Japanese Figures in the Video Game Industry: Hironobu Sakaguchi (I)

This article examines the career and influence of Hironobu Sakaguchi, one of the most significant figures in the history of the video game industry and a key architect in the development of the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG). Through an analysis of his early career, the founding of Square, and the creation of the Final Fantasy franchise, the article explores how Sakaguchi contributed to transforming video games into a global cultural and economic industry. Particular attention is given to the historical context of the 1980s and 1990s, a period often referred to as the “Golden Age of RPGs”, during which Japanese developers established new narrative, aesthetic, and mechanical standards for the genre. The study highlights the role of key titles such as Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI, as well as collaborative projects like Chrono Trigger, situating them within a broader network of creators including Nobuo Uematsu, Akira Toriyama, and Yūji Horii. Furthermore, the article addresses the consolidation of the JRPG as a distinct genre, characterised by its narrative depth, aesthetic influences from anime and manga, and its hybridisation of Western role-playing mechanics with Japanese cultural elements. It also considers the parallel growth of the video game, anime, and manga industries, and their role in the global dissemination of Japanese popular culture. This work is intended for scholars and students in game studies, media studies, and cultural history, as well as for readers interested in the evolution of video games as an artistic and cultural medium.Originally published in Spanish on CoolJapan.es