{
  "id": 11927437,
  "title": "Nintendo Turns 137, Predating Sliced Bread and the Eiffel Tower",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/nintendo-turns-137-predating-sliced-bread-and-the-eiffel-tower",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-04T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/04/nintendos-137th-anniversary/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nintendo marked its 137th birthday on September 23, charting a remarkable course from humble beginnings in 1889 to its current status as an icon of modern entertainment. Founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto’s Shimogyo-ku district as Nintendo Koppai, the firm initially specialized in hanafuda cards—traditional Japanese playing cards with illustrations instead of numbers. Restrictive gambling laws in Japan in the late 1800s meant hanafuda could be used for non-gambling games, allowing the company to capture a lucrative market. Over time, Nintendo evolved from a card manufacturer to a diverse entertainment conglomerate. In 1959, a partnership with Disney led to the licensing of characters for Nintendo’s cards, broadening the company’s reach into the children’s toy market. This early diversification set the stage for future innovation. Gunpei Yokoi’s appointment as head of a new toy division in 1969 marked a pivotal moment, as Yokoi and his team produced the Beam Gun and Ultra Hand, solidifying Nintendo’s reputation as a toy maker before entering the video game industry. Nintendo’s first home console, the Color TV-Game 6, debuted in 1977, followed by the Color TV-Game 15, leading to the landmark Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the late 1980s. The NES’s lockout chip system helped Nintendo exert greater control over game licensing and quality during a turbulent period for the video game industry. By establishing itself as a major player in the late 1980s, Nintendo solidified its position as a leading force in the industry. Despite predating several globally recognized inventions and landmarks, Nintendo’s primary focus has remained hardware and games. The Switch has become one of the best-selling gaming consoles in history, with over 157 million units sold worldwide, and its successor, Switch 2, has already surpassed 23.6 million sales since its June 2025 launch. Beyond hardware, Nintendo has expanded its footprint into film, theme parks, and consumer products. The company’s film division has produced successful Super Mario Bros. movies, while a live-action Legend of Zelda film is in development. Additionally, Nintendo operates themed attractions through its partnerships with theme parks. Through this multifaceted approach, Nintendo has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and thrive, transforming from a Kyoto card company to a global entertainment powerhouse over the past century and a quarter.",
  "summary": "Nintendo celebrated its 137th anniversary on Sept. 23, marking a long journey from its founding in 1889 to becoming one of the most recognizable names in modern entertainment. Fusajiro Yamauchi founded the company in Kyoto’s Shimogyo-ku district under the name Nintendo Koppai, and the business initially had nothing to do with video games. Yamauchi established […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Nintendo established in 1889 as card manufacturer",
    "Founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi in Kyoto",
    "Switch console sold over 157 million units globally"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}