As you can imagine, we are not talking about a cheap tour. Visitors can pay 9,999 yen (equivalent to about 62 euros) to book a 90-minute session that includes a drink, light snacks, and an 84 ‘passport’ as a souvenir of the tour. In addition, tourists can only access the premises at specific hours; the schedule between 12:00 and 15:00 is dedicated to this service, and 84 reserves the rest of the day to attend to its usual exclusive clients.
In this way, and despite not being a project created by Nintendo, 84 has become a must-visit place for any fan of Japanese video games. Because, beyond the unique objects and the drawings on the walls, Chokan ensures that the affection that developers put into digital titles is also reflected in a small place full of memories. VGC delves even more into Chokan’s personality and his relationship with 84 in the original report; a text that we highly recommend reading. After all, we are talking about a bar that can survive thanks to tourists, so do not hesitate to stop by on your next (or dream) trip to Tokyo.
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