Taito: Another Japanese Company Founded by a Foreigner

 

When I wrote about SEGA, someone told me that Taito was also founded by a foreigner. That caught my attention, so I looked into it.

 

They were right.

 

Taito was founded in Tokyo in August 1953 by Michael Kogan, a Russian Jewish businessman. Although I initially wondered whether he was American, Taito’s own history describes him as Russian Jewish.

 

What surprised me even more was how the company began. Originally called Taito Trading Company, it sold imported goods, produced and sold vodka in Japan, and manufactured small peanut vending machines. It started leasing jukeboxes in 1954 and later expanded into amusement equipment.

 

From vodka and peanut machines to video games—that is quite a business journey.

 

In 1978, Taito released Space Invaders, a game that became a social phenomenon. Many people recognize the game without knowing anything about the company’s founder.

 

As someone who started a business in another country, I find this history especially interesting. A founder brings experience and ideas, but the business grows through the people, opportunities, and customers around it.

 

We often associate a company with one country. Looking into its history can reveal connections that cross borders.

 

Thank you to the reader who mentioned Taito. One comment gave me something new to learn—and another story to share.