Nintendo's Yamauchi still one of Japan's top billionaires

TOKYO--Two years after his retirement, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi continues to rank as one of the richest people in Japan. In the latest issue of Forbes Magazine Japan, Yamauchi ranks 17th among the Japanese billionaires of 2004, carrying a net value of $1.46 billion. In terms of worldwide ranking, Yamauchi's position is a bit lower, at 377th place. When he was fully active as the president of Nintendo in 2001, Yamauchi's net value was $2.9 billion, which made him the 13th wealthiest man in Japan and 162nd cash-flush human in the world.

Another game tycoon was also on Forbes' list. The magazine estimated that Aruze president Kazuo Okada had a net value of $1.56 billion during 2004, putting him ahead of Yamauchi at 16th place in Japan and 356th place in the world. In 2001, Okada's net value was $3.5 billion, ranking 9th place in Japan and 116th in the world. Aruze is better known for its core business as a major pachinko machine manufacturer, but it also publishes a number of games, such as the Shadow Hearts series.

While unrelated to games--unless you're fond of sipping a cold Asahi while plunked down in front of your Xbox--the top-ranking Japanese billionaire in Forbes's listing is Nobutada Saji, president and CEO of Suntory beverages. Keeping the dominant position as Japan's richest billionaire for three consecutive years, Saji's net value for 2004 is evaluated as $6.79 billion, ranking 55th place in the world.