{{Short description|Japanese video game designer (born 1970)}} {{Eastern name order|Sakurai Masahiro}} {{pp-blp|small=yes}} {{Expand Japanese|topic=bio}} {{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Masahiro Sakurai | image = Masahiro Sakurai 2021.jpg | caption = Sakurai in 2021 | native_name = 桜井 政博 | native_name_lang = ja | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|8|3|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan | occupation = {{hlist|Game director|game designer|scenario writer}} | employer = {{ubl|HAL Laboratory (1989–2003)|Sora Ltd. (2005–present)}} | works = {{hlist|''Kirby''|''Super Smash Bros.''|''Meteos''|''Kid Icarus: Uprising''}} | spouse = Michiko Sakurai }} {{Nihongo|'''Masahiro Sakurai'''|桜井 政博|Sakurai Masahiro|born August 3, 1970}} is a Japanese video game director and game designer best known as the creator of the ''Kirby'' and ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. Apart from his work on those series, he also led the design of ''Meteos'' in 2005 and directed ''Kid Icarus: Uprising'' in 2012.
Formerly an employee of HAL Laboratory, Sakurai left the company in 2003 and in 2005 with his wife Michiko Sakurai (also ex-HAL Laboratory) founded their company {{Nihongo foot|'''Sora Ltd.'''|有限会社ソラ|Yūgen-gaisha Sora|group=lower-alpha}}, under which they work on a freelance basis. He was also an author of a weekly column for ''Famitsu'' magazine from 2003 to 2021, and has done voice acting work in some of his games, most notably providing the voice of King Dedede in ''Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards'' and the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series. From 2022 to 2024, Sakurai ran an educational YouTube channel, ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'', which discussed various topics in game design and his career.
==Career== Masahiro Sakurai was born on August 3, 1970, in Musashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan. One of Sakurai's earliest experiences in the video game industry began when he worked for HAL Laboratory, where he created the character Kirby at age 19 and directed his first title, ''Kirby's Dream Land''.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Keza |date=August 8, 2018 |title=From Kong to Kirby: Smash Bros' Masahiro Sakurai on mashing up 35 years of gaming history |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/aug/08/super-smash-bros-ultimate-masahiro-sakurai-35-years-gaming-history-nintendo |work=The Guardian |access-date=October 9, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009092619/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/aug/08/super-smash-bros-ultimate-masahiro-sakurai-35-years-gaming-history-nintendo |archive-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref>
Sakurai left HAL on August 5, 2003. He explained in an interview with ''Nintendo Dream'' that he felt it would be difficult to create new projects while staying at HAL due to the direction of the gaming industry, where the risk of failure was high. While he was not being pressured by HAL to create ''Kirby'' sequels, he noted increasing tension within the industry as a whole: "It was tough for me to see that every time I made a new game, people automatically assumed that a sequel was coming. Even if it's a sequel, lots of people have to give their all to make a game, but some people think the sequel process happens naturally."<ref>{{cite web |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date=August 26, 2003 |title=Interview translated by www.video-fenky.com, reproduced on Kirby's Rainbow Resort |url=http://www.kirbysrainbowresort.net/info/kirby101/kirbycreator.html |work=Nintendo Dream |access-date=July 31, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511091208/http://www.kirbysrainbowresort.net/info/kirby101/kirbycreator.html |archive-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 22, 2018 |title=Sakurai clarifies why he left HAL Laboratory, doesn't feel "stuck in a rut doing similar things" |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/sakurai-clarifies-why-he-left-hal-laboratory-doesnt-feel-stuck-in-a-rut-doing-similar-things/ |work=Nintendo Everything |access-date=July 31, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824035301/https://nintendoeverything.com/sakurai-clarifies-why-he-left-hal-laboratory-doesnt-feel-stuck-in-a-rut-doing-similar-things/ |archive-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>
Soon after, Sakurai began working on a project with Q Entertainment, along with Tetsuya Mizuguchi. This collaboration resulted in ''Meteos'' in 2005, a puzzle game for the Nintendo DS. On September 30, 2005, Sakurai announced that he had formed his own company, Sora Ltd.<ref name="sora">{{cite web |url=http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/movers/?id=10707 |title=GameDAILY, Glu, Climax, Mforma, THQ Wireless & More Make Moves |last=Gomez |first=John |date=September 30, 2005 |website=GameDaily BIZ |access-date=May 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310222347/http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/movers/?id=10707 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref> Two games were announced to be in development but no information on the titles had been divulged. As for the future of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory president Satoru Iwata, during Nintendo's E3 2005 press conference, promised an online iteration of the game would come to the Wii.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/17/e3-2005-smash-bros-for-revolution |title=E3 2005: Smash Bros. For Revolution |last=Casamassina |first=Matt |date=May 17, 2005 |website=IGN |access-date=July 2, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109073355/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/17/e3-2005-smash-bros-for-revolution |archive-date=November 9, 2012}}</ref>
