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It’s not Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. It’s not Wii mastermind Genyo Takeda. It’s the company’s former Managing Director and current Nintendo Human Resources head Tatsumi Kimishima.


Nintendo made the announcement today in Japan.

The company’s previous president, Satoru Iwata, passed away earlier this year.

Kimishima was Nintendo of America’s president from 2002 to 2006 and succeeded by Reggie Fils-Aime. Prior to that, he worked at Sanwa Bank in Japan for nearly three decades. He was also the Chief Financial Officer of the Pokemon Company and later, the president of the company’s US arm.


The official statement lists Nintendo exec Shigeru Miyamoto as a “Creative Fellow,” while fellow exec Genyo Takeda is a “Technology Fellow.” Both remain senior managing directors as well as representative directors at the company.

At a press conference today in Osaka, Kimishima is quoted by Nikkei as saying, “There will be no change in President Iwata’s fundamental objectives and strategies.”

For future plans, Kimishima said he aims to establish, along with Miyamoto and Takeda, “a next generation of collective leadership.” Kimishima said, “The theme will be new projects as well as nurturing talented people.”

Starting September 16, Kimishima’s role as Nintendo Co. Ltd.’s representative director is effective.


Top photo: Bloomberg via Getty

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft .



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