Smash Bros. Creator Masahiro Sakurai Doesn’t Want Japan to “Americanize” Video Games
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March 26, 2025
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of the video games Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, was recently given the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Art Encouragement Prize (courtesy of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs) for his YouTube channel “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games.” After the ceremony, the press asked him about the future of the video game industry in Japan.
“Japanese people should forge ahead with making things Japanese people like,” he answered. “Up until recently, because various games were popular in America, there was an idea that we should make Americanized games, that there was a de facto standard to meet. But there are a surprisingly large number of people overseas who like Japanese games, and what they’re hoping for is not Japanese games that have been Americanized, but the unique fun and enjoyment of games from Japan.”
There’s been a debate in Japan about whether or not to take Western (especially American) culture into consideration when making anime, manga, or video games. Some Japanese companies have even lost their businesses because Western credit cards refuse to work with them over some of their more controversial titles. For an example of someone trying to avoid this type of controversy, in 2024 the executive overseeing Disney’s anime work said, “The fundamental storytelling and precision of action in anime have not changed, but there may be a shift toward adopting more universally acceptable expressions. It’s important that content is accessible and does not offend or mislead viewers, especially as we distribute to a larger market.”
Sakurai, however, disagrees with this Disney executive’s approach. He also said after the ceremony, “I think the ideal is to make games in the style that you like, so that other people who like that style can enjoy them.”
When prompted for advice for young people wanting to follow in his footsteps as a game creator, he counseled, “Create something, then show it to somebody. Have them play it, get feedback, and then make something again.”
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
Danica Davidson
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