In issue #885 of ''Famitsu'' magazine, Sakurai revealed that he would be serving as a director and game designer on ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' for the Wii. ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' was released in 2008, after personnel borrowed from 19 different developer studios assisted in development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iwata Asks: Super Smash Bros. Brawl|url=http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707023837/http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/ssbb/vol1_page3.jsp|archive-date=July 7, 2009|access-date=September 19, 2007|website=Wii.com|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref> Sakurai had been updating daily the ''Super Smash Bros Brawl'' website called the Smash Bros. Dojo. Starting a year previous the release, he revealed ''Brawl'' secrets and gameplay content through the site. The Smash Bros. Dojo had regular updates from May 22, 2007, to April 14, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/info/info06.html |title=Notice: No Further Updates |last=Sakurai |first=Masahiro |date=April 14, 2008 |website=Super Smash Bros. Dojo |access-date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229025404/https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/info/info06.html |archive-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref>
thumb|200px|left|The logo of Sora Ltd.On the final day of updates, it was revealed that Sakurai provided the voice for King Dedede in ''Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards'' as well as Dedede in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. He and his company, Sora Ltd. alongside Nintendo, started a first-party studio, '''<span class="anchor" id="Project Sora">Project Sora</span>''', which was 72% owned by Nintendo and 28% owned by Sora Ltd. It was revealed at E3 2010 that Sakurai and Project Sora were working on ''Kid Icarus: Uprising'' for the Nintendo 3DS. Project Sora was closed and ended development on June 30, 2012.<ref name="soraclose">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/kid-icarus-uprising-developer-closes |title=Kid Icarus Uprising Developer Closes |last=O'Brien |first=Lucy |date=July 11, 2012 |website=IGN |access-date=May 27, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517003307/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/kid-icarus-uprising-developer-closes |archive-date=May 17, 2015}}</ref> At E3 2011, Nintendo announced that Sakurai was working on ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U''. Sakurai began development of the title upon the release of ''Kid Icarus: Uprising'' in March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/06/08/smash_bros_development/|title=Smash Bros. U & 3DS development appears to be very early|access-date=June 8, 2011|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|date=June 8, 2011|publisher=andriasang.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611041405/http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/06/08/smash_bros_development/|archive-date=June 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2013, Sakurai was diagnosed with calcific tendinitis near his right shoulder, which caused him substantial pain whenever he moved his arm. He mentioned that this could effectively slow down his work, as he does some of his game testing himself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/27/4035046/why-masahiro-sakurais-bum-right-arm-is-hindering-work-on-the-new |title=Why Masahiro Sakurai's bum right arm is hindering work on the new Smash Bros. |last=Gifford |first=Kevin |date=February 27, 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=April 19, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401063853/http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/27/4035046/why-masahiro-sakurais-bum-right-arm-is-hindering-work-on-the-new |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref>
Sakurai's wife, Michiko, has worked on the graphical user interface for many of his games, including ''Kirby Air Ride'', ''Meteos'', and the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aengenheyster|first=Justin|date=August 3, 2020|title=Herzlichen Glückwunsch Masahiro Sakurai zum 50. Geburtstag!|url=https://n-switch-on.de/2020/news/herzlichen-glueckwunsch-masahiro-sakurai-zum-50-geburtstag/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831020308/https://n-switch-on.de/2020/news/herzlichen-glueckwunsch-masahiro-sakurai-zum-50-geburtstag/|archive-date=August 31, 2020|access-date=August 31, 2020|website=n-Switch-on.de|language=de-DE}}</ref>
