Hiroshi Yamauchi

Profession: Businessman

Biography: Hiroshi Yamauchi transformed Nintendo from a playing card manufacturer into a global video game establishment. He served as president at Nintendo for 53 years, overseeing its rise to dominance in the video game industry.

Yamauchi took control of Nintendo in 1949 at the age of 22, despite having no management experience. He quickly established his authority by firing employees who questioned his leadership during a strike. In 1959, Yamauchi secured a licensing agreement with Disney to use their characters on playing cards, marking Nintendo's first major success under his direction.

After several failed attempts at diversification, including a taxi service and a love hotel, Nintendo found success in the toy market. The Ultra Hand, created by employee Gunpei Yokoi, became a hit product and set the stage for Nintendo's future in electronic entertainment. Yamauchi's intuition for game development led him to believe that artists, not technicians, created the best games.

Under Yamauchi's leadership, Nintendo launched several iconic gaming consoles. These included the Famicom (known as the Nintendo Entertainment System outside Japan), the Super Famicom, the Nintendo 64, and the GameCube. His management style fostered competition among development teams, spurring creativity and innovation.

Yamauchi's influence extended beyond Nintendo. In 1992, he purchased a majority stake in the Seattle Mariners baseball team, despite having never been to a baseball game, thus helping to keep the franchise in Seattle. Yamuchi, however, also never attended a Mariners game in person.

After retiring in 2002, Yamauchi declined his retirement pension, stating that Nintendo could use the money more effectively. He was known for his philanthropy, donating 7.5 billion yen to build a cancer treatment center in Kyoto. Yamauchi was also an accomplished Go player, achieving a seventh Dan ranking in the strategic board game.

Born: November 7, 1927
Birthplace: Kyoto, Japan

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Scorpio

Died: September 19, 2013 (aged 85)
Cause of Death: Pneumonia