Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a maker of hand-painted playing cards.
Fusajiro Yamauchi started the company in Kyoto to produce hanafuda, traditional Japanese flower cards. Nintendo made cards for more than 70 years before trying toys, and released its first video game console in 1977.
Why is this true?
Before games, the company also tried instant rice, a taxi service and a chain of short-stay hotels. Nintendo still sells hanafuda cards today.
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