One of the defunct Nintendo factories can be turned into the world’s first museum for the gaming company.
Nintendo, one of the leading electronics and video games companies in the world, released a statement sharing its plan for the museum. The statement said that the Uji Ogura plant in Kyoto will be turned into a gallery to exhibit the many Nintendo products over the years. This will be the first such museum entirely dedicated to Nintendo’s history and philosophy. While not explicitly mentioned, the statement hints that the city administration is on board with the plan.
Nintendo was first established in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi as a maker of playing cards. However, the Japanese company found true success as a maker of video games. The company was one of the first to create video games. Some of the most iconic games like Mario, Pokemon, and Legend of Zelda were created by them. The company also ventured into gaming consoles since the 1970s, with products like Wii and Switch becoming popular among consumers.
In 2020, Nintendo was the richest company in Japan. The company released Animal Crossing: New Horizons in early 2020, which found massive success during the pandemic. Playing cards like Pokemon also found a new interest during the lockdown, while vintage cards were sold in auctions.
The Uji Ogura Plant, simply called the “Uji Plant”, is an old Nintendo factory located in Kyoto. It was built in 1969 and initially manufactured playing cards. It also produced hanafuda cards, a popular card game traditionally played in Japan but also in some other South-East Asian countries. The plant was vacated in 2016 after a new plant was opened in Uji.
The museum is slated to open in 2024 and will reportedly contain products of the company over the years, including some rare artifacts.
