There’s something incredibly satisfying about reclaiming the past — not through emulation or repackaged nostalgia, but by holding the real hardware. The yellowed plastic. The hum of CRTs. The clean box art. The way power switches used to click instead of glow.
Over the last year, I’ve been on a mission: to build the ultimate retro gaming collection — sourced directly from Japan, where much of gaming’s golden age began. From Nintendo’s very first home console to oddball peripherals, boxed handhelds, and forgotten formats, this journey has turned into more than just a hobby.
It’s become a way to reconnect with the machines that shaped the modern tech world — and rediscover the charm, personality, and challenge of analog gaming.
Every single item listed below was purchased through Sendico — my go-to service for Japanese auctions and marketplaces.
Let’s dive in.
Why I Buy From Japan (and Why You Should Too)
If you’re serious about retro collecting, there’s no better place to start than Japan:
- Most of the best hardware launched there first — often in superior versions.
- Japanese collectors keep items boxed and in fantastic condition.
- Platforms like Yahoo Auctions and Mercari offer gear you simply won’t find elsewhere.
Sendico handles all the hard stuff — bidding, storage, translation, and international shipping. It’s the bridge between your nostalgia and Japan’s collector goldmine.
The Collection — A Journey Across Decades
Let’s break down what I’ve picked up so far, sorted by decade, with a few highlights from each.
The 70s: Nintendo Before the Famicom
- Color TV-Game 6 (1977) – Nintendo’s first home console. Pong-style games hardwired in.
💴 ¥9,600 — Boxed
- Color TV-Game 15 (1978) – A more advanced version with 15 games.
💴 ¥3,650
- Color TV-Game Block Breaker (1979) – A Gunpei Yokoi-designed rotary-controlled gem.
💴 ¥9,660 — Boxed
These systems are pre-Famicom — a part of Nintendo history few people outside Japan have ever touched.
🕹️ The 80s: Revolution and Expansion
- Famicom (1983) – The Japanese NES, smaller, sleeker, and just cooler.
💴 ¥5,300 — Boxed
- Nintendo Famicom (HVC-101) – Later AV-enabled revision.
💴 ¥10,000 — Boxed
- Family Computer Disk System (1986) – Floppy disk-based game add-on.
💴 ¥3,888 — Boxed
- Family Basic (1984) – Nintendo’s early computing experiment.
💴 ¥8,400 — Boxed
- Super Famicom (1990) – Sleek Japanese SNES variant.
💴 ¥4,800
- Twin Famicom (1986) – Sharp’s all-in-one Famicom + Disk System.
💴 ¥15,299
- PC Engine + CD-ROM (1987) – NEC’s compact powerhouse.
💴 ¥24,099 — Boxed
This era defined everything. From the birth of cartridges, to early computing, to CD-ROM gaming — and I’ve managed to collect a piece of all of it.
🧪 The 90s: Diversity & Design
- Super Famicom Jr (1998) – Slimmed-down SNES Japan model.
💴 ¥22,580 — Boxed
- Nintendo Virtual Boy (1995) – Misunderstood 3D experiment.
💴 ¥50,300 — Boxed
- Game Boy Pocket (1996)
💴 ¥8,500 — Boxed
- Game Boy Light (1998) – Japan-only backlit model.
💴 ¥17,480
- Game Boy Color, Advance, SP, Micro — All secured in beautiful condition.
- Neo Geo AES & CD (1990s) – SNK’s elite arcade-at-home systems.
💴 ¥69,300 and ¥38,500
- Sega Saturn, Mega CD, 32X, SG-1000 I/II – Every odd and awesome Sega format.
💴 Prices range from ¥6,300 to ¥59,000
🎮 The 2000s–2010s: Handheld Heaven
I went all in on Nintendo’s handheld evolution — from the Game Boy to the Switch Lite, including:
- Nintendo DS, DSi, 3DS, 2DS, XL models
- Pikachu N64 & Wii U Splatoon Edition
- Sony PSP, PSP Go, and PS Vita
- WonderSwan (Bandai), Game Gear (Sega)
Every system represents a milestone in mobile gaming — especially the Japanese exclusives like the Game Boy Light and WonderSwan Crystal.
⏱️ Game & Watch: The Crown Jewel
My most focused sub-collection is now my Game & Watch series, including:
- Silver Series: Ball, Vermin, Judge
- Gold Series: Manhole, Lion
- Wide Screen: Parachute, Octopus, Popeye, Chef, Fire, Snoopy Tennis
- Multi Screen: Donkey Kong II, Mario Bros, Zelda, Bomb Sweeper, Oil Panic
- Panorama & New Wide Screen
- Rare YM0901 Super Mario Bros Famicom Grand Prix F-1
💴 ¥83,500
Some are boxed. Some have little wear. Most are beautifully preserved. But every one is a piece of Nintendo’s handheld DNA.
🧾 Full List of Japanese Purchases via Sendico
✅ Total Items: Over 100
💴 Total Spend: Well over ¥500,000
📦 Condition: Many boxed, some rare, some well-used but beautiful
Start Your Own Hunt
Want to get started yourself?
Use my referral to get ¥1,500 (~$10 AUD) off your first purchase:
https://sendico.com/referral/ctrlaltthink
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a collection. It’s a timeline of influence.
A tribute to the design, creativity, and engineering that laid the foundation for today’s tech.
Every console on my shelf still works. And every time I power one up, I’m reminded that simplicity, curiosity, and creativity are timeless.
Rethink. Reboot. Repeat.
— Chris Freeman
