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Video Game World Offers Condolences After Developer Tomonobu Itagaki's Passing

I've wanted to ask Tomonobu Itagaki one day if it's true that Hitomi, who debuted in Dead or Alive 3, is based on Hilary Swank from The Next Karate Kid.

What a shame…

Yoshifuru Okamoto-san, who created games with me at TEAM NINJA, is someone I owe a debt of gratitude to. He said, "Welcome to the game industry," to me in 2022 when our company became a game publisher.
I've met him numerous times both professionally and personally, and I've always asked him for stories about Itagaki-san.
I think Yoshifuru-san said my personality was "direct and to the point," but he also said Itagaki-san was "the first person to be like that," which made me happy and I felt a sense of kinship with him.
Later, I had the chance to meet Itagaki-san himself, and he gave me a friend request on Facebook.
When I DM'ed him to thank him, he replied, "Let's go out to eat when you're in Tokyo," which renewed my kinship even more, and I thought we would for sure meet again someday.
I'm saddened by his passing.

The word of Tomonobu Itagaki-san's passing. It invokes memories of when I was a new graduate. In the three months of new employee training at Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture, Itagaki-san gave us an assignment as a special lecturer. I brashly wrote something critical of the company and turned in it (the brazenness of youth 😅). After a few days, I was summoned to Ichigaya [to Koei Tecmo's headquarters] by myself.

I was going to be scolded for sure, but I was determined to make my point no matter how important he was, so I skipped my training and found myself alone in a closed room at the company with Itagaki-san. He listened to the story of this insufferably brash new graduate, acknowledged my point, and then scolded me by saying, "Dream bigger." It's a memory I cherish even now.
May he rest in peace.

>RP I offer my deepest condolences on the passing of Tomonobu Itagaki-san. We weren't in contact through work, but a while back, Itagaki-san told me, "Let's meet up," and we went out to eat.
He asked about my thoughts on game development, and also told me about himself… He imparted these words to me, "Please keep creating with the dedication that got you here so far."

I mourn the passing of Tomonobu Itagaki-san and offer my deepest condolences.
I didn't have the chance to meet him in person, but we did exchange words numerous times online.
As someone engaged in game development in the same era, and as a fan who loved his works, I offer my deepest respect.