Nintendo producer Tsunku declines offers, mentions cancer, Iwata and Rhythm Paradise Groove
Producer and composer Mitsuo "Tsunku" Terada explained in a recent blog post that, during the ten‑year gap since Rhythm Heaven Megamix appeared on the Nintendo 3DS, he turned down multiple offers to work on the next Rhythm Heaven title in order to show gratitude to Nintendo. He said the series would eventually return and that he felt indebted to the company.
Terada also disclosed that he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer while developing the previous game, yet Nintendo kept the project moving. He noted that Nintendo’s then‑CEO Satoru Iwata was battling a serious illness at the same time. The post confirms a demo of the newly announced Rhythm Paradise Groove is available and the game has been praised as a “show‑stopper.”
Entities: Mitsuo “Tsunku” Terada · Nintendo · Rhythm Heaven series · Rhythm Paradise Groove · Satoru Iwata
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] A demo of Rhythm Paradise Groove is available for players to try. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Rhythm Paradise Groove has been described as a “show‑stopper” by reviewers. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata was also seriously ill with cancer at the same time as Tsunku’s diagnosis. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Tsunku was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer during development of the previous Rhythm Heaven game. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Rhythm Heaven Megamix was released for the Nintendo 3DS ten years ago. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Nintendo never halted development of the game despite Tsunku’s cancer diagnosis. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Mitsuo “Tsunku” Terada wrote a blog post saying he declined offers to work on the next Rhythm Heaven to show gratitude to Nintendo. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Rhythm Paradise Groove was announced a little over a year ago. (All articles)