credited as executive producer in a number of their films. He was recognized by the Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry in 1997 for his contributions to the advancement of computer entertainment. Nakamura helped assist Tetsuya Takahashi with the formation of Japanese developer Monolith Soft in 1999, where Namco would publish their Xenosaga series. The same year on April 1, Nakamura was appointed chairman of the Multimedia Content Development Association (MCDA). Following the unveil of the Xbox, Nakamura formed an alliance with Microsoft to produce games for the console, with Namco becoming one of the first Japanese developers to support it. Nakamura stepped down as CEO of Namco in 2002, taking on a ceremonial role in the company's management. In 2005, Namco merged with Bandai to form Bandai Namco Holdings, Japan's third-largest video game developer by revenue and the seventh in the world. Nakamura retained an honorary position in its video game division Namco Bandai Games, now known as Bandai Namco Entertainment. Up to that point, Nakamura was Japan's 68th richest person. He was awarded the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" by the Japanese government at the 2007 Spring Conferment of Decorations for his contributions to the Japanese entertainment industry,. and was one of the inaugural inductees in the International Video Game Hall of Fame in 2010 as one of the five video game pioneers, acknowledging his induction via a video feed. He was inducted alongside Pac-Man to coincide with the game's 30th anniversary. Nakamura died on January 22, 2017, at the age of 91. The announcement was made a week later by Bandai Namco Holdings on January 30, requesting respect for his family's privacy. His funeral was held privately, with a public memorial service planned by the company in the following weeks. References External links 1925 births 2017 deaths Japanese video game businesspeople Namco Japanese film producers Technology company founders Japanese company founders Pac-Man Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class