Jump to content

Nikoli (publisher): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
mNo edit summary
 
(37 intermediate revisions by 30 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Japanese puzzle publisher and magazine}}
:''Nikoli is also a village on the island of [[Lefkada]]''
{{Infobox publisher
⚫
'''Nikoli''' (ニコリ, ''nikori'') '''Co., Ltd.''' is a [[Japan]]ese publisher that specializes in [[game]]s and, especially, [[logic puzzle]]s. ''Nikoli'' is also the nickname of a quarterly magazine (whose full name is ''Puzzle Communication Nikoli'') issued by the company in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=niko>{{cite web|title=Puzzles|url=http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/|publisher=Nikoli|accessdate=23 November 2015}}</ref> ''Nikoli'' was established in 1980<ref name=niko/> and became prominent worldwide with the popularity of ''[[Sudoku]]''.
| name = Nikoli
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| parent =
| status =
| traded_as = <!-- or | nasdaq = -->
| predecessor =
| founded = {{start date and age|1980}}
| founder = [[Maki Kaji]]
| defunct = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| successor =
| country = Japan
| headquarters =
| distribution =
| keypeople =
| publications = Puzzles, Magazines
| topics =
| genre =
| imprints =
| revenue =
| owner =
| numemployees =
| website = {{URL|https://nikoli.co.jp}}
⚫
}}


⚫
{{Nihongo|lead=yes|'''Nikoli Co., Ltd.'''|株式会社ニコリ|[[Kabushiki-gaisha]]|Nikori}} is a Japanese publisher that specializes in [[game]]s and, especially, [[logic puzzle]]s. ''Nikoli'' is also the nickname of a quarterly magazine (whose full name is ''Puzzle Communication Nikoli'') issued by the company in [[Tokyo]].<ref name=niko>{{cite web|title=Puzzles|url=http://nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/|publisher=Nikoli|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref> ''Nikoli'' was established in 1980,<ref name=niko/> and became prominent worldwide with the popularity of ''[[Sudoku]]''.
⚫
The name "Nikoli" comes from the [[Nikoli (horse)|racehorse]] who won the [[Irish 2,000 Guineas]] in 1980; the president of Nikoli, [[Maki Kaji]], is fond of horse-racing and betting. {{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

⚫
The name "Nikoli" comes from the [[Nikoli (horse)|racehorse]] who won the [[Irish 2,000 Guineas]] in 1980; the founder of Nikoli, [[Maki Kaji]], was fond of horseracing and betting.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bellos |first=Alex |author-link=Alex Bellos |date=2017 |title=Puzzle Ninja |publisher=Guardian Books and Faber & Faber Ltd |page=3 |isbn=978-1-4521-7105-0}}</ref>


Nikoli's claim to fame is its vast library of "culture independent" puzzles. An example of a [[language]]/[[culture]]-dependent genre of puzzle would be the [[crossword]], which relies on a specific language and [[alphabet]]. For this reason Nikoli's puzzles are often purely logical, and often numerical.
Nikoli's claim to fame is its vast library of "culture independent" puzzles. An example of a [[language]]/[[culture]]-dependent genre of puzzle would be the [[crossword]], which relies on a specific language and [[alphabet]]. For this reason Nikoli's puzzles are often purely logical, and often numerical.


Nikoli's [[Sudoku]], the most popular [[Japanese puzzle|logic problem in Japan]],<ref>{{cite web | title = ''Nikoli Co.'' | url=http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/sudoku/index_text.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-23}}</ref> was popularized in the [[English language|English]]-speaking world in 2005, though that game has a history stretching back hundreds of years and across the globe.<ref name="Garns">{{cite web | url = http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_09_05_05.html | title = Ed Pegg Jr.'s Math Games: Sudoku Variations | accessdate = October 3, 2006 | last = Pegg | first = Ed, Jr. | date = 2005-09-15 | work = MAA Online | publisher = The Mathematical Association of America }}</ref>
Nikoli's [[Sudoku]], the most popular logic problem in Japan,<ref>{{cite web|title=''Nikoli Co.''|url=http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/sudoku/index_text.htm|access-date=2008-04-23|archive-date=2008-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412102523/http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/sudoku/index_text.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> was popularized in the [[English language|English]]-speaking world in 2005, though that game has a history stretching back hundreds of years and across the globe.<ref name="Garns">{{cite web|url=http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_09_05_05.html|title=Ed Pegg Jr.'s Math Games: Sudoku Variations|access-date=2006-10-03|last=Pegg|first=Ed Jr.|date=2005-09-15|work=MAA Online|publisher=The Mathematical Association of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013120205/http://www.maa.org/editorial/mathgames/mathgames_09_05_05.html|archive-date=2006-10-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>


The magazine has invented several new genres of puzzles, and introduced several new games to Japan.
The magazine has invented several new genres of puzzles, and introduced several new games to [[Japan]].


