Nintendo veteran Nobuo Nagai passes away

44-year Nintendo veteran Nobuo Nagai passed away on Sunday aged 66 after a battle with stomach cancer

Nagai joined the console giant in 1967, and was appointed as director in 2000. He then went on to eventually become senior managing director and representative director in 2004.

A statement from Nintendo reads: “Nintendo Co., Ltd. deeply regrets to announce that representative director Nobuo Nagai passed away (January 22, 2012) and has retired as director.

“Mr. Nagai’s contribution to Nintendo was greatly appreciated and he will be deeply missed.”

Japanese media outlet Nikkei reports that a funeral service will be held for Nagai tomorrow in Yamatokōriyama.