Difference between revisions of "Nissho Iwai"

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| headquarters=[[wikipedia:Japan|Japan]]
 
| headquarters=[[wikipedia:Japan|Japan]]
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}}{{stub}}'''Nissho Iwai Co., Ltd.''' (日商岩井株式会社) was a Japanese trading company, electronics manufacturer, and video game distributor. It's computer division was known as [[Nissho Iwai Infocom]]
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}}{{stub}}'''Nissho Iwai Co., Ltd.''' (日商岩井株式会社) was a Japanese trading company, electronics manufacturer, and video game distributor. It's computer division was known as [[Nissho Iwai Infocom]].
  
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==Company==
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==History==
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In the late 1980s/early 1990s, Nissho Iwai became [[Sega]]'s agent for Eastern Bloc countries. The full list of countries from this region where the company had influence is not certain, but it was confirmed that they for sure were involved in Sega releated stuff in [[History of Sega in Czechia|Czechia]], [[History of Sega in Slovakia|Slovakia]], [[History of Sega in Hungary|Hungary]], [[History of Sega in Poland|Poland]], [[History of Sega in Russia|Russia]], [[wikipedia:Commonwealth of Independent States|Commonwealth of Independent States]] and possibly other. They also had contract for other regions were Sega wasn't distributing video games directly like Latin America. They withdrew from the contract in late 1995/early 1996 when [[Sega Europe]] took all duties.
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In the early 1990s, Nissho Iwai was appointed by [[Sega Europe]] as exclusive distributor of [[Sega]] products in some of the Eastern Europe countries. However, in late 1993, [[Sega of Japan]] gave full license for all Eastern Bloc countries to Nissho Iwai, which meaned replacing Sega Europe in that region. Japanese trading house began to appointing exclusive sub-distributors for every territories.{{fileref|CTW_UK_586_Europe_Supplement.pdf|page=3}} They also had contract for other regions were Sega wasn't distributing video games directly like [[wikipedia:Latin America|Latin America]] (besides 4 countries of [[wikipedia:Mercosur|Mercosur]] where Sega had [[Tec Toy]]). Sub-distributors strategy damaged potential of Sega in the regions because distributors weren't prepared to invest in Sega's marketing, knowing that they would share benefits with other sub-distributors. In mid-1995 (likely between August-October 1995), contract with Sega of Japan experienced and license was given back to regional distributors like [[Sega Europe]] in Eastern Europe or [[Sega of America]] in South America, which began to rebuilding of distribution network using only the most effective and experienced former sub-distributors{{fileref|CTW_UK_586_Europe_Supplement.pdf|page=3}}. Despite the strategy, Sega games under Nissho Iwai achieved some success in the Eastern Bloc, where cheaper Sega consoles overtook more expensive Nintendo in sales (distributed here by Stadlbauer Marketing in the Czechia/Slovakia/Hungary/Romania/Poland/Former SFRY/Former USSR and by Itochu Corporation in Albania/Macedonia/Bulgaria) and Mega Drive was the leader in most countries, although far behind the most popular gaming systems - Famiclones, and in the last period struggling with 16-bit Sega clones. However, according to Sega, the profits could be much higher and the brand more recognizable and more resistant to clones, if Nissho Iwai would use other strategy. On the opposite side, in Latin America, where Nintendo was distributed by Itochu Corporation, [[Super Nintendo]] was doing much better than Sega Genesis.
  
 
Nissho Iwai is notable for assisting [[Sega]] with development of the early internet gameplay service [[XBAND]].
 
Nissho Iwai is notable for assisting [[Sega]] with development of the early internet gameplay service [[XBAND]].
  
 
In 2004, Nissho Iwai and fellow trading company Nichimen Co., Ltd. (ニチメン株式会社) merged to form [[wikipedia:Sojitz|Sojitz Co., Ltd.]] (双日株式会社).
 
In 2004, Nissho Iwai and fellow trading company Nichimen Co., Ltd. (ニチメン株式会社) merged to form [[wikipedia:Sojitz|Sojitz Co., Ltd.]] (双日株式会社).
 +
 +
==Softography==
 +
{{CompanyHistoryAll|Nissho Iwai}}
  
 
==Manuals==
 
==Manuals==
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At some point (1993?), Nissho Iwai started adding trilingual manuals to consoles. Probably before that, they added monolingual instructions for each country.
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Nissho Iwai added monolingual instructions for each country. These are only manuals where they are credited. Manuals in other countries were made mostly by sub-distributors and are not show here.
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Notavailable.svg|Mega Drive I  
+
Notavailable.svg|Mega Drive I ???
 
MD2 Manual HU PL RU.jpg|Mega Drive II
 
MD2 Manual HU PL RU.jpg|Mega Drive II
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Notavailable.svg|Master System I  
+
Notavailable.svg|Master System I ???
 
Master System II manual PL HU RU.jpg|Master System II
 
Master System II manual PL HU RU.jpg|Master System II
 
Game Gear HU PL RU manual.jpg|Game Gear
 
Game Gear HU PL RU manual.jpg|Game Gear
 
Notavailable.svg|Mega CD II
 
Notavailable.svg|Mega CD II
 
Notavailable.svg|Mega Drive 32X
 
Notavailable.svg|Mega Drive 32X
−
Notavailable.svg|Saturn  
+
Notavailable.svg|Saturn ???
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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==Promotional materials==
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==Promotional material==
 
