OSAKA -- Universal Studios Japan (USJ) will open "Donkey Kong Country," a new area themed on Nintendo Co.'s popular video game series, on Dec. 11, the operator of the park in Osaka's Konohana Ward announced on Nov. 12.

In the main attraction, "Mine Cart Madness," which was unveiled to the press on Nov. 12, guests ride four-seater carts that depart from the "Golden Temple," the main landmark of the new area, and travel through a two-minute junglelike course, dodging and jumping over obstacles just like in the "Donkey Kong" games.

The area also features the Donkey Kong house and a rhythm game in which guests play conga drums to recreate the world of the video game. The attraction's producer Daniel Greer of Universal Creative said designers hope visitors will enjoy the experience as if they had jumped into the game.

USJ's "Super Nintendo World" area, which opened in March 2021, was expanded by about 1.7 times to make room for "Donkey Kong Country." The amusement park hopes to attract more visitors through expansion of the popular area.

Nintendo also wants to draw in more fans by bringing characters from its games to nongame venues such as theme parks and movies, which it hopes will boost sales in its main business of game consoles and software.

(Japanese original by Naomichi Senoo, Osaka Business News Department; video by Makiko Nagao, Student Newspapers Editorial Department)