Nintendo celebrates 137 years since its founding - from playing cards to the Switch 2

Nintendo is currently working on the Nintendo Switch 2 while continuing to publish its long-running franchises such as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Kirby, and others.

The company’s origins are far removed from video games. On September 23, 1889, Nintendo was founded in Kyoto and initially made Hanafuda playing cards. Those cards were supplied, among others, to Yakuza establishments — a beginning that sharply contrasts with the family-friendly image most modern gamers associate with the brand.

Nintendo’s past includes lesser-known and sometimes controversial episodes. One source claims the company once owned love hotels, and rumors say — even brothels. These anecdotes are seldom mentioned today but underscore how lengthy and unusual the corporation’s path has been.

Over time, Nintendo shifted its main focus to electronic gaming. That transition produced signature franchises, including The Legend of Zelda and Mario, and helped establish Nintendo as one of the industry’s defining companies.