Shuntaro Furukawa: The Sixth President of Nintendo

Like so many others, Shuntaro Furukawa grew up playing Nintendo games and was drawn in by its beloved characters and consoles. Motivated by that early interest, he went on to build an impressive career across the company's global operations before being appointed President in 2018. Let's take a closer look at Furukawa's journey to become the leader of one of the most recognizable names in global entertainment.

• Early connection: Shaped by his early experiences with Nintendo’s games and consoles, Furukawa joined the company through its graduate program and has remained there ever since.

• Experience in Germany: He spent over a decade working in accounting and finance at Nintendo's European headquarters in Germany.

• President of Nintendo: Shuntaro Furukawa was appointed President of Nintendo in June 2018, becoming the sixth person to lead the company in its long history.

Shuntaro Furukawa was born on January 10, 1972, and raised in Tokyo in a creative family. His father, Taku Furukawa, was a well-known illustrator, cinematographer, and film director in Japan.

From an early age, Furukawa developed a strong interest in video games, which was a relatively new but rapidly growing global trend. While still in middle school, he saved up to buy his first Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES), marking the beginning of what would become a lifelong connection to Nintendo.

At that time, Nintendo was just beginning its ascent into global entertainment. The release of Donkey Kong in 1981 (introducing Mario to the world) was followed by a string of hit titles and consoles that would soon become fixtures in living rooms around the world. As we know by now, Nintendo's characters would go on to become some of the most recognizable icons in modern entertainment.

Further reading: Nintendo: From Game Boy and Pokémon to Switch 2 and Mario Kart

After high school, Furukawa enrolled at Waseda University, where he studied political science and economics. While at university, he encountered Super Mario Kart shortly after its 1992 release. This made a lasting impression on the young student who later recalled that if he'd not been introduced to the game, his life might have taken a very different direction.

After graduating, Furukawa joined Nintendo's graduate entry program and was assigned to its European headquarters in Germany, where he worked in accounting and finance for a little more than a decade. In 2009, he took on the role of auditor and project manager at Project Sora, a short-lived but notable Nintendo joint venture formed to develop Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS.

By 2012, Furukawa joined the board of The Pokémon Company as Nintendo's representative director. The Pokémon Company is the joint venture between Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures Inc., overseeing all aspects of the Pokémon brand.

In 2015, amid a major internal reshuffle, he became General Manager of Corporate Planning. Shortly thereafter, in 2016, Furukawa was elected to Nintendo's Board as Managing Executive Officer for Corporate Analysis & Administration, and took leadership of the Global Marketing Department – a key role in shaping the launch of the Nintendo Switch, which would prove to be a massive success.

In April 2018, Nintendo announced that Furukawa would succeed Tatsumi Kimishima as the company's next President, with the transition taking effect that June.

Before exploring Furukawa's presidency, it's helpful to clarify the title used for Nintendo's top executive. In many Japanese companies, the top executive is referred to as “President” rather than “CEO.” The two are functionally equivalent, and the title is merely a Japanese business custom.

By that, Furukawa's position includes both executive leadership and official company representation. Although Nintendo was founded in 1889, Furukawa would become only the sixth person to have led the company.

When Furukawa became President in 2018, he took the helm of a company with over a century of history. Beginning as a playing card manufacturer in 19th-century Kyoto, and throughout the years, transitioning to a global force in entertainment, thanks to a long line of successful consoles and iconic game franchises.

In line with some of Nintendo's former legendary leaders, Hiroshi Yamauchi and Satoru Iwata, Furukawa emphasizes the importance of experimentation and a willingness to explore new ideas. His years working in Germany proved valuable in preparing him to lead a company as global as Nintendo. With more than half of its workforce now based outside Japan, Furukawa's fluency in English has become a key asset in his presidency.

Under his leadership, Nintendo has sustained strong momentum, building on the runaway success of the Switch. In June 2025, Nintendo released the highly anticipated Switch 2, which, like its popular predecessor, was a hybrid console model. In addition to expanding the Switch ecosystem, Furukawa has overseen the success of new mobile titles while extending Nintendo's intellectual property into new domains, including animated films and theme parks.

Shuntaro Furukawa's connection to Nintendo began long before his career there, shaped by childhood experiences with its early consoles. Decades later, after building experience across its global operations, he now leads the iconic Japanese entertainment company. His goal is clear: to ensure Nintendo remains just as meaningful for the next generation.