How did a small, 130-year-old playing card company from Kyoto become the most beloved and innovative video game empire on the planet? This is the secret history of Nintendo.

In this "Reference Desk" episode, we're telling the incredible story of a company that has consistently chosen creativity over conformity. We'll explore its humble beginnings, the visionary leadership of Gunpei Yokoi and his philosophy of "Lateral Thinking with Withered Technology," the genius of Shigeru Miyamoto in creating characters like Mario and Zelda, and how Nintendo's uniquely Japanese approach to fun has shaped the childhoods of billions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:

• What did Nintendo do before video games?
• Who created Mario and The Legend of Zelda?
• What is Nintendo's design philosophy?
• How did Nintendo save the video game industry in the 1980s?
• Why is Nintendo so different from Sony and Microsoft?

A MINI-GLOSSARY FOR THIS EPISODE:

• Hanafuda (花札): "Flower cards," the traditional Japanese playing cards that Nintendo was founded to produce.
• Lateral Thinking with Withered Technology: Nintendo's core design philosophy of using cheap, readily available technology in new and creative ways.
• Famicom / NES: The Nintendo Entertainment System, the console that revived the video game industry.

CROSS-PROMOTION:

► Love Japanese pop culture? Check out our YouTube video essay on how Anime conquered the world. It’s the perfect companion to this episode

Thanks for joining East of Everywhere! If this episode made you think, the best way to support us is by sharing it with a friend and leaving a 5-star rating on your podcast app.

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Until next time, keep exploring—and keep learning!

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