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Tomonobu Itagaki

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Tomonobu Itagaki

Tomonobu Itagaki (板垣 伴信, Itagaki Tomonobu; April 1, 1967 – c. October 2025) was a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the Dead or Alive series and also reviving the Ninja Gaiden franchise in 2004. In 2009, he was chosen by IGN as one of the top 100 game creators of all time. Joining Tecmo in 1992, Itagaki produced two video game franchises that were critical and commercial successes, earning him several promotions; he headed Tecmo's development team, Team Ninja, and sat on the executive board. He left the company in June 2008 after 16 years of service, filing a lawsuit against its new president for withholding bonus pay. He formed a new company, Valhalla Game Studios, with several Team Ninja members and released Devil's Third. The company was dissolved in December 2021, although he had formed Itagaki Games earlier in 2021. Itagaki died in October 2025 at the age of 58.

Infobox

Born
(1967-04-01)April 1, 1967Tokyo, Japan
Died
October 2025(2025-10-00) (aged 58)
Nationality
Japanese
Alma mater
Waseda University
Occupation
Video game designer
Years active
1992–2025
Children
1

Tables

· Works
1993
Captain Tsubasa 4
Role(s)
Graphic engineer
Tecmo Super Bowl
Role(s)
Graphic engineer
1996
Dead or Alive
Role(s)
Producer and director
1999
Dead or Alive 2
Role(s)
Producer and director
2001
Dead or Alive 3
Role(s)
Producer and director
2003
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Role(s)
Producer and director
2004
Ninja Gaiden
Role(s)
Producer and director
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Role(s)
Producer and director
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Role(s)
Special adviser
2005
Ninja Gaiden Black
Role(s)
Producer and director
Dead or Alive 4
Role(s)
Producer and director
2006
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
Role(s)
Chief designer and software architect
Super Swing Golf
Role(s)
Adviser
2008
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Role(s)
Executive producer
Ninja Gaiden II
Role(s)
Producer and director
2015
Devil's Third
Role(s)
Director
2020
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Role(s)
Supreme advisor
Year
Title
Role
1993
Captain Tsubasa 4
Graphic engineer
Tecmo Super Bowl
Graphic engineer
1996
Dead or Alive
Producer and director
1999
Dead or Alive 2
Producer and director
2001
Dead or Alive 3
Producer and director
2003
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
Producer and director
2004
Ninja Gaiden
Producer and director
Dead or Alive Ultimate
Producer and director
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Special adviser
2005
Ninja Gaiden Black
Producer and director
Dead or Alive 4
Producer and director
2006
Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
Chief designer and software architect
Super Swing Golf
Adviser
2008
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Executive producer
Ninja Gaiden II
Producer and director
2015
Devil's Third
Director
2020
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Supreme advisor

References

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    https://web.archive.org/web/20140420081446/http://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/76.html
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    https://web.archive.org/web/20110605030219/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=0&cId=3174393
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    http://games.kikizo.com/features/itagaki_interview_feb05_p1.asp?f=itagaki_interview_feb05_p1.asp
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    http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/joystiq-interview-doa-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-tekken-sucks/
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    https://web.archive.org/web/20100804105714/http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/857/Tomonobu-Itagaki-Exclusive-Interview/p1/
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    http://www.gamespot.com/news/6161240.html
  23. IGN
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  24. Gamasutra
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  25. GameSpot
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  26. "Tecmo responds to sexual harassment allegations"
    http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=21251
  27. 1UP.com
    https://archive.today/20120716142344/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155402
  28. arstechnica
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  29. 1UP.com
    https://archive.today/20120718191427/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164751
  30. Why Ninja Gaiden Black is the Best Pure Action Game - Video Column - IGN
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  31. GameSpot
    https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ninja-gaiden-ii-director-itagaki-quits-tecmo/1100-6191979/
  32. 1UP.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090226220205/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168056
  33. N-Styles
    https://n-styles.com/main/archives/2008/06/05-080000.php
  34. "Report: More staff sue Tecmo"
    https://archive.today/20120707005711/http://au.gamespot.com/news/reports-more-staff-sue-tecmo-6192629
  35. "Itagaki: Valhalla "Currently Focusing" on One Game"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121013091531/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3178572
  36. ファミ通.com
    https://www.famitsu.com/news/201801/15148977.html
  37. Gematsu
    https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/soleil-absorbs-valhalla-game-studios
  38. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/ninja-gaiden-and-dead-or-alives-tomonobu-itagaki-has-started-a-new-studio
  39. Tecmo Super Bowl
  40. Game Developer
    https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/dead-or-alive-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-has-passed-away-at-58
  41. Dead or Alive
  42. Dead or Alive 2
  43. Dead or Alive 3
  44. Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
  45. Ninja Gaiden
  46. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
  47. Ninja Gaiden Black
  48. Dead or Alive 4
  49. Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
  50. Super Swing Golf
  51. GamesIndustry.biz
    https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ninja-gaiden-dragon-sword-ryu-hayabusa-s-pocket-incarnation-coming-to-european-dses-in-june-courtesy-of-ubisoft
  52. Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
  53. Ninja Gaiden II
  54. Game Informer
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    https://web.archive.org/web/20110604004257/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3144194
  56. 1UP.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110522224316/http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3158404
  57. Eurogamer
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071015071905/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=80872
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    https://archive.today/20120717091535/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3154580
  61. "Itagaki on the Tourney, Online Gaming, & More"
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    http://ds.ign.com/articles/793/793072p1.html
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    https://x.com/HARADA_TEKKEN/status/1884269347948146716
  67. ファミ通.com
    https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/55345
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    https://www.eurogamer.net/dead-or-alive-and-ninja-gaiden-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-has-died-age-58
  69. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/dead-or-alive-and-ninja-gaiden-2004-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-dies-aged-58-fans-react-to-final-message-i-am-proud-to-say-that-i-followed-my-beliefs-and-fought-to-the-end
  70. www.instagram.com
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3IAiqkhP-/?utm_source=ig_embed
  71. 電ファミニコゲーマー – ゲームの面白い記事読んでみない？
    https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/news/2510162h
  72. IGN
    https://www.ign.com/articles/masahiro-sakurai-katsuhiro-harada-and-more-japanese-video-game-developers-pay-tribute-to-dead-or-alive-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-who-has-died-aged-58
  73. X (Twitter)
    https://x.com/harada_tekken/status/1993986075782717449
  74. X (Twitter)
    https://x.com/katsuta_harumi/status/1994197774628270189
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