Director Kojima and Masahiro Sakurai of “Kirby” and “Smash Bros.” Reunite in a Surprise Encounter [Hideo Next Door]

When you look at the photos Director Hideo Kojima, the game creator, posts on social media, there’s almost always someone standing right next to him, isn’t there? Film directors, actors, game creators—and sometimes even mysterious figures. In this series, “Hideo Next Door,” we’ll take an in-depth look at the “people next to him.”

To be honest, the ultimate goal of the Game*Spark writers penning this “Hideo Next Door” series is to one day stand next to Director Hideo Kojima ourselves, have our photo taken with him, and appear as a character in “A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME.”We’ll be bringing you this series on an irregular basis until that long-cherished dream is realized.

This installment of “The Person Next to Director Kojima” features Masahiro Sakurai!

Masahiro Sakurai is one of Japan’s leading game creators. He is known for the *Kirby* series and the *Super Smash Bros.* series.

He has also released the puzzle game *Meteos* for the Nintendo DS and the stylus-controlled 3D shooting action game *New Palutena’s Mirror* for the 3DS.

Most recently, he released *Kirby Air Rider*, an exclusive title for the Nintendo Switch 2, in 2025. From 2022 to 2024, he also engaged in activities outside of game development, such as the video series “Masahiro Sakurai’s How to Make a Game,” in which he revealed the secrets of game development and daily life.

Relationship with Hideo Kojima

As for Masahiro Sakurai, his relationship with Director Kojima dates back more than 20 years. The connection between the two was most evident when “Solid Snake” from the *Metal Gear Solid* series joined the roster in *Super Smash Bros. Brawl*.

Looking back at an article published in *INSIDE* in 2006, it states that the two met at an E3 event several years prior (as of 2006) through an introduction by a mutual acquaintance. They had discussed collaborating on a project on numerous occasions, and Director Kojima reportedly expressed a desire for “Snake to appear in *Smash Bros.*.”

Although there were quite a few disagreements regarding Snake’s in-game actions, it was noted that the final result turned out wonderfully. Incidentally, while Snake had been absent from the series since *X*, he has since made a successful return in the latest installment, *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*.

While the nature of their relationship following Snake’s appearance in *Smash Bros.* remains somewhat unclear, it doesn’t seem as though they’ve completely drifted apart. In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai visited Kojima Productions.

Another intriguing detail in the recently posted photo is the location where it was taken. After all, a massive, eye-catching Godzilla statue towers behind the two of them.

Believe it or not, the two reportedly met at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya, the venue for the Japan premiere of the movie “Godzilla: 0.0.”Masahiro Sakurai posted on his X account, “At the Japan premiere, I was seated right next to Director Kojima!” It seems they took this photo together because their reserved seats happened to be close to each other.

Director Kojima also posted a photo with Director Takashi Yamazaki, who directed “Godzilla -0.0.” Furthermore, both directors revealed on their X accounts that they were seated next to manga artist Hiroya Oku—known for works like “GANTZ” and “Inuyashiki”—making it a truly star-studded screening.

Incidentally, regarding “Godzilla -0.0,” he reported excitedly that the film included plot developments that played out exactly as expected, as well as twists that pleasantly defied his expectations. As a longtime fan, he mentioned there were scenes that brought tears to his eyes and even scenes he’d always wanted to see brought to life on screen. While noting, “I can’t say anything more without spoiling it,” his comments clearly convey that it was a thoroughly enjoyable film.

Could he appear in Hideo Kojima’s new game…?

The probability of Masahiro Sakurai appearing in a new game is 35% (calculated using a proprietary formula devised by Spa-kun). Since the photo shoot took place at the screening venue, it’s unlikely that a body scan was performed there, which significantly lowers the probability of his appearance.

Of course, there’s still a possibility that a body scan was performed during his 2018 visit or will be done in the future. However, Masahiro Sakurai is a figure with a strong, almost iconic presence, frequently appearing in Nintendo’s “○○ Direct” broadcasts and similar events. This is purely speculation, but it seems unlikely that he would casually make a cameo appearance.

That said, now that nearly 20 years have passed—in contrast to when “Snake” appeared in *Super Smash Bros.*—there’s no doubt it would be truly thrilling if Masahiro Sakurai himself, or something closely associated with him, were to appear in a game directed by Hideo Kojima.

Before we know it, 2026 is already drawing to a close. It’s been a year full of surprises for fans of Director Hideo Kojima, but when it comes to year-end highlights, “The Game Awards” is undoubtedly the main event. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing if any new updates on *OD* or *PHYSINT* will be revealed.

Well then, stay tuned for the next installment of “Hideo Next Door”!

ホーホケキョ となりの山田くん [Blu-ray]
￥5,915
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)

Amazon

楽天市場

隣り合わせの灰と青春 (幻想迷宮ノベル)
￥600
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)

Amazon

楽天市場