As I Begin Another Quarter Century of My Life, What Will Happen?

Greetings. If I could jump off my computer, I wouldn’t.

Over the past year, the world has been facing an unprecedented moment that would go against my philosophy as war has been raging in the Middle East again. Last year around this time, on the first anniversary of the release of Chuhou Joutai 3: Three Nights of Scarlet Abscess, a terrorist group had launched an assault and it has led to unprecedented challenges for people around the world.

As I address our players on my 25th birthday, I pray that the people who are locked in combat find peace within either the coming days, weeks, months, or years. As two leaders of notorious terrorist organizations have been expelled from the face of the earth earlier this month, we will continue to unite the world’s cultures through the use of our games and not those affiliated with terrorism.

We’ve made our fanbase stronger than ever. We continue to introduce and welcome our Jewish and Muslim communities across the globe to our games and maintain peace. But to those who turn a blind eye to terrorism, that is simply dangerous and unacceptable. We know how to fight racism and hatred at home and abroad.

I say this to all of you. We shall continue to unite all races and cultures, whether majority or minority. Many have been stuck on the darkest of days. Terrorist groups are trying to stop global unity and peace and overturn its concept. There’s no way anyone can roll under heaven if they are trying to segregate any person or group. Ever since I established Drillimation Systems’ current philosophy in 2023, it has become clear that racially and religiously motivated violence has absolutely no place on earth.

This unity is explained in Touhou Kourinden ~ Mythos of Phantasmagoria, which we released five months ago. To the players from the Eastern and Western Hemispheres who participated in the game’s development, debugging, and playtesting phases, we stand up with all of you. My home country of America cannot go back to the days of the early 20th century and earlier.

The development of every game we’ve made has also been a mentally exhaustive challenge. The pandemic lockdowns gave me all the time needed to finish the Chuhou Joutai trilogy and Touhou Project NES Demakes and get them released on time. That was one of the most challenging times in world history, but many are happy to see all the things they know and love make a comeback within three years, and learn how to live with the virus.

Where is it written that any country outside Japan can be the video game capital of the world? Drillimation can build hope of becoming the danmaku powerhouse in the west. It takes time, but western players have begun to feel a wave of Japanese influence. Roads, highways, and bridges that link the east and west will be built with American-made danmaku games.

The indie game market flourished during the pandemic, with many providing affordable titles. Some have succeeded in varying degrees, and developers are investing millions, if not billions of dollars to establish new studios and create tens of thousands of jobs. Many video game industry fields do not even require a college degree – just talent and skill.

I say this to all developers: if you fall down, you get back up and keep going. Creating intricate systems, drawing diverse artwork, and composing music in every imaginable style has helped us become stronger. The possibilities of the future is up to the developers, even as technology evolves. I grew up playing Nintendo’s hardware, and I intend on staying with Nintendo for the rest of my life.

The game industry makes a lot of money, and it will still be profitable within the next decade. It not only entertains lives, but makes people more competitive. Wherever our games land, whether it be Toronto, Berlin, Tokyo, or Sydney, bring your influence and talent with you. The playerbase is home to more than 3 billion players, including myself, and a majority of them reside in Asia. This was the reason they dominate the industry as it is the most populous continent. A considerable number of students in my high school class were from Eastern Asia, and this was the inspiration for the Drillimation Danmaku Universe‘s diverse cast of characters.

Japan remains our primary target market. I shall not break their access, but expand it. That’s why Emiko Hosokawa directed a title for us. If we want to remain in the industry, we shall continue to conduct research and understand their language so that we can understand those players. I want to expand our presence in the region by having Hosokawa direct future titles. If I want to make a million dollars, our players across the globe should keep buying the games.

Imagine what Drillimation can do for America, Japan, and the world. Many of my friends on the other side of the globe continue to inspire and influence my decisions. I see a future for the entire video game industry. I will always remain the CEO of Drillimation Systems because I believe in all of you. You’re the reason I’ve been optimistic about my future. Let’s continue it together and leave nothing beyond my capacity. Until then, the next five years and quarter century of my life await me and all of you.