== Nikoli puzzles ==
== Nikoli puzzles ==
⚫
[[File:Hitori.svg|thumb|right|An uncompleted ''Hitori'' puzzle]]
{| style="float:right;"
[[File:Unsolved Hotaru Beam grid.png|thumb|right|A ''Hotaru Beam'' puzzle]]
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
⚫
[[File:Sudoku-by-L2G-20050714.svg|thumb|right|A ''Sudoku'' puzzle]]
|style="padding-top:7px;"| {{Puzzles |Lists}}
| [[File:Polyominous.png|thumb|right|200px|Moderately difficult ''Fillomino'' puzzle<br>© 2005 Adam R. Wood, licensed under GFDL]]
⚫
[[File:Hitori.svg|thumb|right|200px|An uncompleted ''Hitori'' puzzle]]
⚫
[[File:Sudoku-by-L2G-20050714.svg|thumb|right|200px|A ''Sudoku'' puzzle (image hyperlinked to solution)]]
⚫
|}


Some of the popular Nikoli puzzles,{{fact|date=January 2011}} along with their [[Japanese language|Japanese]] names; terms in parentheses are published English titles for the same puzzles.
Some of the popular Nikoli puzzles, along with their [[Japanese language|Japanese]] names; terms in parentheses are published English titles for the same puzzles.


