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{{Short description|Japanese video game company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Tecmo, Ltd.
| native_name = 株式会社テクモ
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Kabushikigaisha Tekumo
| logo = Tecmo logo.svg
| former_name = Imperial Trustee Corporation (1964–1977)<br>Tehkan (1977–1986)
| type = [[Kabushiki gaisha]]<br>[[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Video games industry|Video games]]
| predecessors = [[#Imperial Trustee Corporation|Imperial Trustee Corporation]]<br>[[#Nippon Yacht Co, Ltd|Nippon Yacht Co, Ltd]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|July 31, 1967}}
| founder = Yoshihito Kakihara<ref name="English history">{{cite web |title=COMPANY INFORMATION -History- |url=http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/e/ecp03.html |website=TECMO,LTD. |access-date=3 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621041137/http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/e/ecp03.html |archive-date=21 June 2008}}</ref>
| defunct = {{start date and age|April 1, 2010}}<ref name="dissolution"/>
| fate = [[Mergers and acquisitions|Merged]] with [[Koei]]
| successor = [[Koei Tecmo|Koei Tecmo Games]]
| location = [[Tokyo]], Japan
| key_people = Junji Nakamura<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Icons |title=Dead or Alive |series-link=Icons (TV series) |network=[[G4 (American TV channel)|G4]] |date=August 5, 2004 |season=3 |number=11 |url=http://www.g4tv.com/icons/episodes/3352/Dead_or_Alive.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231112359/http://www.g4tv.com/icons/episodes/3352/Dead_or_Alive.html |archive-date=2016-12-31 }}</ref><br/>[[Tomonobu Itagaki]]
| products = ''[[Bomb Jack]]'' <br/>''[[Captain Tsubasa]]'' <br/> ''[[Ninja Gaiden]]'' <br/> ''[[Dead or Alive (series)|Dead or Alive]]'' <br/> ''[[Fatal Frame]]'' <br/> ''[[Tecmo Bowl]]'' <br/> ''[[Rio: Rainbow Gate!|Rio]]'' <br/> ''[[Deception (video game series)|Deception]]'' <br/> ''[[Monster Rancher (series)|Monster Rancher]]'' <br/> ''[[Rygar (NES game)|Rygar]]'' <br/> ''[[Gallop Racer]]'' <br/> ''[[Solomon's Key]]''
| parent = [[Koei Tecmo]] (2009–2010)
| homepage = [http://www.tecmo.co.jp/sub_index.html http://www.tecmo.co.jp/sub_index.html]
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Tecmo, Ltd.'''|テクモ株式会社|Tekumo kabushikigaisha}} was a Japanese [[video game]] company founded in 1967. It had its headquarters in the [[Kudankita]] district of [[Tokyo]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20020220113054/http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/gaiyo.htm 主要営業所]." Tecmo. February 20, 2002. Retrieved on October 18, 2010. "本社 東京都千代田区九段北4丁目1番34号 03-3222-7645."</ref> Its subsidiary, '''Tecmo Inc''', was located in [[Torrance, California]].<ref>"[http://64.78.9.175/corporate.asp?page=contact Contact] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705184627/http://64.78.9.175/corporate.asp?page=contact |date=2011-07-05 }}." Tecmo. Retrieved on October 18, 2010. "Tecmo, Inc. 21213-B Hawthorne Boulevard Torrance, CA 90503."</ref> Prior to 1986, Tecmo was formerly known as '''Tehkan'''.

Tecmo is known for the ''[[Captain Tsubasa]]'', ''[[Dead or Alive (series)|Dead or Alive]]'', ''[[Deception (video game series)|Deception]]'', ''[[Fatal Frame]]'', ''[[Gallop Racer]]'', ''[[Monster Rancher (series)|Monster Rancher]]'', ''[[Ninja Gaiden]]'', ''[[Rygar (arcade game)|Rygar]]'', ''[[Star Force]]'' and ''[[Tecmo Bowl]]'' video game series. When it was still called Tehkan, the company released arcade games such as ''[[Bomb Jack]]'', ''[[Gridiron Fight]]'' and ''[[Tehkan World Cup]]''.<ref name="Japanese history" />

