Masayuki Kato, the founder of Nihon Falcom, passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday, December 15, 2024. The cause of his death has not been disclosed yet.
Kato founded the game development company Nihon Falcom in 1981 when he was 34 years old. The company is renowned for creating the Ys and Legend of Heroes series, which have been pivotal in shaping the action RPG genre. The name “Nihon Falcom” was inspired by the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.
Kato served as the president of Falcom from its inception until 2001, after which he took on the role of chairman of the board of directors. Under his leadership, both the Legend of Heroes series, particularly its Trails subseries, and the Ys series have gained international recognition and success across multiple platforms, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success.
In their announcement of his passing, Falcom expressed their condolences to Kato’s family and mentioned that only close relatives are allowed to attend the funeral. They also requested that people refrain from sending flowers, incense, or other gifts at this time. A memorial event is being planned for the future, with details to be shared later.
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