===Poland===
 
===Poland===
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{{gitem|VideoClub 392 PL Master System.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #18: "03/1992" (1992-xx-xx)}}
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{{gitem|VideoClub 392 PL Master System.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #18: "03/1992" (1992-xx-xx) also published in:
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{{gitem|VideoClub 2 93PL Master System II.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #29: "02/1993" (1993-xx-xx)}}
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*Video Club (PL) #19: "04/1992" (1992-xx-xx)}}
 +
{{gitem|VideoClub20PLSegaITI.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #20: "05/1992" (1992-xx-xx) also published in:
 +
*Video Club (PL) #21: "06/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
 +
*Video Club (PL) #22: "07-08/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
 +
*Video Club (PL) #23: "09/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
 +
*Video Club (PL) #24: "10/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
 +
*Video Club (PL) #25: "11/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
 +
}}
 +
{{gitem|VideoClub 2 93PL Master System II.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #29: "02/1993" (1993-xx-xx) also published in:
 +
*Video Club (PL) #30: "03/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
 +
*Video Club (PL) #31: "04/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
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*Video Club (PL) #32: "05/1993" (1993-xx-xx)}}
 
{{gitem|VideoClub 993 PL Mega Drive.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #36: "09/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
 
{{gitem|VideoClub 993 PL Mega Drive.png|Print advert in Video Club (PL) #36: "09/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
 
also published in:
 
also published in:

Latest revision as of 15:25, 22 December 2023

https://segaretro.org/images/3/3e/NisshoIwai_logo.png

NisshoIwai logo.png
Nissho Iwai
Founded: 1968[1]
Merged with: Nichimen Co., Ltd.
Headquarters:
Japan

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Nissho Iwai Co., Ltd. (日商岩井株式会社) was a Japanese trading company, electronics manufacturer, and video game distributor. It's computer division was known as Nissho Iwai Infocom.

History

In the early 1990s, Nissho Iwai was appointed by Sega Europe as exclusive distributor of Sega products in some of the Eastern Europe countries. However, in late 1993, Sega of Japan gave full license for all Eastern Bloc countries to Nissho Iwai, which meaned replacing Sega Europe in that region. Japanese trading house began to appointing exclusive sub-distributors for every territories.[2] They also had contract for other regions were Sega wasn't distributing video games directly like Latin America (besides 4 countries of Mercosur where Sega had Tec Toy). Sub-distributors strategy damaged potential of Sega in the regions because distributors weren't prepared to invest in Sega's marketing, knowing that they would share benefits with other sub-distributors. In mid-1995 (likely between August-October 1995), contract with Sega of Japan experienced and license was given back to regional distributors like Sega Europe in Eastern Europe or Sega of America in South America, which began to rebuilding of distribution network using only the most effective and experienced former sub-distributors[2]. Despite the strategy, Sega games under Nissho Iwai achieved some success in the Eastern Bloc, where cheaper Sega consoles overtook more expensive Nintendo in sales (distributed here by Stadlbauer Marketing in the Czechia/Slovakia/Hungary/Romania/Poland/Former SFRY/Former USSR and by Itochu Corporation in Albania/Macedonia/Bulgaria) and Mega Drive was the leader in most countries, although far behind the most popular gaming systems - Famiclones, and in the last period struggling with 16-bit Sega clones. However, according to Sega, the profits could be much higher and the brand more recognizable and more resistant to clones, if Nissho Iwai would use other strategy. On the opposite side, in Latin America, where Nintendo was distributed by Itochu Corporation, Super Nintendo was doing much better than Sega Genesis.

Nissho Iwai is notable for assisting Sega with development of the early internet gameplay service XBAND.

In 2004, Nissho Iwai and fellow trading company Nichimen Co., Ltd. (ニチメン株式会社) merged to form Sojitz Co., Ltd. (双日株式会社).

Softography

Manuals

Nissho Iwai added monolingual instructions for each country. These are only manuals where they are credited. Manuals in other countries were made mostly by sub-distributors and are not show here.

  • Mega Drive I ???

  • Mega Drive II

  • Master System I ???

  • Master System II

  • Game Gear

  • Mega CD II

  • Mega Drive 32X

  • Saturn ???

Posters

Poster-catalog added to Mega Drive in Hungarian, Russian and Polish.

  • Hungarian (Mega Drive)

  • Hungarian (Master System II/Game Gear)

  • Russian (Mega Drive)

  • Russian (Master System II/Game Gear)

  • Polish (Mega Drive)[3]

  • Polish (Master System II/Game Gear)[4]

Promotional material

Poland

VideoClub 392 PL Master System.png
Print advert in Video Club (PL) #18: "03/1992" (1992-xx-xx) also published in:
  • Video Club (PL) #19: "04/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
VideoClub 392 PL Master System.png
VideoClub20PLSegaITI.png
Print advert in Video Club (PL) #20: "05/1992" (1992-xx-xx) also published in:
  • Video Club (PL) #21: "06/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #22: "07-08/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #23: "09/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #24: "10/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #25: "11/1992" (1992-xx-xx)
VideoClub20PLSegaITI.png
VideoClub 2 93PL Master System II.png
Print advert in Video Club (PL) #29: "02/1993" (1993-xx-xx) also published in:
  • Video Club (PL) #30: "03/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #31: "04/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #32: "05/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
VideoClub 2 93PL Master System II.png
VideoClub 993 PL Mega Drive.png
Print advert in Video Club (PL) #36: "09/1993" (1993-xx-xx)

also published in:

  • Video Club (PL) #37: "10/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #38: "11/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
  • Video Club (PL) #39: "12/1993" (1993-xx-xx)
VideoClub 993 PL Mega Drive.png

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://www.sojitz.com/history/en/company/nisshoiwai/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:CTW_UK_586_Europe_Supplement.pdf, page 3
  3. ↑ Seen at Playbox 96 event on the left side of the photo [1]
  4. ↑ Seen at Playbox 96 event on the left side of the photo [2]
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