Who Founded Nintendo?

Fusajiro Yamauchi founded Nintendo on September 23, 1889 in Kyoto, Japan.

Originally named Nintendo Koppai (任天堂骨牌), the company manufactured and sold Hanafuda (flower cards) — traditional Japanese playing cards. Yamauchi hand-painted the early decks himself.

The company transitioned through various ventures (taxi, love hotels, instant rice, vacuum cleaners, toys) under his grandson Hiroshi Yamauchi (president 1949–2002) before entering electronic games in the 1970s (Color TV-Game, Game & Watch, Arcade, Famicom/NES).

Fusajiro Yamauchi retired in 1929 and passed away in 1940. He laid the foundation for what became the world’s most enduring video game company.