Satoru Iwata passed away two years ago

[Rösti]

The last officially released photo of Mr. Iwata. Dated June 23, 2015.

On July 11, 2015, Satoru Iwata passed away in the wake of cholangiocarcinoma. The Japanese clock just turned to July 11, 2017, marking two years since the departure of our friend. Let us take a moment to remember Mr. Iwata and everything that has happened since he left us.

Original thread: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1078826
Press release: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2015/150713e.pdf

Some photos from the funeral

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In memory of Mr. Iwata.

 

[LordOcidax]

Time flies so fast..... RIP.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

His death made me quite depressed for a few days. RIP Iwata

 

[Tom Nook]

Sad times

RIP

 

[ksamedi]

A brilliant man. I wish he had lived to see the succes of the Switch.

 

[Blackquill]

His last photo still frightens me, cancer really sucks

 

[SovanJedi]

Poor Mr. Iwata. He is dearly missed. Such a lovely gentleman and a great CEO. You were too young.

Also, fuck cancer.

 

[BY2K]

I wish he was there to see the success of his last system.

 

[Kyzer]

Immediately broke into tears

 

[Realeza]

Bless his soul. The man was a true legend.

 

[sloppyjoe_gamer]

RIP

I miss him dropping the bomb at the Nintendo conferences

 

[takriel]

What a brilliant man he was. His contribution to the gaming landscape will never be forgotten.

 

[Raptomex]

RIP. Is that pic in the OP how he looked in his final days?

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

I don't like that last photo of him. He's so thin and gaunt. Reminds me of Steve Jobs' gradual decline.

 

[Okami Haundo]

R.I.P. Iwata... ='(

 

[gblues]

I had a sad when I saw he got an Executive Producer credit in Breath of the Wild.

RIP Iwata-san. So long, and thanks for all the games.

 

[marmoka]

I wish he was there to see the success of his last system.

This

 

[LinkSlayer64]

Floating above the clouds with Kirby in Dreamland.

 

[Tom Nook]

His last photo still frightens me, cancer really sucks

Yeah. We notice in his last few Direct appearances, he got thinner every time.

 

[Arex]

Time flies fast indeed :\

Fuck cancer

 

[Peltz]

Wish he could have seen the success of Pokemon Go and the Switch. He set Nintendo on a course for success before leaving us.

Thanks again for all the memories. RIP.

 

[Majmun]

Damn, this was two years ago already?

Was he involved with the Switch? He should be proud.

 

[OfficerRaichu15]

You are the man Iwata.
May you be remembered for years to come

 

[akashhhhh]

Yeah. We notice in his last few Direct appearances, he got thinner every time.

It really hit me when I realized why they used the Iwata muppet during the E3 direct that year. Seemed so whimsical at the time.

 

[+Aliken+]

Looking at the OP of the original thread makes me cry.

 

[dc89]

I remember reading the news whilst on holiday.
Getting back to my room and opening twitter and, seeing the news and reading it all gave me a real kick in the groin kind of feeling

 

[-shadow-]

Two years already? Well time really flew by. It's still weird whenever I see his name roll by in a game, curious how he would've handled Nintendo as it is now with the success of Pokémon Go, the Switch and the rest that they're doing.

And I truly miss the Iwata Asks, those were so great!

 

[Steroyd]

Woah! I thought he passed away last year, where did that year go.

At least Nintendo are thriving off his legacy.

 

[Zalman]

Never has the passing of a person I've never met before hit me so hard.

 

[Sgt. Kabukiman]

He did so much for Nintendo and videogames in general. The Wii and DS era was incredible and the DS is my favorite gaming system ever. And his appearances in the Directs were always a lot of fun. I hope he's having a good time with Gunpei in videogame heaven.

 

[Neoxon]

Amazing how quickly time flies, even now it still stings. It's sad that he couldn't live to see the success of the Switch.

