Kirby and Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai is getting his own biographical manga

Masahiro Sakurai manga 1

A new biographical manga is being published that will chronicle the life and career of the legendary and hugely influential video game creator, Masahiro Sakurai.

The new book, from the publisher East Press, is titled “Manga de Shiru Hito to Shigoto: Masahiro Sakurai – Making the World More Fun with Games.”

Masahiro Sakurai manga 2

Masahiro Sakurai is one of the most famous and respected creators in the video game industry.

He is the original creator of the iconic Kirby and Super Smash Bros. franchises, and he is also well-known for his popular YouTube channel, “Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games,” where he provides deep and insightful commentary on the art of game design.

Masahiro Sakurai
Masahiro Sakurai

This new book is part of the “Manga de Shiru Hito to Shigoto” (“Learn About People and Jobs Through Manga”) series, and it will trace the history of Sakurai’s life and his journey to becoming a world-renowned game creator.

The manga is structured in six chapters, which cover:

  1. Young Sakurai and Games
  2. The Birth of Kirby’s Dream Land!
  3. The Curtain Rises on a Great Melee
  4. The Founding of Sora Ltd.!
  5. What is Passed Down
  6. A Light for the Future

The book promises to reveal “unknown episodes” from behind the scenes of the creation of his most famous games.

In addition to the main manga story, the book will also include a number of special, educational columns.

Masahiro Sakurai manga 3

These include a timeline of Masahiro Sakurai’s career, a column on the different jobs involved in making a video game, and a “further research report.”

The book will also feature a special afterword written by Masahiro Sakurai himself.

Masahiro Sakurai manga 4

The “Manga de Shiru Hito to Shigoto: Masahiro Sakurai – Making the World More Fun with Games” is a 160-page book, priced at ¥1,430 (approx. $9.75 USD / £7.75 GBP).

Pre-orders for the new book are currently open at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon.

The book is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, the 18th of November, 2025.

This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.

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