Yoshio Sakamoto

Sakamoto in 2021.

Yoshio Sakamoto Current employee of Nintendo Company Limited, having worked mainly in the development department during his time with the company. Sakamoto is originally from Nara, Japan. After graduating from the Osaka University of Arts, he officially joined Nintendo in 1982, initially working as a Graphic Artist for the Research & Development 1 Division. His first prize work was designing early Game & Watch software, which quickly shifted to designing Famicom titles. Since then, Sakamoto has worked on an eclectic and varied catalog of software that never fails to surprise his audience. ➥ Extended Profile Sakamoto was born in Nara, Japan in 1959. Sakamoto's hobbies include reading, music appreciation, and video editing. Sakamoto was drawn to Nintendo because of his love for their toys and gadgets. Sakamoto began his career at the company designing pixel art for Game & Watch. Sakamoto emerged as an auteur on the Nintendo Entertainment System, as lead designer on titles like Wrecking Crew, Balloon Fight and Gumshoe. On the advice of his boss Gunpei Yokoi, Sakamoto began injecting deeper story-lines into a unique catalog of games that unfortunately were never released outside Japan. Sakamoto's most famous work revolves around the Metroid series. While he joined the original team during mid-development, Sakamoto was pivotal in redesigning the map and shifting the mechanics from straight forward action to item based exploration. Most recently, his responsibilities have been producing several series including WarioWare, Rhythm Tengoku, and Miitomo.

Work History Manager / Producer Nintendo Co., Ltd. January 2004 - Present Developer Nintendo Co., Ltd. April 1982 - Present BA, Faculty of Visual Design Osaka University of Arts Fall 1978 – Spring 1982

Notable Works Metroid: Samus Returns (2017) - Producer Metroid Prime: Federation Force (2016) - Special Adviser Miitomo (2016) - Producer Rhythm Tengoku: The Best + (2015) - General Producer Tomodachi Collection 2 (2013) - Producer Game & Wario (2013) - Producer Kiki Trick (2012) - Supervisor Everybody's Rhythm Tengoku (2011) - General Producer Metroid: Other M (2010) - Producer, Director Card Hero: Speed Battle Custom (2009) - Producer WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase (2009) - Producer WarioWare: D.I.Y. (2009) - Producer Tomodachi Collection (2009) - Producer Rhythm Tengoku Gold (2008) - General Producer Nintendo DS Digital TV Tuner (2007) - Producer High-Speed Card Battle: Card Hero (2007) - Producer Everybody Votes Channel (2007) - Producer WarioWare: Smooth Moves! (2006) - Producer Mii Channel (2006) - Producer Rhythm Tengoku (2006) - Producer Play-Yan (2005) - Producer WarioWare: Touched! (2004) - Producer WarioWare: Twisted! (2004) - Producer Metroid: Zero Mission (2004) - Director Metroid Fusion (2002) - Director Wario Land 4 (2001) - Supervisor Tottoko Hamtaro: Tomodachi Daisakusen Dechu (2000) - Director Trade & Battle: Card Hero (2000) - Director Famicom Tantei Club 2: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shōjo (SNES) (1998) - Director Game Boy Camera (Included Games) (1998) - Designer BS Tantei Club: Yuki ni Kieta Kako (1997) - Producer TeleroBoxer (1995) - Director Super Metroid (1994) - Director X (1992) - Director Kaeru No Tame Ni Kane Wa Naru (1992) - Scenario Designer Balloon Kid (1990) - Director Famicom Tantei Club 2: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shōjo (1989) - Scenario Designer Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Kōkeisha (1988) - Director Miho Nakayama's Tokimeki High School (1987) - Director Kid Icarus (1986) - Designer Metroid (1986) - Designer Gumshoe (1986) - Director Wrecking Crew (1985) - Designer Balloon Fight (1985) - Designer VS. Balloon Fight (1984) - Designer VS. Wrecking Crew (1984) - Designer Donkey Kong Circus (GW) (1984) - Designer Mario's Bombs Away (GW) (1983) - Designer Snoopy (G&W) (1983) - Designer Donkey Kong Jr. (ARC) (1982) - Designer Donkey Kong (G&W) (1982) - Designer

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INFOBOX
Profile: Yoshio Sakamoto / 坂本 賀勇 / さかもと よしお
Company: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Source: Game Credits. Japan Media Archives. Kyoto Report Investigative Methods.
Author: Kyoto Ninja

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