# Taito

> Japanese toy and video game company

**Wikidata**: [Q1054844](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1054844)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/taito

## Summary
Taito Corporation is a Japanese video game publisher and toy company founded on August 24, 1953, by Michael Kogan. Headquartered in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo, the company is a subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings and is historically recognized for creating iconic arcade titles such as *Space Invaders*, *Arkanoid*, and *Qix*. Originally a publicly traded company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Taito was acquired by Square Enix in 2005.

## Key Facts
*   **Founding:** Established on August 24, 1953, by Michael Kogan in Tokyo.
*   **Industry:** Operates within the video game industry, producing video games and toys.
*   **Corporate Status:** A *kabushiki gaisha* (stock company) that was formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (security code 9646) from 1993 until March 7, 2006.
*   **Ownership:** Wholly owned by Square Enix Holdings since 2005; previously owned by Kyocera from 1986 to 2005.
*   **Headquarters:** Currently located in Shinjuku Eastside Square, Tokyo (since 2012); previous headquarters were located in Chiyoda (1973–2008) and Shibuya (2008–2012).
*   **Employees:** Employs approximately 848 people.
*   **Notable Properties:** Creator of *Space Invaders*, *Arkanoid*, *Qix*, and *PuLiRuLa*.
*   **Digital Presence:** Maintains active social media profiles on Twitter (@TAITO), YouTube (taitochannel), Instagram (taitostation), and Bluesky.

## FAQs
**What is Taito's relationship with Square Enix?**
Taito is a subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings, which became its parent organization in 2005. Prior to this acquisition, Taito was owned by the technology company Kyocera starting in 1986.

**Was Taito always a private company?**
No, Taito was historically a public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It offered its securities for public trading starting in 1993 but was delisted on March 7, 2006, following its acquisition by Square Enix.

**What are Taito's most famous products?**
The company is best known for pioneering arcade video games, specifically *Space Invaders*, *Arkanoid*, *Qix*, and *PuLiRuLa*.

**Where is Taito headquartered?**
Taito's current headquarters are in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo, specifically at Shinjuku Eastside Square. The company has moved its head offices several times, previously residing in Chiyoda and Shibuya.

## Why It Matters
Taito is a pivotal entity in the history of the video game industry, credited with helping to establish the arcade market globally. As a "public company" for over a decade, it exemplified the corporate growth of entertainment firms in Japan, transitioning from a standalone listed entity to a strategic subsidiary of a larger holding group (Square Enix). Its longevity—spanning from 1953 to the present—demonstrates its adaptability in the toy and digital entertainment sectors. The company serves as a key case study in corporate acquisition within the Japanese technology landscape, moving from Kyocera ownership to its current integration within the Square Enix group.

## Notable For
*   Creating *Space Invaders*, one of the most influential shooting games in video game history.
*   Maintaining a corporate history spanning over 70 years since its inception in 1953.
*   Transitioning from a publicly traded company (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 9646) to a subsidiary of Square Enix.
*   Operating a significant physical footprint through its "Taito Station" arcade centers (implied by social media handles).
*   Holding a vast library of intellectual property recognized globally, including *Arkanoid* and *Qix*.

## Body

### Corporate Identity and Classification
Taito (stylized as TAITO), legally known as Taito Corporation, is a Japanese video game publisher and toy company organized as a *kabushiki gaisha* (stock company). It is recognized broadly as an enterprise and a public company in legal classification, though it currently operates as a subsidiary. The company is identified by several aliases internationally, including Taito Software, Taito Inc., and Taito America, as well as its Japanese name 株式会社タイトー and historical names such as 太東.

### History and Ownership
Founded by Michael Kogan on August 24, 1953, in Tokyo, Taito evolved into a major player in the entertainment industry.
*   **Kyocera Era:** The company was owned by Kyocera from 1986 until 2005.
*   **Public Listing:** Taito's securities were traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the code 9646 beginning in January 1993.
*   **Acquisition:** Square Enix Holdings acquired the company in 2005. Consequently, Taito's listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended on March 7, 2006. Square Enix remains the current owner.

### Headquarters and Operations
The company's physical location has shifted across Tokyo over the decades:
*   **1973–2008:** Located in Chiyoda, Tokyo (specifically 平河町).
*   **2008–2012:** Located in Shibuya, Tokyo (specifically 代々木).
*   **2012–Present:** Located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, at Shinjuku Eastside Square (新宿六丁目27番30号).
The company employs 848 individuals and maintains an official website at https://www.taito.co.jp.

### Products and Creative Output
Taito specializes in the video game industry, producing video games as its primary material output. Its catalog of notable works includes:
*   **Space Invaders**
*   **Arkanoid**
*   **Qix**
*   **PuLiRuLa**

### Digital Presence and Community
Taito maintains a robust online footprint across multiple platforms:
*   **Social Media:** The company operates verified accounts on Twitter (@TAITO) and Bluesky (@taito.co.jp), as well as Instagram (@taitostation).
*   **YouTube:** Its channel, "taitochannel" (ID: UCK1f3UVewDaiLTvUuNqaBHA), has accumulated over 18 million views and approximately 29,400 subscribers as of mid-2025.
*   **Fandom and Wikis:** The entity is extensively documented on Fandom (under IDs like `taito:taito` and `nintendo:taito`), StrategyWiki, and TV Tropes (Creator/Taito).
*   **Databases:** It is indexed in academic and industry databases including VIAF (136287004), ISNI (0000000092867226), MusicBrainz, MobyGames, and Crunchbase.

### Identifiers and Technical Specifications
*   **Corporate Numbers:** The Japan corporate number is 1011001060972.
*   **Stock Exchange:** Historical ticker 9646 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
*   **Hardware:** The company has a USB Vendor ID of 0ae4.
*   **Library Catalogs:** Listed in the National Diet Library (Japan), the Library of Congress (nr92008652), and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (142441960).

## References

1. Taito Corporation. MobyGames
2. [Source](https://www.taito.co.jp/corporate/taito/history)
3. MusicBrainz
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Name Suggestion Index
6. YouTube API
7. [株式会社タイトーのプレスリリース｜PR TIMES](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/41970)
8. Video Games Chronicle