The Extraordinary and Surprising History of Nintendo interestingengineering.com

Originally called Nintendo Koppai (Koppai meaning "cards" or "playing cards" in Japanese), the company started out manufacturing a card game called Hanafuda.
AdvertisementThese playing cards consisted of pictures painted on cards made from the bark of the mulberry tree.
AdvertisementYamauchi took great pride in his company's card game's quality and design which brought the early Nintendo great popularity with its patrons.
AdvertisementThe reason Nintendo decided to produce playing cards as its main product had deep roots in Japan's history.
"The playing cards Nintendo was making, hanafuda (花札), uses the kanji for flower because each card is covered in different flowers.