Bandai Namco Holdings announced on the 24th that Shukuo Ishikawa, former president of the company and creator of the hit arcade game Gator Panic, passed away on September 9th at the age of 69.

In their announcement, the company stated, "We regret to inform you that former president of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. and former president of Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., Shukuo Ishikawa, passed away on September 9th, 2024, at the age of 69. We are deeply grateful for the support and kindness shown to him during his lifetime."

The statement continued, "The wake and funeral were held privately with close relatives, and we waited until after the memorial service to share the news of his passing. Due to the family's wishes, we kindly decline any floral tributes, offerings, condolences, or visits. We sincerely appreciate your understanding." It also mentioned that a memorial service in honor of the late Ishikawa would be held at a later date.

Born on April 15, 1955, in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Ishikawa graduated from Kansai University’s Faculty of Literature with a major in German literature in 1978, the same year he joined Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment). At Namco, he held several positions, including Director of the Second Development Department and Managing Director of Research and Production. In 2006, he became president of Bandai Namco Games (now Bandai Namco Entertainment) and was appointed president of Bandai Namco Holdings in 2009.

Gator Panic was one of Ishikawa’s iconic creations during his time in Namco’s arcade game division, with the game debuting in 1989. The project initially faced rejection, but Ishikawa used cardboard and slippers to create a prototype, which eventually led to the game’s approval and development.

Ishikawa is also credited with leading the recovery of the Bandai Namco Group through his “IP Axis Strategy.” Following the 2005 merger of Bandai and Namco, the group struggled to adapt to changing market demands, leading to significant losses by the end of the 2010 fiscal year. As president of both Bandai Namco Holdings and Bandai Namco Games, Ishikawa spearheaded the "Restart Plan" to transform the group, emphasizing speed and innovation. His IP Axis Strategy, which remains at the core of the group, significantly improved the company’s performance.

Internally, Ishikawa empowered his teams by delegating authority and motivating employees with the message, "Let’s go wild with energy!" He encouraged a culture of creativity and boldness, pushing his teams to explore new ideas and take risks.

BANDAI NAMCO Official Site(JP)

Source : ORICON NEWS