Nintendo Was Founded Over 130 Years Ago

Nintendo, the beloved video game company behind Mario and Zelda, has a history that stretches back much further than most people realize. Nintendo was founded on September 23, 1889 in Kyoto, Japan — over 130 years ago — as a manufacturer of handmade playing cards called hanafuda.

Founder Fusajiro Yamauchi created these cards for traditional Japanese card games. The company didn't enter the electronics business until the 1960s and didn't release its first video game until 1975. Today, Nintendo stands as one of the world's most valuable entertainment companies.