# Masahiro Sakurai

> Japanese video game designer (born 1970)

**Wikidata**: [Q1906721](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1906721)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiro_Sakurai)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/masahiro-sakurai

## Summary
Masahiro Sakurai is a Japanese video game designer born in 1970. He is best known as the creator of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series, which have become iconic franchises in the gaming industry.

## Biography
- Born: August 3, 1970, in Hino, Japan
- Nationality: Japan
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Creating the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. video game series
- Employer(s): Sora Ltd. (since 2005), HAL Laboratory (1989-2003)
- Field(s): Video game design, computer science

## Contributions
Masahiro Sakurai began his career at HAL Laboratory in 1989, where he developed the original Kirby's Dream Land in 1992, establishing himself as a prominent game designer. During his time at HAL, he also co-created the Super Smash Bros. series, starting with the first installment in 1999 for Nintendo 64. In 2005, he founded Sora Ltd., where he continues to develop games and contribute to the industry. Sakurai's work on Super Smash Bros. has revolutionized the fighting game genre by creating a crossover universe featuring characters from various Nintendo franchises and beyond. In 2015, he received the Japan Game Awards Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the video game industry. His design philosophy, which emphasizes accessibility and depth, has influenced countless game developers worldwide.

## FAQs
### Q: What games is Masahiro Sakurai known for creating?
A: Masahiro Sakurai is best known for creating the Kirby series while at HAL Laboratory and the Super Smash Bros. franchise, which has become one of the most successful fighting game series in history.

### Q: When did Masahiro Sakurai start his career in video game design?
A: Sakurai began his career in video game design in 1989 when he joined HAL Laboratory as a game designer.

### Q: What companies has Masahiro Sakurai worked for?
A: Masahiro Sakurai worked for HAL Laboratory from 1989 to 2003, where he developed Kirby and early Super Smash Bros. games. He then founded Sora Ltd. in 2005, where he continues to work.

### Q: What awards has Masahiro Sakurai received for his work?
A: In 2015, Sakurai received the Japan Game Awards Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the video game industry.

## Why They Matter
Masahiro Sakurai's impact on the video game industry extends beyond his successful franchises. His design philosophy, which balances accessibility with depth, has influenced countless game developers worldwide. The Super Smash Bros. series, which he co-created, has become a cultural phenomenon and a staple in competitive gaming, bringing together characters from diverse franchises in a way that had never been done before. His transition from HAL Laboratory to founding his own company, Sora Ltd., demonstrated the viability for designers to maintain creative control while achieving commercial success. Through his YouTube channels and social media presence, Sakurai continues to share insights about game development with aspiring designers, solidifying his role as an influential figure in the industry.

## Notable For
- Creating the Kirby series while at HAL Laboratory
- Co-creating the Super Smash Bros. franchise, which has become one of the most successful crossover fighting game series
- Receiving the Japan Game Awards Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in 2015
- Founding Sora Ltd. in 2005 to maintain creative independence
- His significant influence on game design philosophy and industry standards

## Body
### Early Life and Career
- Born on August 3, 1970, in Hino, Japan
- No formal education details provided in source material
- Began his career in 1989 at HAL Laboratory, a Japanese video game developer

### HAL Laboratory Years (1989-2003)
- Joined HAL Laboratory as a video game designer
- Created the original Kirby's Dream Land in 1992, establishing the Kirby franchise
- Co-developed the first Super Smash Bros. game released in 1999 for Nintendo 64
- Worked as a video game designer, screenwriter, seiyū (voice actor), computer scientist, and video game producer during this period
- Left HAL Laboratory in 2003 after contributing to several successful Nintendo titles

### Founding of Sora Ltd. (2005-Present)
- Founded Sora Ltd. in 2005 to continue his career independently
- Company is based in Tokyo, Japan
- Initially had only 2 employees (as of 2005)
- Project Sora was established as a subsidiary in 2009, located in Itabashi, Japan
- Continues to work as president of Sora Ltd.

### Design Philosophy and Influence
- Known for his hands-on approach to game development
- Emphasizes accessibility while maintaining depth in game design
- Communicates with fans through various social media platforms
- Operates two YouTube channels: "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" (English) and "桜井政博のゲーム作るには" (Japanese)
- Has a significant presence on Twitter (@Sora_Sakurai) with verified account status

### Personal Life
- Has a pet named Fukura
- Speaks Japanese as his native language
- Various aliases include Masa Sakurai, Sakurai, Sakurai Masahiro, and 櫻井政博
- Maintains active social media accounts including Instagram (@sora_masahiro_sakurai)

### Recognition and Awards
- Received the Japan Game Awards Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in 2015
- His work on Kirby and Super Smash Bros. has achieved commercial success worldwide
- His games have garnered a large following, with Super Smash Bros. becoming a staple in competitive gaming
- Recognized by various industry publications and gaming communities for his contributions

### Digital Presence
- Operates multiple social media platforms with substantial followings
- His YouTube channels have accumulated millions of views, with Japanese content exceeding 109 million views as of October 2022
- Maintains a verified Twitter account with over 660,000 followers (as of October 2022)
- His social media activities include sharing development insights and engaging with fans

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## References

1. [Source](https://awards.cesa.or.jp/2015/prize/prize_04.html)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. YouTube API
6. [Masahiro Sakurai MBTI Personality Type: INFP](https://www.personality-database.com/profile/31415/masahiro-sakurai-game-development-mbti-personality-type)
7. [Masahiro Sakurai - WiKirby: it's a wiki, about Kirby!](https://wikirby.com/wiki/Masahiro_Sakurai)
8. Know Your Meme