In 2009, Tecmo merged with [[Koei]] to form the [[holding company]] [[Koei Tecmo|Tecmo Koei Holdings]] and was operated as a subsidiary<ref name="Japanese history">{{cite web|title=Tecmo Company History|publisher=Tecmo|url=http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/sc0203.htm|access-date=2012-12-05}}</ref> until April 2010 when Tecmo was dissolved. Its brand continued to be used until 2016.<ref name="ktreorg_16" /> Its video game franchises are now owned and published by [[Koei Tecmo Games]].<ref name="dissolution"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20140526_01.pdf |title=商号の変更及び定款の一部変更に関するお知らせ |access-date=2019-09-12 |archive-date=2015-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705232617/https://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20140526_01.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
The company was founded on July 31, 1967, as Tehkan, primarily producing cleaning equipment.<ref name="Japanese history" /><ref>(October 2002). "Ninja Beach Party". ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' (11): 52.</ref> By 1969, it started to sell amusement equipment.<ref name="Japanese history" />

===Early history===
Tecmo Ltd., which merged with Koei in 2009, was itself the combination of two companies: Imperial Trustee Corporation (founded in 1964) and Nippon Yacht Co, Ltd (founded in 1967).<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo"/>

==== Imperial Trustee Corporation====
The origins of Tecmo dates to September 1964 as the Imperial Trustee Corporation, a company specialized in the management of building maintenance including the supplying of cleaning equipment.<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo">{{cite web|url=https://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/news/docs/news_20090625.pdf |title=商号の変更及び定款の一部変更に関するお知らせ |access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref>  In July 1969, the company started to sell entertainment amusement equipment and opened its first self-managed amusement facility in March 1970 in [[Chiba Prefecture]].<ref name="English history"/>

In October 1977, the Imperial Trustee Corporation was renamed "Tehkan Ltd", with the trade name changed as well to "Tehkan".<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo"/> Tehkan is derived from the name {{nihongo|"Teikoku Kanzai"|帝国管財}}, the company's original Japanese name.

In March 1981, a U.S. division was inaugurated in Los Angeles as "U.S. Tehkan, Inc.".<ref name="Japanese history"/> A month later, in April 1981, Tehkan released in Japan its first internally developed arcade video game, titled "''[[Pleiads]]''" (which was distributed in America by [[Centuri]]).<ref name="Japanese history"/>

On January 8, 1986, Tehkan Ltd officially changed its name to Tecmo Ltd. The company's first internally developed home video game ''[[Mighty Bomb Jack]]'' was released for the [[Family Computer]] in April 1986.<ref name="Japanese history"/>

==== Nippon Yacht Co, Ltd====
On July 31, 1967, the Nippon Yacht Corporation was established to handle the real estate of ships.<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo"/>

On December 6, 1982, Nippon Yacht Co, Ltd was renamed "Tehkan Electronics Corporation".<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo"/>

===Merger of Tecmo and Tehkan Electronics Corporation. Focus on console video games===
On April 1, 1987, Tecmo Ltd. merged with its sister company Tehkan Electronics Corporation. The former's name was retained for the merger but the latter was the actual surviving company.<ref name="History by Koei Tecmo"/>

By the turn of the decade, Tecmo was firmly in the camp of [[video game consoles]]. Though still involved in the arcade industry, much of the  success was achieved on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] with titles such as  ''[[Ninja Gaiden]]'', ''[[Tecmo Bowl]]'' and the Japan-only  ''[[Tsuppari Ōzumō]]''. When [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]] released its [[PlayStation]] in the 1990s, Tecmo joined the endeavor which set the tone for series such as ''[[Dead or Alive (series)|Dead or Alive]]'', ''[[Monster Rancher]]'', ''[[Deception (video game series)|Deception]]'' and ''[[Gallop Racer]]''.

Tecmo enters the second section of [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]] in March 2000 and transitioned to the first section in March 2001.

