On September 23, 2026, Nintendo will celebrate its 137th anniversary. Founded in Kyoto on September 23, 1889, the company initially did not engage in the video game business but instead produced Hanafuda, traditional Japanese playing cards.
In its early years, Nintendo's Hanafuda cards were even supplied to establishments run by organized crime, a far cry from the corporate image familiar to modern players. There are also lesser-known aspects of its development history: some claims suggest Nintendo once operated love hotels, while other rumors linked its business to brothels, though the latter has not been conclusively verified.
As its business evolved, video games eventually became Nintendo's primary focus. During this process, the company created core franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, gradually becoming one of the most representative companies in the video game industry.
Currently, Nintendo continues to develop the Nintendo Switch 2 and its own game franchises, including titles such as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Kirby. From its beginnings in Hanafuda card manufacturing to today, its business history spans 137 years.