Shinji Hashimoto
Square Enix (2003–2022)
Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2022–present)
Shinji Hashimoto (橋本 真司, Hashimoto Shinji, born May 24, 1958) is a Japanese former game producer at Square Enix and currently senior advisor at Sony Music Entertainment Japan and a board member at Forwardworks. He served as the Final Fantasy series brand manager for over a decade, was an executive officer at Square Enix board of directors[1] and he was the Head of Square Enix's Business Division 3 for 6 years.[2] He is also the co-creator of the Kingdom Hearts series. He served as corporate executive of the company's 1st Production Department during its entire existence.[3]
In May 2021, Hashimoto announced he would be working in Square Enix Holdings as Corporate Advisor training future leaders of the company, after he stepped down from his position of executive director and Final Fantasy brand manager at Square Enix Co.[4]
Hashimoto retired from his duties at Square Enix on May 31, 2022.[5] On June 16, 2022, Hashimoto announced he would be a senior advisor at Sony Music Entertainment Japan, as well as board member for ForwardWorks. [6]
Biography
Early work
Hashimoto previously worked for the toy company Bandai.[7] He joined Squaresoft (later known as Square Enix) in 1995, which is where he spent the rest of his career.[8]
Final Fantasy
He was the promotions producer for Final Fantasy VII.[8] When asked at E3 2008 about the possibility of a remake of Final Fantasy VII, he said that Square Enix is aware fans would like that, and that they are very busy making other titles first.[9] As Final Fantasy X-2 and Kingdom Hearts were being completed, the learning experience the team had during the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII project spawned the Fabula Nova Crystallis series which was supposed to build on it.[10]
Kingdom Hearts
When Square was sharing a building in Tokyo with the Disney corporation, Hashimoto found himself conversing in an elevator with a Disney executive, and there they conceived the crossover between Square Enix and Disney called Kingdom Hearts.[11] Hashimoto has stated that the new features in Kingdom Hearts II were the result of the success of the first game and Disney's increased trust in Square Enix to pull off an excellent product.[12]
Other games
While working on Front Mission Evolved, one of the challenges was balancing the speed of the real time battles the wanzers, or mechs, were having so that the game was realistic to the mechs size, but also still fast enough to be engaging.[13]
Priorities
While discussing Final Fantasy XIII, Hashimoto mentioned that Square Enix has been attempting to make localization of their game releases close the release gap between Japan and the rest of the world.[14]
Works
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1986 | Kidō Senshi Z-Gundam: Hot Scramble | Marketing |
1989 | Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden | Producer |
1991 | Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin | |
1993 | Dragon Ball Z | |
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | Executive producer | |
1994 | Dragon Ball Z 2: Super Battle | Producer |
1995 | Front Mission | |
1996 | Front Mission: Gun Hazard | Executive producer |
Treasure Hunter G | Producer | |
Tobal No. 1 | Executive producer | |
1997 | Final Fantasy VII | Publicity producer |
Tobal 2 | Producer | |
Front Mission 2 | Executive producer | |
Einhander | ||
Front Mission Alternative | Producer | |
Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon | Executive producer | |
1998 | Soukaigi | |
Ehrgeiz | Supervisor | |
1999 | Final Fantasy VIII | Producer |
Chocobo Racing | ||
Cyber Org | ||
2000 | Driving Emotion Type-S | |
Final Fantasy IX | ||
The Bouncer | ||
2001 | Wild Card | |
2002 | Kingdom Hearts | |
2004 | Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories | |
2005 | Final Fantasy IV Advance | Executive producer |
Kingdom Hearts II | Producer | |
2006 | Final Fantasy V Advance | Executive producer |
Final Fantasy VI Advance | ||
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales | ||
2007 | Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories | Producer |
The World Ends with You | ||
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon | Executive producer | |
2008 | Kingdom Hearts coded | |
Dissidia Final Fantasy | ||
2009 | Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | |
Final Fantasy XIII | ||
2010 | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | |
Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals | ||
Front Mission Evolved | Producer, original concept | |
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded | Executive producer | |
The 3rd Birthday | ||
2011 | Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy | |
Imaginary Range | Producer | |
Final Fantasy Type-0 | Executive producer | |
Final Fantasy XIII-2 | ||
2012 | Theatrhythm Final Fantasy | |
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | ||
2013 | Final Fantasy All the Bravest | |
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix | ||
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII | ||
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster | ||
2014 | Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call | |
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | ||
Final Fantasy Explorers | ||
2015 | Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ | |
2016 | World of Final Fantasy | Producer |
Final Fantasy XV | ||
2017 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | Executive producer |
2018 | Dissidia Final Fantasy NT | |
2019 | Kingdom Hearts III | |
Left Alive | Producer | |
2020 | Final Fantasy VII Remake | Executive producer |
2021 | Neo: The World Ends with You |
Films
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2005 | Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children | Producer |
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII | Executive producer | |
2009 | Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete | Producer |
2016 | Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV |
References
- ^ "Board of Directors". Square Enix. 2016.
- ^ "第3ビジネス・ディビジョン". Square Enix. 2016. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "「Final Fantasy XIII-2」が2011年発売予定,「Agito」は「Final Fantasy 零式」と名称変更して2011年夏発売。「Square Enix 1st Production Department Premiere」をTwitterで実況". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas, Inc. January 18, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
- ^ @shinjihashimot3 (May 21, 2021). "Hi everyone.I will be stepping down..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto retires". Gematsu (in Japanese). May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
- ^ @shinjihashimot3 (June 16, 2022). "Hello, everyone! I have some news to share, if you can please take a look" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Winkler, Chris (September 29, 2003). "Radical Subjects". RPGFan. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ a b Gantayat, Anoop (April 23, 2007). "Ten Years of FFXIII". IGN. Retrieved May 30, 2008.
- ^ Ihtsham, Usman (July 18, 2008). "Whatifgaming E3-'08: Final Fantasy XIII Sit Down With Shinji Hashimoto". Whatifgaming. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ Luke Smith (June 7, 2006). "FFXIII Interview: Nomura, Kitase, Hashimoto and Toriyama: Compilation of games puts new spin on FF series". 1UP.com. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ McKinley Noble (January 20, 2008). "10 strange facts about the Kingdom Hearts franchise". PC World Australia. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ Jeremy Dunham (March 21, 2005). "Hashimoto Talks Kingdom Hearts II". IGN. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ Charles Husemann (October 19, 2008). "Front Mission Evolved Interview". Gaming Nexus. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- ^ Shane Bettenhausen (July 16, 2008). "E3 2008: One More Final Fantasy XIII Interview". 1UP.com. Retrieved March 1, 2013.