Save game history: Japan preserves its cartridge-bound treasures

National Diet Library fights off legal barriers, corrosion, even drain to abroad

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In Tokyo's otaku headquarters of Akihabara, early game cartridges can fetch hundreds of dollars, many multiples of their original prices from decades ago. (Photo by Manami Yamada)

AKINOBU IWASAWA and TOMOYO OGAWA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan is mounting a rescue operation for early video game copies, some from the 1980s, as more of these pieces of pop history give way to corrosion.

The operation is being handled by Japan's National Diet Library, which has long preserved books, magazines, vinyl records and other forms of artistic expression. Now, finally, it has gotten around to digitizing old treasures that decades ago helped Japan start spreading its soft power around the world.

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