Nintendo just isn’t the Big N without its actual big N.

In terms of their atmosphere and popular images, Osaka and Kyoto seem worlds apart. Osaka is home to loud fashions, zany comedians, and filling fare like takoyaki, whereas Kyoto is the cultural heart of Japan’s elegant traditional arts and refined kaiseki cuisine.

And yet, the two cities are remarkably close to each other, separated by just about 55 kilometers (34 miles), a distance that you can cover by train in less than 30 minutes. So when Typhoon Jebi hit Osaka earlier this month, the storm also affected Kyoto, with some high-profile damage occurring at the headquarters of video game publisher Nintendo.

The Nintendo building, which is ironically iconic despite its drab facade, had its N blown away in the typhoon, transforming the pioneering game company into “intendo.” While giving your company a name that begins with a lowercase i is all well and good for a flash-in-the-pan 21st century tech startup, it simply won’t do for an organization with such a rich history, not to mention worldwide name-recognition and brand loyalty, as Nintendo. So with the winds having quieted, this week repair crews got to work patching up the landmark signage.

On Sunday morning, a work crew was seen in a compartment suspended from the roof of the building attaching a new N to the wall. First came the framework…

…and by evening the letter was restored, giving the Big N its big N back.

While they were at it, the maintenance workers also inspected the letters which had weathered the storm, making sure they were undamaged and securely fastened.

https://twitter.com/kryagamct/status/1041960177996509184

Hopefully the new N will enjoy a long, healthy life, and Nintendo can get back to limiting its destruction-related activities to fan-pleasing smashing.

Source: Hachima Kiko

Follow Casey on Twitter, where he was happy to discover the Knight Sports headquarters just a short walk from the Tokyo house he did homestay in.