Nintendo: The Company and its Founders - Sharyland ISD

NINTENDO BRANCHES OUT
Yamauchi heard their story, he had a very direct
talk with his son-in-law. He told Mino he should
leave Marubeni and work for Nintendo, setting up
a new operation in Malaysia, an island country in
Southeast Asia.
Yoko was passionately against the idea of
her husband working for her father. She had seen
firsthand how brutally competitive life at Nintendo
could be and the toll it had taken on her own family
life. Mino turned down the offer and continued
working for Marubeni in Vancouver. Yamauchi
eventually dropped the Malaysia idea, but he still
wanted to involve his son-in-law in the family
business.
Yamauchi kept close tabs on how Mino
was progressing at Marubeni, and he remained
impressed with his son-in-law’s managerial skills and
determination. In addition to his strong work ethic,
Mino was independent. He insisted that neither
he nor Yoko accept any money from their wealthy
families, even as they struggled. They had a tight
budget, and when they moved from one home to
another as renters, they packed their own things and
did the moving themselves. When the real estate
units his company developed were ready to sell,
Mino served as a sales agent, and Yoko helped.
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