Iwata Asks is a series of interviews conducted by former Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata with key creators behind the making of Nintendo games and hardware.





Special Edition: Creative Small Talk

The Origin of Responsibility

Itoi

To summarize everything we've talked about, it seems like Miyamoto-san had an extreme sense of responsibility even back when he was the low man on the totem pole.

Miyamoto

I'd say that's right.

Iwata

Basically Miyamoto-san has always looked at things from an executive's perspective.

Itoi

That's true. But why? What's up with that?

Miyamoto

Uh...

Itoi

Maybe you've always had this really intense sense of ownership; that idea that you were the one doing the work, so it was only natural to feel responsible for it.

Miyamoto

Uh..., well, I think it comes from the fact that I wanted to be a cartoonist, way back when.

Itoi

A cartoonist?

Miyamoto

Yes. For an aspiring cartoonist, it's all about how much response you get for the cartoons you've drawn, right?

Itoi

Oh, so you mean that your work is directly related to how much how many people support it. Making video games is the same way.

Iwata

So you've always worked with the idea that it's all up to you whether your work can entertain the others or not.

Miyamoto

I suppose it was a matter of fact for me.

Itoi

Oh, I guess that makes sense.

Iwata

I agree.

Itoi

And then the fact that it has your name on it instills a certain sense of responsibility. "Written by Osamu Tezuka," for example. You're conscious of the fact that it will say "Made by Shigeru Miyamoto."

Miyamoto

That's right.