Splatoon Co-Director Tsubasa Sakaguchi and Nintendo Legends Surprise Interview: An Exclusive Nintendo Life Moment

Splatoon Co-Director Tsubasa Sakaguchi and Nintendo Legends Surprise Interview: An Exclusive Nintendo Life Moment In July 2015, Nintendo Life—a leading voice in gaming news—scored a rare and memorable opportunity by hosting Splatoon co-director Tsubasa Sakaguchi during his visit to the United Kingdom.

Splatoon, developed by Nintendo for Wii U and later supported on Nintendo Switch with Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3, has been hailed as a key franchise that brings fresh innovation to the competitive online shooter genre, blending ink-based gameplay with Nintendo’s trademark creativity. During this special occasion, Nintendo Life contributor and resident musician Ryan Craddock, who had recently composed a musical piece inspired by Splatoon, was invited to perform his composition for Sakaguchi-san.

Just as Craddock prepared to play, the interview session took an unforgettable turn. Without warning, two towering figures in the history of game design entered the scene: Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka.

The Nintendo luminaries were in the UK at the time to promote Super Mario Maker, a highly anticipated Wii U release that empowered players to design and share their own Mario levels.

Miyamoto and Tezuka, best known for their foundational roles in iconic franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Yoshi’s Island, joined Sakaguchi and Craddock for the event, stunning all in attendance. Ryan Craddock, visibly excited, described the encounter as something he never could have anticipated.

"Meeting Miyamoto-san and Tezuka-san alongside Sakaguchi-san was a surreal experience," he shared, his admiration clear.

The group gathered for a photo opportunity, creating an image that one observer humorously described as akin to a debut boy band promotional shoot. The day became even more memorable when Craddock invited Miyamoto to try his guitar—a moment he later joked about.

Then, to commemorate the event, both Miyamoto and Tezuka signed Ryan’s limited edition Ambassador New 3DS.

As a result, the handheld console’s value became even more significant, reflecting the longstanding influence and legacy of Nintendo’s development legends. Nintendo Life, founded in 2006 and known for its extensive coverage of Nintendo Direct presentations, indie releases, and exclusive developer interviews, captured the event on video for its YouTube channel.

The exclusive footage stands as a testament to the site’s dedication to delivering unique behind-the-scenes glimpses into Nintendo’s creative world. The meeting of Ryan Craddock, Tsubasa Sakaguchi, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Takashi Tezuka represents not only an unforgettable moment for all involved but also highlights Nintendo Life’s commitment to celebrating the personalities and stories that shape the industry.

Fans and collectors alike will appreciate that the Ambassador New 3DS, a sought-after handheld released in 2015 for early adopters of the Nintendo 3DS, now carries even greater historical significance as a result. For more exclusive coverage, interviews, and video content from the world of Nintendo, readers are encouraged to follow Nintendo Life and subscribe to its official channels.

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