Nintendo's history has lessons for Japan, says prime minister

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe says the nation could learn from Nintendo's evolution over the years.

According to Kotaku's translation of comments made in a Diet meeting, Abe responded to a comment about his plans for Japanese economic growth by referring to Nintendo.

"For example, there's a company called Nintendo. Over there, they made hanafuda cards, but gradually the people playing hanafuda decreased," he said.

"However, that company called Nintendo makes hanafuda cards and whatnot, and I believe that only by doing that, it wasn't able to protect hanafuda."

Although Nintendo wasn't able to reply only on its traditional business of hanafuda cards as the market for them shrunk, it continues to sell them alongside its other business ventures - most famously, video games and consoles.

"For sure, I think this is something that we can learn from," Abe said.

Nintendo's origins are inspiring and no doubt a valuable example in general, although its recent financial downturn is probably not the best target for emulation.

Thanks, NintendoLife. [image]