On October 1, 2001, Tecmo founder, Yoshihito Kakihara, steps down as president and representative director due to health issues. Kakihara becomes chairman and representative director while vice president, Junji Nakamura, becomes president and representative director.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/games/gsnews/0109/03/news10.html|title=SBG: Tecmo announces change of representative director|website=ITmedia|date=September 3, 2001|language=ja}}</ref> By 2002, Tecmo stopped producing new arcade games.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=JAMMA Promotes Redemption; Kakihara|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=653|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 March 2002|page=16|lang=ja|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/20020301p.pdf#page=9}}</ref>

On January 1, 2006, Tecmo president, Junji Nakamura, steps down while Yoshimi Yasuda was named his successor.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tecmo-ps3-lineup-coming-soon/1100-6142544/| title=Tecmo: PS3 lineup coming "soon"| website=GameSpot | publisher= | access-date=April 12, 2023}}</ref> Nakamura becomes chairman of Tecmo until his resignation from the company on February 1, 2006.<ref name=nstyle>{{Cite web|url=https://n-styles.com/main/archives/2008/06/05-080000.php|title=Summary of all-out war by Tecmo and Tomonobu Itagaki|website=N-Styles|date=June 5, 2008|language=ja}}</ref>

On July 18, 2006, Tecmo's founder, Yoshihito Kakihara, died of [[interstitial pneumonia]] at the age  of 67.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/pdf/2006072102.pdf |title=2006072102.pdf |access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref><ref name="English history"/>

Tecmo delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on March 26, 2009, right before the merger with [[Koei]] took effect.

===Lawsuits===
On February 14, 2007, former president, Junji Nakamura, filed a lawsuit against Tecmo demanding payment of 166 million yen in executive retirement benefits. A settlement in the matter was reached on March 28.<ref name=nstyle/>

On June 3, 2008, Team Ninja head [[Tomonobu Itagaki]] resigned from the company and filed a 145 million yen ($1.4 million) lawsuit against Tecmo president, Yoshimi Yasuda, for "unpaid completion bonuses" and "emotional distress".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian|access-date=2008-06-17 |url=http://kotaku.com/5012535/itagaki-leaving-tecmo-suing-tecmo |title=Itagaki Leaving Tecmo, Suing Tecmo |publisher=Kotaku |date=2008-06-02}}</ref> This was followed by another lawsuit filed on 16 June by two plaintiffs on behalf of Tecmo's 300 employees for unpaid wages amounting to ¥8.3 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boyes |first=Emma |title=Report: More staff sue Tecmo |publisher=Gamespot UK |url=http://au.gamespot.com/news/reports-more-staff-sue-tecmo-6192629 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707005711/http://au.gamespot.com/news/reports-more-staff-sue-tecmo-6192629 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-07 |access-date=2008-06-18 |date=2008-06-17 }}</ref>

===Merger with Koei===
On August 20, 2008, Tecmo announced the resignation of president Yoshimi Yasuda, to be replaced by current chairman of the board Yasuharu Kakihara as of September 1. On August 29, 2008 [[Square Enix]] made plans for a friendly takeover of Tecmo by purchasing shares at a 30 percent premium with a total bid of [[Japanese yen|¥]]22.3 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |title=Report: Square Enix makes $200M Tecmo bid |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/square-enix-makes-200m-tecmo-bid-6196996 |access-date=2008-08-29 |date=2008-08-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628145002/http://www.gamespot.com/news/square-enix-makes-200m-tecmo-bid-6196996 |archive-date=2012-06-28 }}</ref> On September 4, 2008, Tecmo officially declined the takeover proposal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|title=Report: Tecmo Rejects Square Enix's Takeover Offer|publisher=Kotaku|url=http://kotaku.com/5045253/tecmo-rejects-square-enixs-takeover-offer|access-date=2008-09-04| date=2008-09-04 }}</ref> Tecmo subsequently engaged in talks with [[Koei]] about a possible merger between the two companies,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|title=Report: Tecmo And Koei In Talks To Merge|publisher=Kotaku|url=http://kotaku.com/5045256/tecmo-and-koei-in-talks-to-merge|access-date=2008-09-04|date=2008-09-04 }}</ref> and agreed in November 2008 to merge on April 1, 2009, to form [[Koei Tecmo|Tecmo Koei]] Holdings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/55975/tecmo-and-koei-to-merge |title=Tecmo and Koei to Merge in April 2009 |publisher=Shacknews.com |date=2008-11-18 |access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref>

