It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the legendary director behind side-scrolling beat-'em-ups like Double Dragon and Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun.

Kishimoto’s son took to social media on the 5th to share the news, stating, “My father passed away on April 2nd,” while adding, “We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who supported him during his lifetime and hope you continue to enjoy his works, including the Kunio-kun series.”

Kishimoto is widely considered the architect of the side-scrolling fighting genre. His creation of the globally adored Double Dragon and Nekketsu series left an indelible mark on gaming history, bridging the gap from the golden age of arcade cabinets to the modern era.

Born in 1961, Kishimoto kicked off his career in the early 80s at Data East before moving to Technos Japan, where he dreamt up Nekketsu Koha Kunio-kun. That title set the stage for a sprawling franchise, including the hit Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari and various spin-offs.

In 1987, he unleashed his other magnum opus, Double Dragon. The game became a cultural phenomenon, spawning countless sequels, a television animation, and even a live-action film. Kishimoto oversaw the production and direction of the series all the way through its fourth mainline entry.