Masayuki Kato, Founder of Nihon-Falcom Dies At 78

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Summary

  • Founder Masayuki Kato of Nihon-Falcom passed away at age 78.
  • A farewell event is planned but the date is not set.
  • Kato founded Nihon-Falcom in 1981 with a focus on PC games, later expanding to consoles.

As a dedicated gamer who grew up with the legendary Ys and The Legend of Heroes series, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss upon hearing about the passing of Masayuki Kato, the visionary founder of Nihon-Falcom. His games were not just a part of my childhood, they were an escape, a journey into fantastical worlds that captivated my imagination and fueled countless hours of joy.

It’s with sadness that we share news about Nihon Falcom, the renowned studio behind popular role-playing game franchises like Ys and The Legend of Heroes. Sadly, its founder and ex-president, Masayuki Kato, has passed away at the age of 78.

On their official website, the company posted an announcement and wrote a formal letter in response. This letter hinted at an upcoming goodbye event, but no date has been set as of now.

Nihon-Falcom Founder Masayuki Kato Dies At 78

We’ve included an excerpt of the letter, which has been translated below via DeepL:

Notice of Passing Away of Chairman of the Board and Changes in Directors (Obituary)

On December 15, 2024, Masayuki Kato, our company’s founder and Chairperson of the Board, sadly passed away and stepped down from his position as a board member on that very day.

Let me rephrase that for a more natural flow: It’s our pleasure to convey our heartfelt thanks for the kindness and support you showed him throughout his life. In essence, we’re saying thank you for your kindness and support he received during his lifetime.

Let me seize this moment to convey our heartfelt thanks for the generosity you showed throughout his life.

The company’s statement additionally noted that Kato’s family prefers the funeral and goodbye event to be private, limited to immediate family members only. Furthermore, they kindly ask for no condolences, floral arrangements, gifts, or other similar expressions of sympathy at this time.

Additionally, the letter suggests there’s a plan for a goodbye gathering at an unspecified time, with further information still pending.

Masayuki Kato established the video game company Falcom (originally spelled with an “n” but changed to “m” for contemporary naming conventions due to being inspired by Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon) back in 1981. Initially specializing in PC games, Falcom shifted its focus towards console releases in the 2000s. The latest game from this studio, Ys X: Nordics, was slated for US release in retail stores by September 2023.

In 2001, Masayuki Kato relinquished his position as the company’s president. He was subsequently replaced by Shinji Yamazaki, and later on, Toshihiro Kondo took over as the current president. Despite stepping down from his role as president, Masayuki Kato continued to serve within the company as the chairman of the board of directors until his passing.

At TopMob, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family of Kato, as well as to all those who are mourning his departure.

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2024-12-18 01:38