In a January 2015 column in ''Weekly Famitsu'', Sakurai alluded to the possibility of retirement, expressing doubt that he would be able to continue making games if his career continued to be as stressful as it was.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/smash-bros-could-be-its-creators-last-game-1682483142|title=Smash Bros. Could be its Creator's Last Game|website=Kotaku|first=Toshi|last=Nakamura|date=January 29, 2015|access-date=January 30, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130085205/http://kotaku.com/smash-bros-could-be-its-creators-last-game-1682483142|archive-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> In December 2015, Sakurai once again stated that he was not sure if there would be another game in the ''Smash Bros.'' series,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS DLC Ending Soon Director Says|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/super-smash-bros-wii-u3ds-dlc-ending-soon-director/1100-6433073/|website=GameSpot|access-date=December 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216173945/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/super-smash-bros-wii-u3ds-dlc-ending-soon-director/1100-6433073/|archive-date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> prior to ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' being released in 2018 with Sakurai once again as director.<ref name="SSB_Switch_announced">{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=Tom|date=March 8, 2018|title=Super Smash Bros. announced for Nintendo Switch|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-03-08-super-smash-bros-announced-for-nintendo-switch|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501122525/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-03-08-super-smash-bros-announced-for-nintendo-switch|archive-date=May 1, 2018|access-date=May 1, 2018|website=Eurogamer}}</ref>
On March 14, 2022, Sakurai was awarded Best Creator by ''Weekly Famitsu''. Sakurai also announced that he was working on a new project not related to game production.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mJUpI1rZAI |title=Sakurai Says He's Already Working on a New Project + Wins Best Creator |date=March 14, 2022 |website=YouTube |access-date=March 14, 2022}}</ref> In March 2025, Sakurai announced that he had been awarded the AMD Award for Lifetime Achievement.<ref name="awards">{{cite web |last=Hagues |first=Alana |date=2025-03-03 |title=Masahiro Sakurai Receives Award From Japanese Government |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/03/masahiro-sakurai-receives-award-from-japanese-government |website=Nintendo Life |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304021227/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/03/masahiro-sakurai-receives-award-from-japanese-government |archive-date=2025-03-04 |access-date=2025-03-04}}</ref>
===''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games''=== {{infobox youtube channel | name = ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'' | logo = Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games.png | youtube_handle = sora_sakurai_en | youtube_display_name = Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games | youtube_handle2 = sora_sakurai_jp | youtube_display_name2 = 桜井政博のゲーム作るには
| youtube_years_active = 2022–2024 | youtube_genre = {{hlist|Video game design|development}} | youtube_subscribers = 653,000 (English)<ref name="YouTube-en">{{cite web |title=About Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/sora_sakurai_en/about |access-date=March 12, 2023 |via=YouTube}}</ref><br />840,000 (Japanese)<ref name="YouTube-jp">{{cite web |title=About 桜井政博のゲーム作るには |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/sora_sakurai_jp/about |access-date=March 12, 2023 |via=YouTube}}</ref><!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 22.2 million (English)<ref name="YouTube-en" /><br />95.9 million (Japanese)<ref name="YouTube-jp" /><!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = July 21, 2025 }}
Sakurai launched ''Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games'', a YouTube channel in both English and Japanese in August 2022. The channel's videos are focused on game development and design as well as his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/24/23320915/masahiro-sakurai-youtube-channel-creating-games |title=Masahiro Sakurai is the latest creator to join YouTube |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=August 24, 2022 |website=The Verge |access-date=August 25, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825002450/https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/24/23320915/masahiro-sakurai-youtube-channel-creating-games |archive-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/masahiro-sakurai-launches-new-youtube-channel-on-game-development |title=Masahiro Sakurai launches new YouTube channel on game development |last=Nightingale |first=Ed |date=August 24, 2022 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=August 25, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825205539/https://www.eurogamer.net/masahiro-sakurai-launches-new-youtube-channel-on-game-development |archive-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> He stated that the channel was founded because he wanted to reach more people with his lessons after being asked to lecture at schools. Sakurai additionally noted that other venues for lessons from game developers, such as the Game Developers Conference, focused on more advanced, technical details, rather than more basic principles.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Jonathan |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Super Smash Bros. creator launches educational YouTube channel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/08/24/super-smash-bros-sakurai-youtube/ |access-date=September 20, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
