Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
How It Works • Games & Tech

Konami

Konami Group Corporation is a Japanese entertainment and video game company founded in 1969 in Toyonaka, Osaka.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Konami Group Corporation is a Japanese entertainment company founded in 1969, best known for its video games and arcade machines.

What it is

Konami Group Corporation is a Japanese entertainment and video game company founded on 21 March 1969 in Toyonaka, Osaka. It began as a jukebox rental and repair business before moving into arcade games and digital entertainment. The company is organized into four segments: Digital Entertainment, Amusement, Gaming & Systems, and Sports.

Key details

Konami was founded by Kagemasa Kōzuki, Yoshinobu Nakama, and Tatsuo Miyasako. Its current corporate name, Konami Group Corporation, was adopted on 1 July 2022. The company is known for major video game franchises and owns Bemani as well as assets from Hudson Soft, including Bomberman and Bonk. Its main office is in Tokyo, Japan.

Why it matters

Konami is a major player in the global video game industry, with a history stretching back over 50 years. Its diverse business segments—from mobile games to arcade systems—make it a significant force in entertainment and sports. The company's ownership of classic franchises like Bomberman also keeps it relevant to retro gaming fans.

In short

  • Founded in 1969 as a jukebox rental business.
  • Now operates in digital entertainment, amusement, gaming, and sports.
  • Owns Bemani and Hudson Soft assets like Bomberman.
  • Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Quick questions

What is Konami?
Konami Group Corporation is a Japanese entertainment company best known for video games and related amusement businesses.
When was Konami founded?
It was founded on 21 March 1969.
What did Konami start as?
Konami began as a jukebox rental and repair business in Toyonaka, Osaka.

Sources

  1. Konami Group Corporationhttps://www.konami.com/ir/en/ir-data/co_download/pdf/all.pdf
    Supports: Corporate profile, headquarters, business segments, and product categories.
  2. Konami Group Corporationhttps://www.konami.com/corporate/en/history/
    Supports: Founded on 21 March 1969 and corporate history.
  3. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konami
    Supports: Founders, original business, and 2022 corporate name change.