On January 26, 2009, the two companies officially announced the merger, and the holding company formed on April 1, 2009, as planned.<ref>{{cite web|author=Brian Ashcraft |url=http://kotaku.com/5193268/koei-tecmo-reveals-its-new-company-logo-looks-familiar |title=Koei Tecmo Reveals Its New Company Logo (Looks Familiar) |publisher=Kotaku.com |date= April 2009|access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref> Tecmo initially continued to be operated as a subsidiary and brandname of Tecmo Koei Holdings. In January 2010, the United States subsidiaries of Tecmo Inc. and Koei America merged to create Tecmo Koei America Corporation.<ref name="Tecmo Koei History">{{cite web|title=Tecmo Koei Company History|publisher=[[Koei Tecmo|Tecmo Koei Holdings]]|url=http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/company/history/kthd.html|access-date=2012-12-05|archive-date=2016-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310105523/http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/company/history/kthd.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tecmo was effectively declared disbanded in Japan on April 1, 2010, as part of a major international reorganization within Tecmo Koei Holdings.<ref name="dissolution">{{cite web|url=http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/pdf/20100225koukoku.pdf |title=Tecmo: Declaration of Disbandment |access-date=2019-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20100224.pdf |title=Tecmo Koei: Declaration of Succession |access-date=2019-09-12 |archive-date=2011-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725175254/http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20100224.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Relevant intellectual properties were slated to be further managed by Koei Tecmo Games.<ref name="dissolution"/><ref name="Tecmo Koei History"/>

On March 15, 2010, and roughly two weeks before Tecmo was dissolved, its internal development studio was spun off as a separate company under the name of "Tecmo Co, Ltd.", a wholly owned subsidiary of Koei Tecmo Games.<ref name="Dissolution of Tecmo and Koei">{{cite web |date=2011-02-07 |title=Official report of Tecmo Koei Holdings for the dissolution of Tecmo and Koei development studios |url=http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20110207_01.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502020252/http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20110207_01.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-02 |access-date=2012-12-05 |publisher=[[Koei Tecmo|Tecmo Koei Holdings]]}}</ref> This new company was initially called "Tehkan" to avoid confusion with the other company that was still operating for another two weeks. When Tecmo disbanded on April 1, 2010, Tekhan was renamed Tecmo. This was short-lived as the new Tecmo along with the new Koei video game developers were both dissolved and merged into Koei Tecmo  Games a year later, on April 1, 2011.<ref name="Dissolution of Tecmo and Koei"/><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web|title=TECMO KOEI HOLDINGS CO., LTD. Announces Merger between Subsidiary and Sub-subsidiaries; Announces Business Transition between Subsidiaries|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/3635.T/key-developments/article/2080860|access-date=2012-12-05|date=2011-02-07}}</ref>

Despite having been dissolved twice as a legal entity, Tecmo continued to appear as a label on video games by Koei Tecmo Games until another corporate reorganization in 2016 abandoned the brand name for good.<ref name=ktreorg_16>{{cite web |url=http://www.dualshockers.com/2016/02/18/koei-tecmo-reorganizes-into-multiple-brands-aims-to-be-top-dog-in-entertainment-worldwide/ |title=Koei Tecmo Reorganizes into Multiple Brands, Aims to Be Top Dog in Entertainment Worldwide |publisher=Dualshockers |date=February 18, 2016 |access-date=March 8, 2017 |archive-date=February 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221102734/https://www.dualshockers.com/2016/02/18/koei-tecmo-reorganizes-into-multiple-brands-aims-to-be-top-dog-in-entertainment-worldwide/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Video games by Koei Tecmo Games marketed with the Tecmo logotype included ''[[Dead or Alive 5]]'', ''[[Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge]]'' and ''[[Deception IV: Blood Ties|Deception IV: The Nightmare Princess]]''.

==Divisions==
* [[Team Ninja]], started in 1995.
* [[Team Tachyon]], started in 2007.

==Games==
{{main|List of Tecmo games}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.tecmo.co.jp/company/e/ Official website]

{{Portal|Tokyo|Companies|Video games}}
{{Koei Tecmo}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Koei Tecmo]]
[[Category:Amusement companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Software companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2010]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Video game publishers]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1967]]
[[Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2010]]

[[pt:Koei Tecmo Holdings#Tecmo]]