TOKYO — Satoru Iwata, who led Japanese video game company Nintendo Co. through years of growth with its Pokemon and Super Mario franchises, died July 11 of a bile duct tumor, the company said Monday. He was 55.
Iwata, president from 2002, died in a Kyoto University hospital. He had not been seen recently at game events where he was usually a participant.
Iwata led Nintendo’s development into a global company, with its hit Wii home console, and also through its recent woes caused by the popularity of smartphones.
A funeral service will be held on July 17. He is survived by his wife Kayoko. The company declined to disclose other details of his family.
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