Episode

Pac-Man at 45: A classic game continues to shape pop culture

Podcast
In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
Published
Feb 13, 2026
Duration seconds
350
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/4601/
Audio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/news/backstory/articles-4601-9370-202602131019.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/in-depth-news-features-nhk-world-japan-news-6248665/episodes/pac-man-at-45-a-classic-game-continues-to-shape-pop-culture
Markdown
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Summary

Almost everyone is familiar with Pac-Man, the little yellow character that chomps its way around a maze with its signature "waka-waka" sound. This classic arcade game helped launch Japanese video games onto the global stage, blazing a trail for Mario and Pokémon. The iconic orb is celebrating its 45th anniversary, and it remains as instantly recognizable and beloved as ever. NHK World's Inoue Yuki explores a New York exhibition highlighting its lasting impact on gaming, design, and pop culture.