1. Iwata Asks His Former Employee

Sakurai:

So this is for the “Iwata Asks” interviews, right?

Iwata:

That’s right.

Sakurai:

In other words, this is where you, the president of Nintendo, interview the developers working for Nintendo.

Iwata:

Yes.

Sakurai:

Is it okay for me to be here since I’m not a Nintendo employee?

Iwata:

Of course, you’re my former employee, after all.

Sakurai:

That’s right! (laughs) So it’s the “Iwata Asks His Former Employee Interview,” then.

Iwata:

Actually, maybe I should first explain how I came to be your former boss.

Sakurai:

That sounds like a good idea.

Iwata:

Of course. (laughs) So Sakurai-kun1 and I use this form of address purposefully, since I was your first boss after you came to HAL Laboratory and started working in the gaming industry - remind me how old were you at that time?

Sakurai:

Nineteen years old.

Iwata:

Wow, just nineteen!?

Sakurai:

Right. Still young and full of energy. (laughs)

Iwata Asks
Iwata:

So, you and I, the two of us, took on an assignment to develop the prototype for the original Super Smash Bros. for N64, and since I had worked as president of HAL Laboratory before becoming president at Nintendo...

Sakurai:

...it’s the “Iwata Asks His Former Employee Interview.”

Iwata:

Right. Let’s get started then.

Sakurai:

Okay.