Nintendo - from playing cards to video games
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Nintendo K.K. is a Japanese manufacturer of video games and game consoles. Nintendo was originally founded as a playing card manufacturing company in 1889 by Fusajirō Yamauchi in Kyōto, where its headquarters are still located today.
Founded on September 23, 1889, Nintendo initially produced only traditional Japanese Hanafuda playing cards. Nintendo quickly became the market leader in Japan in this segment.
Due to declining sales and the poor image of Hanafuda cards, Nintendo reoriented itself starting in the mid-20th century. A contract was negotiated with Disney to market Disney-themed playing cards.
After 1969, other toys were then produced.
In the early 1970s, Nintendo finally turned its attention to the emerging market for video games. Nintendo's first consoles were launched exclusively in Japan in June 1977.
In 1979, a subsidiary was established in the United States, followed by a branch in Canada in 1983. Today, Nintendo has been operating and known worldwide for decades.
