Today, 6th December 2024, marks the late Satoru Iwata's 65th birthday.
The legendary President of Nintendo, who held the position from May 2002 until his passing in July 2015, touched the hearts of many while he was the head of the company, revered for his passion for video games, his ability to capture joy, and his humour.
Iwata rose through Nintendo after first working at HAL Laboratory, working as a part-time programmer in 1980 before becoming a coordinator of software production in 1983. From there, he helped build a relationship with Nintendo and went on to become HAL's president in 1993.
In the following six years, he turned around the studio's debts and even helped Nintendo on the side, helping out on Pokémon Gold & Silver, Pokémon Stadium, and Super Smash Bros. He joined Nintendo officially in 2000, before taking over as president in 2002 after Hiroshi Yamauchi retired.
Across social media, fans have been celebrating the beloved ex-President's birthday
Earlier this year, Smash creator Masahiro Sakurai shared a video celebrating his friendship with the late Iwata, sharing his memories of working with the man himself.
Happy birthday, Iwata-san! Your memories and work live on, and you will never be forgotten by the millions who love you.
Share your favourite Iwata moments with us in the comments.
Comments 32
He left us way too soon!
Gone way too soon, but definitely not forgotten by so many me included - thank you for everything Iwata-san!
Man, I wish he was still around to this day. The industry needs more people like him. The world in general needs more of his spirit.
9 years have come and gone and it still hurts
Satoru İwata İ miss you so much. He was so a good man.
He was everything for Nintendo and worked very hard did many things for Nintendo.
How he was talking in Nintendo Direct presentations was so awesome and he did the presentation unboxing the Nintendo Wii U.
Damn it, why'd he have to be so loveable. He reminded me a bit of my high school computing/IPT teacher (God rest his soul) who truly understood me like so few (if anyone) ever had, and he'd occasionally pull my ear when I was naughty. 😅
Basically what I'm saying is, in a better time and place, I wish I could have had a chance to give Iwata-san a hug too, because my arms beckon whenever I see him, as silly as it may sound.
Oh boy, time to roll up into a ball and cry like a sad bitch again
Really miss this guy, he's the only big boss of Nintendo that makes the Nintendo Direct fun to watch. Well him and the Regginator. May you found peace Iwata-san.
Your memory lives on, beautiful man 🧡
People like Iwata seem to come around only once every so often. I wish he were still around too. Poor guy did not to go the way he did. Or as soon as he did. He deserved to have seen the Switch's success and to have worked on its successor, and to have worked on so many more games, to have shown his humor in so many more Nintendo Directs. But more importantly, he deserved to have had so many more years to just enjoy life.
Happy 65th Mr. Iwata, wish you were still on this planet to celebrate it.
That was pretty sad. Poor guy had a bile duct infection and they tried saving him but it just wasn't enough. He contributed to many of my favorite games. 😔
Happiest of birthdays to you, Iwata-san.
Wish he was around to see the switch he would have loved it.
Nintendo was never the same without him. I think about Iwata pretty much every time I fire up a game.
We'll not see his like again.
For those who misses Satoru Iwata I have three recommendations:
1. The book about the man:
"Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's Legendary CEO"
https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Iwata-Wisdom-Nintendos-Legendary/dp/197472154X
2. Iwatas own interviews: Iwata Asks
"Iwata Asks is a series of interviews conducted by former Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata with key creators behind the making of Nintendo games and hardware."
https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/
3. Muppet Iwata & Co from E3 2015:
https://youtu.be/vVJOwZtgSGA?si=1yiCgnLgrQVm2Ue9
I would love to watch a Muppets TV-series based on Nintendo history and headquarters! (Both set in the real world and game world.)
Still sad about it, gone way way too soon
A loss for the Japan game community. Same age as my mom who also passed from cancer not long after he did.
And next year will mark ten years since his passing.sniff😞😭
Happy 65th birthday mister Iwata.❤️
@Coolmusic
Wow 10 years? Good God stop making me feel old! I feel like whistler from those blade movies. Somebody get me a damn wheelchair! 😉
I'm not crying your crying...
Nvm we're all crying
@Lofoten I am glad you mentioned the book Iwata Asks. I bought and read it: he truly was an amazing person.
Happy birthday Iwata-san, you beautiful soul. <3 Gonna listen to Smiles and Tears and watch some retrospectives on him, no doubt with my own literal smiles and tears. Hope you're looking down on us with as much love as we have for you.
Thank you for everything, Iwata-san.
Miss this legend!
I miss this man so much.
I know the kind of the whole point of the Nintendo Directs was so Nintendo could stage manage every facet of their own appearance to the public, but Satoru never seemed like anything less than absolutely genuine in his humanity whenever he was on. He was the best of the company, and the best of the wider industry. We were so lucky to have him.
Every time I watch that tribute video on YouTube my eyes get all watery. This man has touched the lives of many and his legacy continues to live on. He had a great way of managing the company and valued each member of his teams. He is sorely missed and it was probably my favourite era of Nintendo, with all the whacky Nintendo Directs and Reggie on the other side of the pond.
My favorite memory is this phrase:
On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a computer programmer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.
I'll never forget that no matter where I go or what I do. It speaks to me. Happy Birthday, Iwata-san, thank you, and RIP.
Every day is a painful reminder that I'll never get the chance to meet my hero...
I highly encourage everyone to buy thr "Ask Iwata" book if you haven't already. I'm not an avid reader at all (despite how much I write), but it was well worth it. Honestly made me shed a few tears...
I have a picture of him hanging next to my desk in my office. He was such an inspiration and his work ethic was impeccable. Anytime I feel stuck or discouraged his picture is there to remind me to try my best at everything I do and to do it with pride and a smile.
Too bad he hasn’t been able to see the switch go absolutely bonkers.
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