I made this post over a year ago, and it made it into a poster which Mr Iwata received at the hospital when he was recovering last year, a poster that many of us took part in, from the bottom of our hearts. It might not be appropriate to put this in the other thread, so I will say it here out of respect; Mr. Iwata knew that no matter what critics or shareholders said, there were people all over the world that genuinely believed in him and cared about his well-being; he never doubted himself yet acted with respect and humbleness (Man cut his paycheck in half). He was a leader in every sense of the word.
When you are in a position with high stakes, it's hard to shake everything off, but every kind thought and word can help someone get through it. Mr. Iwata bounced back as much as he could, and was responsible for a lot of great things in the last year of his life, including making the company profitable once more. In an industry filled with drama, tension, politics, and cynics, it's important to know that the people involved are REAL people; they laugh, they cry, they live, and yes, they die. May there always be room in it for kind words, love, and respect. Mr. Iwata will be missed and is missed, and the industry needs more people like him.