It's well documented that Nintendo, despite being one of the world's leading creators of video games, didn't start out in the field. The company was founded 1889 to create playing cards, and over the course of the next few decades would try its hand at several other markets – including toys, 'love hotels' and even instant rice.
These projects were the brainchild of Hiroshi Yamauchi, the man who would eventually steer the company towards interactive entertainment. A wily negotiator and visionary businessman, Yamauchi's instinct would prove instrumental in the '70s, '80s and '90s, but in his younger years, he was clearly keen to try as many ideas as possible to see which one would stick.
Another of Nintendo's short-lived ventures was a taxi firm, which was established in the 1960s. In the book Nintendo: The Company and its Founders, author Mary Firestone explains:
Yamauchi also started a taxi business, which he named Daiya. This was a successful venture, but he sold it when struggles with the driver labour unions made the business too expensive to run.
A 1970s image has recently resurfaced online, and shows Satoru Okada (former right hand of Gunpei Yokoi at Nintendo R&D1 and later general manager of Nintendo Research & Engineering) standing next to one of Nintendo's shiny 'Daiya' taxis:
As you can see, the firm's logo – which includes Nintendo's name in kanji, 任 (Nin) 天 (ten) 堂 (dō) – takes inspiration from the playing cards that had made Nintendo its fortune up to this point, and blue was chosen for the paintwork because it was a colour Yamauchi liked, according to Okada.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 15
Upon drinking 3 bottles of vodka, Yamauchi entered a "trance-like state" and drove 90 in a school zone, throwing various objects he had in his vehicle to the police cars behind him.
This later became the inspiration for Rainbow Road
Wow I can't believe Sega stole this taxi idea for their hit game "Crazy Taxi." /s
Can we close the comment section please? Nothing can match the opening comment of @PBandSmelly so let's just give up
I wonder what they will do after consoles and video games?
In Japan, a lot of companies exist without a focus (other than making money, I guess).
Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, also owns a KFC franchise and I think they're involved in animatronics. They do a lot of, seemingly, unrelated things.
Even Sony is somewhat similar - they have movie studios, home electronics, game software. It's a very broad focus (though those things are somewhat linked).
I think Nintendo was a little bit like that - the company existed but they didn't have a single focus or product - they just tried a lot of different things and stuck with what worked.
I think in the West things are a little different - it starts with a product or an idea and the company is built around that.
Is that Yamauchi when he was younger in the picture?
Looks incredibly dapper.
@Splodge yeah, I know the company Yamaha that makes musical instruments also makes motorcyvles
@OnlyItsMeReid little me never understood how my dad good have a synthesiser and bike from the same company! 😂
@garfreek it played last Christmas as a demo song! 😂
The blue taxi is similar to the blue they used on their early arcade cabinets. It’s a nice, attention grabbing color.
@PBandSmelly
Nah, I bet it was sake he downed before his "trip" ha ha.
Nintendo used to make love hotels. Let that set in.
@GrailUK Probably go back to love hotels.
An elegant company for a more civilized age.
@OnlyItsMeReid and Jet Skis.
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