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If you thought Nintendo was always about video games, think again. This iconic company’s journey from a humble playing card maker to a global gaming powerhouse is packed with wild twists, surprising failures, and bold risks that history buffs and casual fans alike will find fascinating. But first a word from our sponsor:
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Founded in 1889 in Kyoto, Japan, by Fusajiro Yamauchi, Nintendo started off making hanafuda playing cards—beautifully handcrafted cards that became a cultural staple. But as the 20th century rolled in, Nintendo’s then-president, Hiroshi Yamauchi, realized playing cards wouldn’t cut it forever. They dabbled in some truly unexpected ventures—ballpoint pens, baby swings, instant rice, taxi services, and yes, even love hotels.
Yes, love hotels—short-stay hotels rented by the hour primarily for couples seeking privacy—all under the Nintendo banner in the mid-1960s. This was far from the family-friendly image Nintendo has today. These hotels were often discreet and sometimes themed, catering to an adult clientele. Beyond just being a curious business choice, Nintendo’s love hotel operations reportedly had to tolerate the involvement of the Yakuza, Japan’s organized crime syndicate, who ran prostitution and gambling rackets in some of these hotels. Although Nintendo was not directly involved in these illegal activities, the presence of the Yakuza added a shadowy chapter to their history. Eventually, Nintendo exited the love hotel business by the late 1960s to focus on toys and, later, electronics.
The toy business marked a turning point. Their breakthrough came in 1966 with the "Ultra Hand," a simple extendable toy that sold over a million units. Nintendo then embraced electronics with the Game & Watch series in 1980, pioneering the D-pad and selling millions worldwide, paving their path to video game supremacy.
The real game-changer was the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the mid-1980s, which introduced franchises like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda that became household staples.
But the path wasn’t smooth. Nintendo faced crippling failures like the Radar Scope arcade flop, lost a key partnership with Sony (leading to the birth of Sony’s PlayStation), and struggled with the failed 64DD disc drive and early shaky online systems.
Nintendo’s story is a treasure trove for historians and business enthusiasts alike. It teaches us how companies can evolve through bold experimentation—even when those experiments seem strange or risky—and how failures can be leveraged into future success. The wild diversity of Nintendo’s ventures—from playing cards and love hotels to revolutionary video game consoles—illustrates adaptability and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
And the saga isn’t over. In 2017, Nintendo struck gold again with the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid console blending handheld freedom with home gaming power, proving that innovation never sleeps.
If you love stories about companies with crazy histories and inspiring comebacks, dive deeper with HistoryGoneBananas. Subscribe to our newsletter for more fascinating tales, follow us on social media to join the conversation, and check out our YouTube channel for videos that bring history to life. Let’s explore the wild, weird, and wonderful corners of history together!