Work on the channel began immediately after the release of Sora in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' in 2021. Sakurai wrote and pre-recorded all videos before starting work on ''Kirby Air Riders'' in April 2022,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/racing/kirby-air-riders-is-being-developed-by-super-smash-bros-ultimate-studio-bandai-namco-studios-but-masahiro-sakurai-hints-itll-be-a-while-before-we-hear-more-about-it/ |title=Kirby Air Riders is being developed by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate studio Bandai Namco Studios, but Masahiro Sakurai hints it'll be a while before we hear more about it |first=Catherine |last=Lewis |date=April 2, 2025 |work=Gamesradar |accessdate=April 10, 2025}}</ref> and contracted Hike Inc. for editing and 8-4 for English localization.<ref name ="final_sakurai_video"/> The opening and ending jingles for the channel were composed by Yuzo Koshiro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv1DvRY5PyHHt3KN9ghunuw/community?lb=UgkxzoheSn37x9oS9LZ5F2P7JHMXhXdE-Jyw|title=The opening and ending jingles for these videos were composed by none other than Yuzo Koshiro. I imagine you've heard them many times by now!|publisher=Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games|website=YouTube|date=June 8, 2023|access-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230609032404/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv1DvRY5PyHHt3KN9ghunuw/community?lb=UgkxzoheSn37x9oS9LZ5F2P7JHMXhXdE-Jyw|archive-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref> Sakurai estimates that the total production cost was {{yen}}90,000,000.<ref name ="final_sakurai_video">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qPqBilhEtI|title=Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games: Finale Special|website=YouTube|date=October 22, 2024|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref>
Less than a day after its launch, the English edition of his channel gained over 200,000 subscribers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/08/sakurais-youtube-channel-surpasses-200k-subscribers-in-under-24-hours |title=Sakurai's YouTube Channel Surpasses 200k Subscribers In Under 24 Hours |last=Liam |first=Doolan |date=August 25, 2022 |website=Nintendo Life |access-date=August 25, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825094641/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/08/sakurais-youtube-channel-surpasses-200k-subscribers-in-under-24-hours |archive-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> In 2023, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association announced that Sakurai had won the Game Design and Visual Arts awards for his channel. The association cited his efforts to share his knowledge in an easily understood manner.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.siliconera.com/nintendo-affiliated-entities-dominated-cedec-awards-2023/|title= Nintendo Affiliated Entities Dominated CEDEC Awards 2023|last= Stenbuck |first= Kite |date= 2023-08-25|website= Siliconera|publisher= Gamurs|access-date= 2024-10-28|quote=}}</ref> In March 2025, Sakurai announced that he had been listed as a recipient of the Agency for Cultural Affairs' annual Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists for his work on his channel.<ref name="awards"/>
==Works== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role(s) |- |1992 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby's Dream Land'' | rowspan="2" | Director, game designer<ref name="shmuplations22">{{cite web |title=Kirby's Adventure – 1993 Developer Interview |url=http://shmuplations.com/kirbysadventure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731153327/http://shmuplations.com/kirbysadventure/ |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |access-date=August 3, 2021 |publisher=shmuplations.com}}</ref> |- |1993 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby's Adventure'' |- |1996 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby Super Star'' | rowspan="2" | Director<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Martin |date=2014-09-20 |title=Developer Profile: Masahiro Sakurai |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/09/developer_profile_masahiro_sakurai |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}</ref> |- |1999 ! scope="row" | ''Super Smash Bros.'' |- |2000 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards'' |Voice actor (King Dedede)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lost Kirby Games: Shinichi Shimomura and the Dark Matter Trilogy - Feature |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/40852/the-lost-kirby-games-shinichi-shimomura-and-the-dark-matter-trilogy |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Nintendo World Report |quote=Around the same time, Shimomura started development on Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, a new Kirby side-scroller in which Sakurai had no role in other than supplying King Dedede's voice.