Mr. Satoru Iwata is one of the most influential individuals in all of gaming history. Iwata's passing in 2015 sent shockwaves through not only the gaming industry (as he was the fourth president and CEO of Nintendo), but through the entertainment and the business world, as his gentle hand was one that many felt both directly and indirectly. One very small way that his voice was heard was through his Iwata Asks series, in which he interviewed Nintendo colleagues about video games, hardware, and other aspects of the company, and even beyond. Many fans enjoyed the series; it ran from 2006 up until his death.
Last year it was revealed that Viz Media was working on an Iwata Asks book. Titled Ask Iwata: Words of Wisdom from Nintendo’s Legendary CEO, the book now has a release date and also is receiving an English translation.
Nintendo fans can look forward to a hardcover release of the book on April 13, 2021. The book is now available for pre-order for as low as $22.99 USD from retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Books-A-Million. Although the holiday period now passed, the book could be a wonderful gift for a fan of Iwata, or anyone who is simply interested in learning more about the history of one of the most important men in the company. Nintendo grew an exponential amount from 2002 to 2015 (the time in which Iwata was in charge). Iwata's influence was all over the Nintendo DS and the Wii, and his Iwata Asks series covered so much of this, so the book likely will as well.
It has been over five years since the passing of Iwata, something that is still very hard for many Nintendo fans to fully accept. Between the E3 stage presentations, the Nintendo Directs, and the Iwata Asks series, it is still tough to imagine him not being a part of Nintendo on a day-to-day basis. This book being brought directly to fans is a nice way to keep his legacy alive.
Game developers and fans have done their best to keep the memory of Iwata alive. Finding out about the abrupt loss via social media or in-game memorials in Splatoon was shocking for so many. And since then, developers have creatively added him in-game, like Iwata being in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for example.
Nintendo has been left in good hands, both with individuals who worked side-by-side with Mr. Satoru Iwata and younger talent that has since taken over. But for fans who grew up with Nintendo, it is still a tough pill to swallow to think about Iwata's passing. Because of this, the low barrier of entry for a hardcover release for a bit of history, nostalgia, and Nintendo magic is something that many will likely consider.
Source: Viz