What kinds of tools, documentation, so forth, were used by Japanese developers intending to create a licensed NES / Famicom release?
Naturally, anything made after support was pulled in 1994 doesn't count. Or too distinct to overseas or pirate work.
Also, here's an FDS dev environment, if you want to identify the hardware around them:
For graphics, different companies had different tools on Japanese PCs. Examples here:
http://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/FC__ ... html#ryoma
What the heck is that thing under the Famicom Disk System? an ammo belt?
It's a ribbon cable, and it looks like it has many twisted pairs instead of just a lot of parallel connections. That looks like either an ICE or a prototype RAM drive. I am guessing it is the former.
That is why I suggested to invite someone who made a licensed nes game back then :
Inviting a game designerBut unfortunately I don't have enough reputation to invite him here.
Looks kinda like a strip of paper with lots of resistors on it, but no, the red key on the ribbon cable gives it away that it's a ribbon cable.