1. Iwata Asks His Former Employee

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

That’s right.

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

Yes.

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

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

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

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

That sounds like a good idea.

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?

Nineteen years old.

Wow, just nineteen!?

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

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...

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

Right. Let’s get started then.

Okay.