Takehiro Izushi has retired from Nintendo after 43 years

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Legendary Nintendo producer Takehiro Izushi has announced his retirement from the video games behemoth after 43 years. Izushi-san, 65, joined the Mario maker in 1975 as an engineer before progressing into game development, where he spearheaded a number of Nintendo’s biggest properties. 

His first project was Beam Gun Custom before programming a variety of Color TV Game projects throughout the late 70s, after which he soon jumped ship to Donkey Kong for Game & Watch, as well as cutting his teeth on both Game & Watch Gallery titles. 

Eventually, Izushi was promoted to General Manager of Nintendo R&D1 following the departure of Gunpei Yokoi in 1997, and notched up credits on Kirby’s Dreamland, Wario Land II, Pokemon Red & Blue, Wario Land III, and Star Wars Episode 1: Racer.

Izushi took a back seat in game development towards the end of his career with the Big N, assuming a role at the company’s General Affairs Division in 2014. One of his last major credited roles was on Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS as a Supervisor. 

Thanks for the memories, Mr. Izushi!

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