Tomonobu Itagaki dies at age 58

Tomonobu Itagaki, the former Tecmo director who created the Dead or Alive series, as well as the modern NINJA GAIDEN series in 2004, has passed away. He was 58 years old.

The following message was posted today on Itagaki’s Facebook page:

My Last Words

The light of my life is finally about to fade.

The fact that this message has been posted means that the time has come at last. I am no longer in this world.

(This final message was entrusted to someone dear to me.)

My life was a series of battles. I kept on winning.

I also caused a lot of trouble.

I take pride in having fought through to the end according to my own convictions.

I have no regrets.

However, I am filled with sorrow that I was unable to deliver a new work to my fans. I’m sorry.

That’s how it is.

So it goes.

—Tomonobu Itagaki