Rest In Peace, Iwata. Also, fuck cancer.

 

[maxcriden]

He was an incredible person. I'm inspired by his kindness and creativity, his generosity of spirit and warmth.

It really hit me when I realized why they used the Iwata muppet during the E3 direct that year. Seemed so whimsical at the time.

For what it's worth, I don't believe it was ever confirmed that the muppet use was at all related to any lessened ability to appear in the video himself. That's not to say it wasn't the case, just to say we don't know. Especially since IIRC his passing came as unexpected to his peers.

 

[Erv]

I hope this isn't a weird question but how do the Japanese deal with death? do they tend to dwell on it or no? I know their culture is different than american culture. It seemed like Miyamoto or any other nintendo developers who I would assume were close to him wasn't affected much.

 

[Grylvak]

I remember when I heard the news of Mr. Iwata's passing. I thought my friend was joking and couldn't really believe him at first. Mr. Iwata has, and will continue to be missed. I wish he could have seen where the Switch is now.

R.I.P

 

[IceMarker]

Rest in peace Mr. Iwata, you deserve good rest for all the work you did and the fun you provided to the world that followed it.

Another anniversary to remember a good man.

 

[Japanmanx3]

Wow. 2 years. Still aches. RIP to the greatest!

 

[RoadHazard]

One day early, no? Pretty sure it's July 10 today.

But yeah, wow, time flies. Your smile will never be forgotten.

 

[Always-honest]

Wow, 2 years already?
Well, still have the avatar.

 

[Erv]

He was an incredible person. I'm inspired by his kindness and creativity, his generosity of spirit and warmth.



For what it's worth, I don't believe it was ever confirmed that the muppet use was at all related to any lessened ability to appear in the video himself. That's not to say it wasn't the case, just to say we don't know. Especially since IIRC his passing came as unexpected to his peers.

after finding out he was sick I assumed they didn't want to show him in his current state. I assume he looked even worse than the photo in the OP.

 

[N.Grim]

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

It'll probably take another few anniversary days for me to get over this.

 

[AquaWateria]

Man is it really hard to go back to that thread.

He was seriously the GOAT. He made my childhood wonderful.

RIP to one of the best game developer.

 

[chugen]

didnt we just get the one year thread. pls slow down time.

and rip..

 

[NintendoGal]

WHY WHY did you have to remind me!!!

Just last week I was looking over that 3DS message he sent me and was sad yet again.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

One day early, no? Pretty sure it's July 10 today.

But yeah, wow, time flies. Your smile will never be forgotten.

It's past midnight in Japan, I think is the reasoning.

But yeah, still weird to think on him being gone. His Directs are still so clear in my mind, and his approach to engagement with fans lingers. That he didn't get to see the Switch bear fruit is extra frustrating and sad - can't help but imagine him going on till his final moments, trying to figure out how to save the company's longterm future.

By god, he did it.

 

[jts]

Huge loss.

Earned his place as one of the biggest legends in the industry. Paired with being an incredible person by all accounts.

His seemingly final project and ideas earned Nintendo a strong footing into the future when times looked dire. So glad the Switch is doing great.

RIP

 

[Rösti]

RIP. Is that pic in the OP how he looked in his final days?

Yes, it's the last photo of him released to the public. I seemed to have forgotten to include that in the OP, but have done so now.

 

[Zalman]

I hope this isn't a weird question but how do the Japanese deal with death? do they tend to dwell on it or no? I know their culture is different than american culture. It seemed like Miyamoto or any other nintendo developers who I would assume were close to him wasn't affected much.

There have been signs of the developers being affected. The BotW team recently mentioned it (as it happened during the development). Miyamoto and Ishihara from TPC have also both talked about Iwata several times since then.

 

[Shiggy]

He greeted me today in these credits.

 

[NSESN]

It's incredible that he was still heavily involved in the 2 biggest success that Nintendo had in the last years with Pokemon Go and Switch.