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Japanese

Company History


1889

Fusajiro Yamauchi began manufacturing and selling Japanese playing cards, Hanafuda, in Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.


1902

Started manufacturing and selling the first western playing cards in Japan.


1947

Established Marufuku Co., Ltd., which is the previous incarnation of Nintendo Co., Ltd., in Higashikawara-cho, Imagumano, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan.


1951

Changed the company's name to Nintendo Playing Card Co., Ltd.


1952

Consolidated the manufacturing facilities, which used to be scattered around Kyoto, in Kamitakamatsu-cho, Fukuine, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan.


1953

Became the first company to succeed in mass-producing plastic playing cards in Japan.


1959

Moved the headquarters to Kamitakamatsu-cho, Fukuine, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
Started selling Disney character playing cards.
Automated the production of Japanese playing cards with machines that paste backing paper onto the cards.


1961

Established the Tokyo Branch in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.


1962

Listed stock on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange and on the Kyoto Stock Exchange.


1963

Changed the company's name to Nintendo Co., Ltd. (current name).


1970

Stock listing was changed to the First Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange.


1973

Developed an entertainment system called Laser Clay Shooting System for leisure facilities.


1977

Launched Nintendo's first home video game machines, TV Game 15 and TV Game 6.


1978

Developed and started selling arcade video game machines.


1980

Developed and started selling GAME & WATCH.
Established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., in New York, U.S.A.


1981

Developed and started selling an arcade video game called Donkey Kong.


1982

Established Nintendo of America Inc. in Seattle, Washington and merged the New York subsidiary into it.


1983

Listed stock on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Launched the home video game system, Family Computer System (known as Nintendo Entertainment System outside Japan.)
Established a new manufacturing plant, which is now Uji Plant, in Uji City, Kyoto.


1985

Started selling the Super Mario Bros. game software for the Nintendo Entertainment System.


1989

Launched the handheld video game system, Game Boy.


1990

Launched the home video game system, Super Famicom (known as Super Nintendo Entertainment System outside Japan.)
Established Nintendo of Europe GmbH (currently Nintendo of Europe SE) in Germany.


1996

Launched the home video game system, Nintendo 64.


2000

The headquarters of Nintendo Co., Ltd. was relocated to 11-1 Hokotate-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan (current location).


2001

Launched the handheld video game system, Game Boy Advance. Launched the home video game system, Nintendo GameCube.


2004

Launched the handheld video game system, Nintendo DS.


2006

Launched the home video game system, Wii.


2008

Launched the handheld video game system, Nintendo DSi.


2011

Launched the handheld video game system, Nintendo 3DS.


2012

Launched the home video game system, Wii U.


2014

Launched the handheld video game system, New Nintendo 3DS.


2016

Released smart device application, Miitomo.


2017

Launched Nintendo Switch, a home video game system that can also be used as a handheld.
Established Nintendo Sales Co., Ltd. in Taito-ku, Tokyo.


2018

Started the online service, Nintendo Switch Online.


2019

Opened Japan's first official flagship store, Nintendo TOKYO, in Shibuya, Tokyo.


2021

The world’s first Nintendo theme park land, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, opened at Universal Studios Japan.


2022

Nintendo Co., Ltd. transitioned to the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.


2023

Release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the first animated movie produced in partnership with Nintendo.


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