Nintendo Founder Fusajiro Yamauchi: From Hanafuda Playing Cards (1889) to Gaming Giant

Fusajiro Yamauchi founded Nintendo in 1889 as "Nintendo Koppai" (Nintendo Playing Card Co.) in Kyoto, Japan.

Original Purpose

• Manufacture & sell Hanafuda (花札) — traditional Japanese flower cards (48 cards, 12 suits × 4).
• Hand-painted, high-quality; popular for gambling games (Koi-Koi, Hachi-Hachi).

Evolution

• 1950s: Hiroshi Yamauchi (grandson) takes over; Disney licensing, plastic cards.
• 1960s: Diversification (taxi, love hotels, instant rice, vacuum cleaners) — mostly failed.
• 1970s: Gunpei Yokoi hired; electronic toys (Ultra Hand, Love Tester).
• 1977: Color TV-Game — first dedicated console.
• 1980: Game & Watch — handheld LCD games.
• 1983: Famicom (NES) — cartridge console, third-party licensing model.
• 1989: Game Boy — portable dominance.

Fusajiro's card business funded the century-long pivot to interactive entertainment.