Bandai Namco Holdings announced on Monday that Namco founder Masaya Nakamura passed away on January 22. He was 91.
Nakamura has been known as the "Father of Pac-Man" ever since Namco developed and released the arcade game in 1980. The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized the game as the world's "most successful coin-operated arcade game."
Nakamura founded Namco under the name "Nakamura Manufacturing" in 1955, and served as its president from 1955 to 1990 and again from 1992 to 2002. Following the merger of Namco and Bandai in 2005, he began serving as a senior adviser to Bandai Namco Holdings.
Nakamura received a Blue Ribbon Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 1986 for his contributions to advancements in industry, and he was recognized in 1997 by the Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry for contributing to the advancement of computer technology.
Thanks to Omiya for the news tip.
