Current Events > Miyamoto Opens Up in New Book about Missing Late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata

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https://ign.com/articles/2019/07/23/shigeru-miyamoto-opens-up-in-new-book-about-missing-late-nintendo-president-satoru-iwata

Iwata-san, a book published today in Japan by Hobonichi, includes a new interview with Mario creator Miyamoto on how he remembers Iwata, who passed away in 2015. A similar interview with Shigesato Itoi, the creator of Earthbound and founder of Hobonichi, is included as well.

To me, he was a friend more than anything, Miyamoto says. It never felt like he was my boss or that I was working under him. He never got angry; we never fought about anything.

Miyamaoto says it was never a point of friction that Iwata, who was seven years Miyamotos junior, became his boss. Normally, if someone younger than yourself with fewer years of experience becomes president, it might be difficult to get along with each other, but it was never like that. It had always been obvious that he was more suited for the position (than me), so it never became a problem. I think it allowed us to naturally become true friends.

While Miyamoto and Iwata seldom worked on a game together (Pokmon Snap, an idea they conceived together, being one of the exceptions), the two shared opinions over lunch on a daily basis.

Miyamoto still remembers one of their first meals together. Iwata, who was running Kirby and Smash Bros developer HAL Lab at the time, was in Kyoto to work on a project. Late at night, they went for a bowl of ramen.

Nintendo doesnt pay for social expenses, so we had to go Dutch on the bill, says Miyamoto. That became a tradition that lasted even after he became company president and I became an executive.

Miyamoto remembers how Iwata used to call himself a Miyamoto watcher, and how he was known to recall Miyamotos quotes better than the Mario creator himself.

Since he passed away, Nintendo has been doing just fine, says Miyamoto. He left many words and structures that live on in the work of our younger employees today. The only problem is that, if there is some good-for-nothing idea I come up with over the weekend, I have no one to share it with the next Monday. That I can no longer hear him say Oh, about that thing is a bit of a problem for me. It makes me sad.

Monday lunches with Miyamoto must have been one of Iwatas favorite things, Shigesato Itoi says.

Itoi recalls how Iwata once came to his office in Tokyo to ask Itoi to become an advisor for HAL Lab.

Iwata said that the vision behind his business was to make everyone happy: himself, his friends at work, and his customers, says Itoi. He used the English word for happy instead of the Japanese word, which charmed me. Its funny how you remember the most insignificant things, but whenever Iwata used the word happy, he would show you the palms of both of his hands. Thats something I dont think Ill ever forget.

Iwatas conversations with Miyamoto over lunch were full of ideas on how to make people happy. When Nintendos previous Hiroshi Yamauchi, who passed away in 2013, requested the development of a gaming device with two screens, Iwata and Miyamoto were left wondering how to realize the idea, but they figured it out at the parking lot of an Italian restaurant they frequented. That idea later became a worldwide phenomenon known as the Nintendo DS.

On the day of Iwatas funeral, it rained in torrents, and Miyamoto and I were waiting around, says Itoi. Suddenly I decided to ask him how much chance Iwata himself had believed he had to be cured. Miyamoto responded immediately, in a very natural manner. He totally believed that he would become better. He didnt have the slightest intention to die. That answer made me realize just how close Miyamoto and Iwata were, and to what extent they understood each other.

What a cool guy. He really is missed.
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Darmik posted...

When Nintendos previous Hiroshi Yamauchi, who passed away in 2013, requested the development of a gaming device with two screens, Iwata and Miyamoto were left wondering how to realize the idea, but they figured it out at the parking lot of an Italian restaurant they frequented

Damn
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It's sad that Iwata didn't think he would die. How heartbreaking.
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Man, it's been 4 years already. I miss seeing him in the Directs.
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I was always surprised at how happy Iwata seemed. It's nice to know that was the real man instead of just a persona for business purposes.

This may be by design but it seems like such a well intentioned, sincere company. I almost can't believe it, but I haven't seen anything to the contrary and they deliver great value over the long haul.
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It really is a shame he wasn't able to live to see the success the Switch has become.
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I think if he was alive for the Switch it would have more of a personality (shop music for example). I think that stuff was all Iwata.

The whole taking off a joycon to give to a friend is totally his lane too. I wonder if he was around for that.
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Yeah there's a reason I haven't changed a part of my sig since his death. A guy like him needs to be remembered forever
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Darmik posted...

I think if he was alive for the Switch it would have more of a personality (shop music for example). I think that stuff was all Iwata.

The whole taking off a joycon to give to a friend is totally his lane too. I wonder if he was around for that.

It would've also had an actual virtual console.
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If he's missing how do they know he's actually dead