Takashi Tezuka

Who is Takashi Tezuka?

Takashi Tezuka, sometimes credited under his nickname Ten Ten, is a video game designer working for Nintendo. A graduate of the Design Department of Osaka University of Arts, he joined the company in April 1984 and was involved with some of the most critically acclaimed Nintendo series, including Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Tezuka is fond of fantasy novels such as J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and wrote the story and script for The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Together with Shigeru Miyamoto, he currently holds the position "General Manager of EAD Software Development Department" at Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, the largest game development division in the company.

I have never consciously separated casual users and hardcore gamers when I design a game. For the past 20 years, I have always been trying to make games so that anyone -- as many people as possible -- can enjoy them. ... I cannot help but say that I love my job of making games from the bottom of my heart.

— Takashi Tezuka