What Nintendo Made Before Video Games: From Hanafuda to Love Hotels

Founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, Nintendo spent nearly a century as a diversified Japanese conglomerate before pivoting to electronic entertainment in the 1970s.

Core Pre-Gaming Ventures

1. Hanafuda Playing Cards (1889–1950s)

Hand-painted traditional flower cards. Nintendo became Japan's largest card manufacturer. The name "Nintendo" (任天堂) is often interpreted as "leave luck to heaven"—a nod to card games.

2. Western Playing Cards & Disney Licensing (1959–)

Hiroshi Yamauchi secured a Disney license, putting Mickey Mouse on trump cards. This mass-market hit funded early diversification.

3. Toys & Novelty Items (1960s–1970s)

• Ultra Hand (1966): Extending plastic gripper toy—Nintendo's first million-seller, designed by Gunpei Yokoi.
• Love Tester (1969): Novelty "compatibility" device—cultural phenomenon in Japan.
• Light Gun Series (1970s): Kôsenjû SP, Wild Gunman (arcade electro-mechanical precursor).
• Ten Billion Barrel (1980): Puzzle cylinder—showcased Nintendo's mechanical engineering.

4. Short-Lived & Unusual Ventures

• Taxi Company (early 1960s): Failed due to labor disputes.
• Love Hotels (1960s): Hourly-rate hotels; exited quickly due to reputation risks.
• Instant Rice & Vacuum Cleaners: Brief, unsuccessful consumer goods attempts.

The Pivot to Electronic Games

• 1972: Magnavox Odyssey distribution (Japan).
• 1973: Laser Clay Shooting System—arcade light-gun ranges in abandoned bowling alleys.
• 1975: EVR Race (horse racing medal game)—first microprocessor arcade.
• 1977: Color TV-Game 6 & 15—dedicated home Pong consoles.
• 1980: Game & Watch—handheld LCD series, massive global success.
• 1981: Donkey Kong arcade—Shigeru Miyamoto's debut, establishes Nintendo as a video game developer.

Every weird venture taught Nintendo hardware manufacturing, supply-chain management, and risk tolerance—foundations that later built the NES, Game Boy, and Switch empires.