Nintendo was founded in 1889 making playing cards. In the 1960s they tried a taxi company, instant rice, and love hotels. All failed. Then they tried toys. Then arcade games. Then a plumber named Mario — named after their warehouse landlord. Mario wasn't plan A. He wasn't even plan D.
Nintendo Ran Love Hotels Before Making Video Games
The most beloved name in video games spent its first seven decades as everything but a video game company.
The Card Company (1889-1950s)
Fusajiro Yamauchi founded Nintendo Koppai in Kyoto in 1889 to produce handmade hanafuda — traditional Japanese flower playing cards. For over sixty years, that's all they did.
The Failed Pivots (1960s)
When Hiroshi Yamauchi took over as president, he wanted more. He tried diversifying into several unrelated businesses: a taxi service, a food company that sold instant rice, a TV network, and — most surprisingly — a chain of love hotels (short-stay hotels catering to couples).
Every single venture flopped.
The Toy Years (1960s-1970s)
Nintendo finally found traction with toys, thanks to engineer Gunpei Yokoi. His Ultra Hand extending arm toy became a hit. This led to electronic games, then arcade machines.
Mario (1981)
Shigeru Miyamoto created Donkey Kong for arcades in 1981. The hero was originally called "Jumpman" — a carpenter, not a plumber. Nintendo of America renamed him Mario after Mario Segale, their warehouse landlord in Tukwila, Washington, who'd once barged in demanding overdue rent.
The rest is history. The Game Boy. The Wii. Zelda. Pokémon. All from a company that started with flower cards and failed at love hotels.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Verified Fact
Nintendo corporate history well documented. Love hotels confirmed in multiple sources including Game Over by David Sheff and Nintendo history books. Mario Segale naming confirmed.
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