Nintendo has announced that Takashi Tezuka will retire from his role as an executive officer on its board of directors from 26 June 2026. Further to this, Takuya Yoshimura, Katsuhiro Umeyama and Keiko Akashi will also retire from their roles as directors.
Having joined Nintendo way back in 1984, Tezuka’s early career saw him assist Shigeru Miyamoto in creating Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System, which have gone on to become the company’s most long-running and beloved series.
He went on to direct Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Yoshi’s Island, and is even attributed with helping to co-design the loveable dinosaur character.
His career then saw him move into supervisory and producer roles, which have seen him involved with games such as Star Fox 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Luigi’s Mansion, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and too many more to name.
In recent years, he has overseen teams that brought games like Yoshi’s Crafted World, Super Mario Maker 2, Pikmin 4, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Princess Peach Showtime to life, and was also part of the team that worked with Illumination on The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