}}</ref> |- |2001 ! scope="row" | ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' | rowspan="2" | Chief director |- |2002 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land'' |- |2003 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby Air Ride'' | Director |- |2004 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby & the Amazing Mirror'' | Special advisor |- |2005 ! scope="row" | ''Meteos'' | rowspan="2" |Game designer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/07/first-details-meteos|title=First Details: Meteos|last=Gantayat|first=Anoop|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=October 7, 2004|access-date=December 10, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221112800/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/07/first-details-meteos|archive-date=December 21, 2016}}</ref> |- |2006 ! scope="row" | ''Sodatete! Kouchuu Ouja Mushiking'' |- |2008 ! scope="row" | ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' | Director, voice actor (King Dedede)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=King Dedede Voices (Kirby) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Kirby/King-Dedede/ |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Behind The Voice Actors |language=en-US}}</ref> |- |2012 ! scope="row" | ''Kid Icarus: Uprising'' | Director, scenario<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/news/masahiro-sakurai-discusses-kid-icarus |title=Masahiro Sakurai Discusses Kid Icarus: Uprising's Origins |last=Gifford |first=Kevin |website=1UP.com |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103508/http://www.1up.com/news/masahiro-sakurai-discusses-kid-icarus |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |2014 ! scope="row" | ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'' | rowspan="2" | Director, voice actor (King Dedede)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Barnett|first1=Patrick|title=Sakurai and Kobayashi Release Messages Regarding Smash Bros.|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30817/sakurai-and-kobayashi-release-messages-regarding-smash-bros|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=July 20, 2014|archive-date=July 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728012338/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30817/sakurai-and-kobayashi-release-messages-regarding-smash-bros|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> |- |2018 ! scope="row" | ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' |- |2025 ! scope="row" | ''Kirby Air Riders'' | Director<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cripe |first=Michael |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Kirby Air Riders Revealed During Nintendo Switch 2 Direct |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/kirby-air-riders-revealed-during-nintendo-switch-2-direct |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408082744/https://www.ign.com/articles/kirby-air-riders-revealed-during-nintendo-switch-2-direct |archive-date=April 8, 2025 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> |}
==Personal life== In July 2009, Sakurai adopted a female Scottish Fold cat named Fukurashi, who he often featured in his ''Famitsu'' column.<ref name="FamitsuSelection">{{cite web |title=【よりぬき桜井さんコラム (2)】愛猫“ふくらさん”との出会い＆ゲーム起動時のロゴについて |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202111/02238166.html |website=Famitsu |access-date=6 February 2026 |language=Japanese |date=2 November 2021 |trans-title=Selections from Sakurai-san’s Column (2): Meeting His Beloved Cat “Fukura-san” and About Game Startup Logos}}</ref> She died in February 2026.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=Sora_Sakurai |number=2019551737624043729 |title=今朝7時､愛猫ふくらしが息を引き取りました｡ 家に帰ってからはおだやかに､ ゆるやかに逝けたと思います｡ 手にはだいぶ前に噛まれた時の傷が､ 足にはしょっちゅうすりよってくれた感触がまだ残っています｡ いままでありがとう! |trans-title=This morning at 7 o'clock, my beloved cat Fukurashi took her last breath. After coming home, I think she passed away peacefully and gently. The scar from when she bit my hand a long time ago is still there, and on my feet, I can still feel the sensation of how she used to rub against them so often. Thank you so much for everything until now!}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{YouTube|c=UCv1DvRY5PyHHt3KN9ghunuw|Masahiro Sakurai}} * {{Twitter}}
{{Masahiro Sakurai}} {{Kirby series}} {{Super Smash Bros. series}} {{Kid Icarus}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakurai, Masahiro}} Category:1970 births Category:Japanese YouTubers Category:Japanese video game designers Category:Japanese video game directors Category:Kid Icarus Category:Kirby (series) Category:Living people Category:Nintendo people Category:People from Musashimurayama, Tokyo Category:Super Smash Bros.