Shigesato Itoi

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Shigesato Itoi (糸井重里 Itoi Shigesato, born November 10, 1948) is a famous Japanese copywriter and game designer. He is most well known for his work with Nintendo's Mother series of games, specifically EarthBound in the United States. The Beatles carry a strong influence on his work, and also his way of life. He feels close to John Lennon, because they both had an absent father.

He has voiced Mei and Satsuki's father, Tatsuo Kusakabe, in the Japanese version of the My Neighbor Totoro anime film, has been a judge on a few episodes of the Japanese shows Iron Chef and Hey! Spring of Trivia, and has also co-authored a collection of short stories titled Yume de aimashou ("Let's meet in a dream") with writer Haruki Murakami.

According to Hiroshi Yamauchi, former president of Nintendo Co. Ltd, Itoi is considered a genius.

"Standard thinking said I was a loser; a man who couldn't make the grade at university; a quitter. But if I'd stayed, I'd have graduated with a custom-fit set of blinders. As it was, I had to open my eyes and look around; I had to be aware of what was going on around me." - On university

"They were so fresh and new and anti-establishment. They showed us what freedom was, and how adults didn't have all the answers. I loved them. And at night, I'd turn the sound down low to listen, often when I was supposed to be studying." - On The Beatles

"I don't believe in pain. I don't believe things should be difficult. I don't believe perseverence conquers all. No pain, no gain may work when you're building muscles, but making advertisements should be fun. It's got to be exciting, or it won't work." - On work and advertising