*[[Bag (puzzle)|Bag]] バッグ (''Corral'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Bag (puzzle)|Bag]]|バッグ|baggu}} (''Corral'')
*[[Connect the dots]] 点つなぎ (''dot to dots'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Connect the dots]]|点つなぎ|ten tsunagi}} (''dot to dots'')
*[[Country Road (puzzle)|Country Road]] カントリーロード
*{{nihongo4|Country Road|カントリーロード|kantorī rōdo}}
*[[Crossword]] クロスワードパズル
*{{nihongo4|[[Crossword]]|クロスワードパズル|kurosuwādo pazuru}}
**[[Crossword#Cipher crosswords|Cipher crossword]] ナンクロ
**{{nihongo4|[[Crossword#Cipher crosswords|Cipher crossword]]|ナンクロ|nankuro}}
*[[Nonogram|Edel]] エデル (''Paint by Numbers'', ''Nonogram'', ''Griddler'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Nonogram|Edel]]|エデル|ederu}} (''Paint by Numbers'', ''Nonogram'', ''Griddler'')
*[[Fillomino]] フィルオミノ (''Allied Occupation'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Fillomino]]|フィルオミノ|firuomino}} (''Allied Occupation'')
*[[Gokigen Naname]] ごきげんななめ (''Slant'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Gokigen Naname]]|ごきげんななめ|gokigen naname}} (''Slant'')
*[[Goishi Hiroi]] 碁石ひろい (''Go Stones'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Goishi Hiroi]]|碁石ひろい|goishi hiroi}} (''Go Stones'')
*[[Hashiwokakero]] 橋をかけろ (''Bridges'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Hashiwokakero]]|橋をかけろ|hashi o kakero}} (''Bridges'')
*[[Heyawake]] へやわけ
*{{nihongo4|[[Heyawake]]|へやわけ|heyawake}}
*[[Hitori]] ひとりにしてくれ
*{{nihongo4|[[Hitori]]|ひとりにしてくれ|hitori ni shitekure}}
*[[Hotaru Beam]] ホタルビーム
*{{nihongo4|[[Hotaru Beam]]|ホタルビーム|hotaru bīmu}}
*[[Inshi no heya]] 因子の部屋
*{{nihongo4|[[Inshi no heya]]|因子の部屋|inshi no heya}}
*[[Cross Sums|Kakuro]] カックロ (''Cross Sums'', ''Kakro'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Cross Sums|Kakuro]]|カックロ|kakkuro}} (''Cross Sums'', ''Kakro'')
*[[Keisuke (puzzle)|Keisuke]] ケイスケ
*{{nihongo4|[[Keisuke (puzzle)|Keisuke]]|ケイスケ|keisuke}}
*Kin-Kon-Kan キンコンカン
*{{nihongo4|[[Kin-Kon-Kan]]|キンコンカン|kinkonkan}}
*[[Kuromasu]] 黒マスはどこだ
*{{nihongo4|[[Kuromasu]]|黒マスはどこだ|kuromasu wa dokoda}}
*[[Light Up (puzzle)|Light Up]] 美術館
*{{nihongo4|[[Light Up (puzzle)|Light Up]]|美術館|bijutsukan}}
*{{nihongo4|[[LITS]]|ヌルオミノ|nuruomino}}
*[[LITS]]
*[[Mainarizumu]] マイナリズム
*{{nihongo4|[[Mainarizumu]]|マイナリズム|mainarizumu}}
*[[Masyu]] ましゅ
*{{nihongo4|[[Masyu]]|ましゅ|mashu}}
*[[Maze]] 迷路
*{{nihongo4|[[Maze]]|迷路|meiro}}
**[[Picture maze]] 浮き出し迷路
**{{nihongo4|[[Picture maze]]|浮き出し迷路|ukidashi meiro}}
*[[Nurikabe (puzzle)#Mochikoro|Mochikoro]] モチコロ
*{{nihongo4|[[Nurikabe (puzzle)#Mochikoro|Mochikoro]]|モチコロ|mochikoro}}
*[[Number Link]] ナンバーリンク
*{{nihongo4|[[Numberlink]]|ナンバーリンク|nanbā rinku}}
*[[Nurikabe (puzzle)|Nurikabe]] ぬりかべ (''Cell Structure'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Nurikabe (puzzle)|Nurikabe]]|ぬりかべ|nurikabe}} (''Cell Structure'')
*[[Reflect Link]] リフレクトリンク
*{{nihongo4|[[Reflect Link]]|リフレクトリンク|refurekuto rinku}}
*[[Ripple Effect (puzzle)|Ripple Effect]] 波及効果
*{{nihongo4|[[Ripple Effect (puzzle)|Ripple Effect]]|波及効果|hakyū kōka}}
*[[Shakashaka]] シャカシャカ
*{{nihongo4|[[Shakashaka]]|シャカシャカ|shakashaka}}
*[[Shikaku]] 四角に切れ (''Divide by Squares'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Shikaku]]|四角に切れ|shikaku ni kire}} (''Divide by Squares'')
*[[Slitherlink]] スリザーリンク (''Fences'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Slitherlink]]|スリザーリンク|surizā rinku}} (''Fences'')
*[[Stained Glass (puzzle)|Stained Glass]] ステンドグラス
*{{nihongo4|[[Stained Glass (puzzle)|Stained Glass]]|ステンドグラス|sutendo gurasu}}
*{{nihongo4|[[Sto-stone]]|ストストーン|sutosutōn}}
*[[Sudoku]] 数独 (''Number Place'', ''Nine Numbers'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Sudoku]]|数独|sūdoku}} (''Number Place'', ''Nine Numbers'')
*[[Tatamibari]] タタミバリ
*{{nihongo4|[[Tatamibari]]|タタミバリ|tatami bari}}
*[[Tatebo-Yokobo]] タテボーヨコボー
*{{nihongo4|[[Tatebo-Yokobo]]|タテボーヨコボー|tatebō yokobō}}
*[[Tentai Show]] 天体ショー (''Galaxies'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Tentai Show]]|天体ショー|tentai shō}} (''Galaxies'')
*[[Tile Paint]] タイルペイント
*{{nihongo4|[[Tile Paint]]|タイルペイント|tairu peinto}}
*[[Verbal arithmetic]] ふくめん算 (''Alphametics'', ''Cryptarithm'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Verbal arithmetic]]|ふくめん算|fukumensan}} (''Alphametics'', ''Cryptarithm'')
*[[Word search]] シークワーズ (''Word seek'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Word search]]|シークワーズ|shīku wādo}} (''Word seek'')
*[[Yajilin]] ヤジリン (''Arrow Ring'')
*{{nihongo4|[[Yajilin]]|ヤジリン|yajirin}} (''Arrow Ring'')
*[[Yajisan-Kazusan]] やじさんかずさん
*{{nihongo4|[[Yajisan-Kazusan]]|やじさんかずさん|yajisan kazusan}}


==References==
==References==
{{Puzzles |Lists}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://nikoli.co.jp/en/ Official site] {{en-icon}}
*[https://nikoli.co.jp/en/ Official site] {{in lang|en}}
*[http://www.janko.at/Raetsel/Nikoli/index-2.htm Rules of 80+ Nikoli Puzzles] in German and English
*[http://www.janko.at/Raetsel/Nikoli/index-2.htm Rules of 80+ Nikoli Puzzles] in German and English


{{Authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Hobby magazines]]

⚫
[[Category:Japanese magazines]]
[[Category:Logic puzzles]]
⚫
[[Category:Magazines established in 1980]]
⚫
[[Category:Magazines published in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Quarterly magazines]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Japan]]
⚫
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1980]]
⚫
[[Category:Logic puzzles]]
⚫
[[Category:Puzzle designers]]
[[Category:Magazine publishing companies of Japan]]
⚫
[[Category:Book publishing companies in Tokyo]]




Latest revision as of 22:15, 22 March 2024

Nikoli
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
FounderMaki Kaji
Country of originJapan
Publication typesPuzzles, Magazines
Official websitenikoli.co.jp

Nikoli Co., Ltd. (Japanese: 株式会社ニコリ, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha, Nikori) is a Japanese publisher that specializes in games and, especially, logic puzzles. Nikoli is also the nickname of a quarterly magazine (whose full name is Puzzle Communication Nikoli) issued by the company in Tokyo.[1] Nikoli was established in 1980,[1] and became prominent worldwide with the popularity of Sudoku.

