Nintendo 85th Shareholders Meeting: Directors Reelected and Kazuhiko Hachiya Joins Board

Nintendo reaffirmed the continuity and stability of its leadership at its 85th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held last week, with all incumbent directors—including President Shuntaro Furukawa and the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto—receiving strong support for reelection.

This yearly event is a crucial part of Nintendo’s corporate governance, offering shareholders direct involvement in shaping the future direction of the company behind iconic hardware like the Nintendo Switch and a multitude of fan-favorite franchises. The 2025 meeting saw the board’s lineup largely unchanged, underscoring the confidence shareholders have in the company’s current strategy.

The only new addition this year is Kazuhiko Hachiya, who brings significant expertise as both an artist and a software developer.

According to Nintendo, Hachiya is expected to offer valuable perspectives thanks to his extensive background in digital media arts and his leadership roles at Tokyo University of the Arts.

The company noted Hachiya’s broad achievements, including the development of various digital art projects and an email client, which highlight his versatility and experience in bridging art and technology. The formal results of the 2025 director elections were published and demonstrate robust backing for Nintendo’s leadership team: - Shuntaro Furukawa: 92.60% approval (8,743,745 votes for) - Shigeru Miyamoto: 96.18% approval (9,082,442 votes for) - Shinya Takahashi: 96.23% approval (9,086,983 votes for) - Satoru Shibata: 96.23% approval (9,086,934 votes for) - Ko Shiota: 96.23% approval (9,086,999 votes for) - Yusuke Beppu: 96.23% approval (9,086,849 votes for) - Chris Meledandri: 75.87% approval (7,164,790 votes for) - Miyoko Demay: 97.94% approval (9,248,456 votes for) - Kazuhiko Hachiya: 98.11% approval (9,264,069 votes for) When compared with the results from the 2024 shareholders meeting, the approval ratings remain consistent for most directors.

However, Chris Meledandri, the CEO of Illumination and producer of The Super Mario Bros.

Movie, saw a decrease in his approval rating, dropping from 94.47% in 2024 to 75.87% in 2025.

Despite this lower figure, Meledandri continues to play a key role in Nintendo’s entertainment ventures, particularly in film adaptations of its intellectual properties.

Nintendo and Illumination’s next collaborative film, a follow-up to 2023’s hit Super Mario Bros.

Movie, remains highly anticipated, with its release on track for next year. Kazuhiko Hachiya’s election marks a strategic move for Nintendo as it continues to innovate at the intersection of digital art, technology, and gaming.

Elevating individuals with both creative and technical experience strengthens Nintendo’s longstanding tradition of merging artistry with state-of-the-art hardware like the Nintendo Switch and providing experiences that captivate millions worldwide. The reelection of these key directors ensures continuity as Nintendo moves forward with new hardware initiatives, a robust lineup of first-party games, and significant third-party collaborations.

The results underscore shareholder confidence in Nintendo’s executive team and vision, setting the stage for another exciting year of software and hardware releases, new Nintendo Direct presentations, and global engagement via the eShop and beyond.

Nintendo Kazuhiko Hachiya Shuntaro Furukawa Shigeru Miyamoto Shinya Takahashi Satoru Shibata Ko Shiota Yusuke Beppu Chris Meledandri Miyoko Demay Illumination Nintendo Switch Nintendo Direct Tokyo University of the Arts