"Leave luck to Heaven"

Japanese businessman;Japanese businessman; he was the third president of he was the third president of

Nintendo, beginning in 1949 until Nintendo, beginning in 1949 until stepping down on May 31, 2002;stepping down on May 31, 2002;

he was the owner of multi-billion he was the owner of multi-billion dollar video game company;dollar video game company;

he also was the majority owner of he also was the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball team the Seattle Mariners baseball team in 1992;in 1992;

Nintendo has the market value of Nintendo has the market value of over US $85 billion;over US $85 billion;

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Nintendo Co., Ltd. ( 任天堂株式会社任天堂株式会社 , , Nintendō Kabushiki kaishaNintendō Kabushiki kaisha) -) -multinational corporation –Kyoto;multinational corporation –Kyoto;

it produced handmade hanafuda it produced handmade hanafuda cards;cards;

Nintendo →a video game Nintendo →a video game company→the most influential in company→the most influential in the industry;the industry;

Nintendo the fifth largest software Nintendo the fifth largest software company in the world;company in the world;

the video game console marketthe video game console market well-known console manufacturers;well-known console manufacturers;

Married to Michiko InabaMarried to Michiko Inaba Three children:Three children:

Quarrels with his father , Shikanojo; Quarrels with his father , Shikanojo; Hiroshi’s father died in a strokeHiroshi’s father died in a stroke At funeral meeting his other familyAt funeral meeting his other family Regretted his actionsRegretted his actions

KatsuhitoYoko

Fujiko

Hiroshi -sent to a Hiroshi -sent to a preparatory school in Kyoto preparatory school in Kyoto (12);(12);

had planned to study law or had planned to study law or engineering;engineering;

he worked in a military he worked in a military factory;factory;

1945- Hiroshi went to 1945- Hiroshi went to Waseda University to study Waseda University to study law;law;

1949- joined his 1949- joined his grandfather's Hanafuda grandfather's Hanafuda playing card company; playing card company;

became president (21)upon became president (21)upon his grandfather’s death;his grandfather’s death;

Yamauchi's first "hit" the licensing Yamauchi's first "hit" the licensing agreement with Walt Disney for agreement with Walt Disney for his plastic playing cards;his plastic playing cards;

the product sold 600,000 units in the product sold 600,000 units in one year →the domination of one year →the domination of Japanese playing card market;Japanese playing card market;Nintendo Nintendo

Company Company Limited Limited

Company Company public public ChairmanChairman

Urutora Hando(Ultra Hand Urutora Hando(Ultra Hand Project) developed by Gunpei Project) developed by Gunpei Yokoi-factory worker - focused on Yokoi-factory worker - focused on toy making;toy making;

→→Nintendo a major player in the Nintendo a major player in the toy market.toy market.

Yokoi created the first portable Yokoi created the first portable LCD video game featuring a LCD video game featuring a microprocessor called the Game microprocessor called the Game & Watch;& Watch;

The Super Famicom had been The Super Famicom had been sold out within three days in sold out within three days in Japan and had gamers camping Japan and had gamers camping for days outside shops in hope of for days outside shops in hope of getting the next shipment;getting the next shipment;

"Make something that won't be "Make something that won't be ripped off by anybody for three ripped off by anybody for three years". years".

He thought that no matter how He thought that no matter how good a product is, if it doesn't sell good a product is, if it doesn't sell there's no point to it. there's no point to it.

although he owns an American baseball although he owns an American baseball club he has never been to a baseball club he has never been to a baseball match;match;

he is known to be a private person, he is known to be a private person, rarely interviewed by U.S. journalists;rarely interviewed by U.S. journalists;

unlike many Japanese businessmen, he unlike many Japanese businessmen, he doesn't even play golf;doesn't even play golf;

when asked about a personal when asked about a personal philosophy, Yamauchi is cautious, he philosophy, Yamauchi is cautious, he doesn’t talk too much about himself;doesn’t talk too much about himself;

transformed Nintendo from a transformed Nintendo from a small hanafuda card-making small hanafuda card-making company in Japan to a multi-company in Japan to a multi-billion dollar video game billion dollar video game company;company;

As of 2008, Yamauchi is the As of 2008, Yamauchi is the third richest person in Japan third richest person in Japan and 149th richest person in and 149th richest person in the world, having a net worth the world, having a net worth of approximately $7.8 billion.;of approximately $7.8 billion.;

"If we can increase the scope of "If we can increase the scope of the industry, we can re-energise the industry, we can re-energise the global market and lift Japan the global market and lift Japan out of depression - that is out of depression - that is Nintendo's mission. " Nintendo's mission. "

"If the DS succeeds, we will rise to "If the DS succeeds, we will rise to heaven, but if it fails we will sink heaven, but if it fails we will sink to hell. " to hell. "

In my opinion this Japanese businessman has shown the world that you can achieve every thing you aim for through hard work , self discipline and patience , these being three of the most important traits that a person who wants to be on top should have.

Cojocaru DianaCojocaru Diana