The name "Nikoli" comes from the racehorse who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1980; the founder of Nikoli, Maki Kaji, was fond of horseracing and betting.[2]

Nikoli's claim to fame is its vast library of "culture independent" puzzles. An example of a language/culture-dependent genre of puzzle would be the crossword, which relies on a specific language and alphabet. For this reason Nikoli's puzzles are often purely logical, and often numerical.

Nikoli's Sudoku, the most popular logic problem in Japan,[3] was popularized in the English-speaking world in 2005, though that game has a history stretching back hundreds of years and across the globe.[4]

The magazine has invented several new genres of puzzles, and introduced several new games to Japan.

Nikoli puzzles

[edit]
An uncompleted Hitori puzzle
A Hotaru Beam puzzle
A Sudoku puzzle

Some of the popular Nikoli puzzles, along with their Japanese names; terms in parentheses are published English titles for the same puzzles.

  • Bag (バッグ, baggu) (Corral)
  • Connect the dots (点つなぎ, ten tsunagi) (dot to dots)
  • Country Road (カントリーロード, kantorī rōdo)
  • Crossword (クロスワードパズル, kurosuwādo pazuru)
  • Edel (エデル, ederu) (Paint by Numbers, Nonogram, Griddler)
  • Fillomino (フィルオミノ, firuomino) (Allied Occupation)
  • Gokigen Naname (ごきげんななめ, gokigen naname) (Slant)
  • Goishi Hiroi (碁石ひろい, goishi hiroi) (Go Stones)
  • Hashiwokakero (橋をかけろ, hashi o kakero) (Bridges)
  • Heyawake (へやわけ, heyawake)
  • Hitori (ひとりにしてくれ, hitori ni shitekure)
  • Hotaru Beam (ホタルビーム, hotaru bīmu)
  • Inshi no heya (因子の部屋, inshi no heya)
  • Kakuro (カックロ, kakkuro) (Cross Sums, Kakro)
  • Keisuke (ケイスケ, keisuke)
  • Kin-Kon-Kan (キンコンカン, kinkonkan)
  • Kuromasu (黒マスはどこだ, kuromasu wa dokoda)
  • Light Up (美術館, bijutsukan)
  • LITS (ヌルオミノ, nuruomino)
  • Mainarizumu (マイナリズム, mainarizumu)
  • Masyu (ましゅ, mashu)
  • Maze (迷路, meiro)
  • Mochikoro (モチコロ, mochikoro)
  • Numberlink (ナンバーリンク, nanbā rinku)
  • Nurikabe (ぬりかべ, nurikabe) (Cell Structure)
  • Reflect Link (リフレクトリンク, refurekuto rinku)
  • Ripple Effect (波及効果, hakyū kōka)
  • Shakashaka (シャカシャカ, shakashaka)
  • Shikaku (四角に切れ, shikaku ni kire) (Divide by Squares)
  • Slitherlink (スリザーリンク, surizā rinku) (Fences)
  • Stained Glass (ステンドグラス, sutendo gurasu)
  • Sto-stone (ストストーン, sutosutōn)
  • Sudoku (数独, sūdoku) (Number Place, Nine Numbers)
  • Tatamibari (タタミバリ, tatami bari)
  • Tatebo-Yokobo (タテボーヨコボー, tatebō yokobō)
  • Tentai Show (天体ショー, tentai shō) (Galaxies)
  • Tile Paint (タイルペイント, tairu peinto)
  • Verbal arithmetic (ふくめん算, fukumensan) (Alphametics, Cryptarithm)
  • Word search (シークワーズ, shīku wādo) (Word seek)
  • Yajilin (ヤジリン, yajirin) (Arrow Ring)
  • Yajisan-Kazusan (やじさんかずさん, yajisan kazusan)

References

[edit]
Part of a series on
Puzzles
Jigsaw piece
Types
Guessing
Logic
Mechanical
Word and Number
Puzzle video games
Metapuzzles
Topics
Lists
  1. ^ a b "Puzzles". Nikoli. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  2. ^ Bellos, Alex (2017). Puzzle Ninja. Guardian Books and Faber & Faber Ltd. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4521-7105-0.
  3. ^ "Nikoli Co.". Archived from the original on 2008-04-12. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  4. ^ Pegg, Ed Jr. (2005-09-15). "Ed Pegg Jr.'s Math Games: Sudoku Variations". MAA Online. The Mathematical Association of America. Archived from the original on 2006-10-13. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
[edit]


Stub icon

This publishing-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikoli_(publisher)&oldid=1215065929"