Make a Famous Videogame... and Get Arrested!

[kyonides]

Sonic the Hedgehog creator sentenced to 2.5 years in prison​

The creator of one of gaming's most iconic characters has found himself behind bars. Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, was arrested in Japan last November after being accused of insider trading at Square Enix, where he was working since 2018.

Back in March 2023, Naka pled guilty and this week, he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, along with a fine of 172 million yen (or $1,230,066).

Naka bought 2.8 million yen worth of shares in game development company Aiming before its involvement with Square Enix was made known to the public. However, at this time, Aiming was working on a new mobile game for the Dragon Quest franchise, considered to be one of Japan's most popular and successful RPG franchises.

Two former Square Enix employees also being investigated under the same suspicions were the ones who eventually led to Naka's arrest, with the three of them having used insider information for equity and illegally trading shares.

Who could tell this kind of thing would ever take place in a country like Japan?

 

[Danatoth]

Remember kids, insider trading is only legal if you're in the senate

 

[Purple-H]

Naoto Oshima: Working on Sonic Superstars, atoning for Balan Wonderland crimes.
Yuji Naka: Blames others for what the quality of Balan Wonderland, currently in prison.

 

[nbgamemaker]

because he got caught and wasn't helping the oil companies.

 

[romey]

Sonic the Hedgehog creator sentenced to 2.5 years in prison​

Who could tell this kind of thing would ever take place in a country like Japan?

everyone who lives here... japan is pretty sketchy, it's just better at keeping secrets

 

[Danatoth]

everyone who lives here... japan is pretty sketchy, it's just better at keeping secrets

Where exactly is it sketchy at? I lived in Fukuoka for 3 years, and greater Tokyo area for 1. If you're in Roppongi at night there are a lot of african guys trying to pull you into "private clubs", but you can just tell them to **** off in English and they'll just yell at you and try to get someone else. Even kabukichou is safer than 99.9% of anywhere I've been in the states. It's just dirty, covered in open containers by the morning time on the weekends, but they have it cleaned up by noon.

There are a few scandals I've read about and stuff like that, and yeah they keep it under wraps mainly. But to call Japan sketchy? Definitely not.

(And yes I've seen yakuza in Osaka twice, and both times at a tatoo place, but have never seen them anywhere at all. From what I've heard from collogues and friends they basically don't exist anymore unless you're a middle man selling drugs)

 

[romey]

Where exactly is it sketchy at? I lived in Fukuoka for 3 years, and greater Tokyo area for 1. If you're in Roppongi at night there are a lot of african guys trying to pull you into "private clubs", but you can just tell them to **** off in English and they'll just yell at you and try to get someone else. Even kabukichou is safer than 99.9% of anywhere I've been in the states. It's just dirty, covered in open containers by the morning time on the weekends, but they have it cleaned up by noon.

There are a few scandals I've read about and stuff like that, and yeah they keep it under wraps mainly. But to call Japan sketchy? Definitely not.

(And yes I've seen yakuza in Osaka twice, and both times at a tatoo place, but have never seen them anywhere at all. From what I've heard from collogues and friends they basically don't exist anymore unless you're a middle man selling drugs)

yeah, i was only responding to your post which made it seem like japan was a wonderful idealistic place like Disneyland, which it definitely isn't... maybe safety walking down the street, but in the working world - its so sketchy. Sorry if i read it wrong and misunderstood your meaning.
Were you in the English teacher world when you were here by chance? if so, congradulations! your experience was probably wonderful but definitely not typical of what Japanese people go through on a daily basis here.
I'll tell you some stories in private, not public - but just to let you know it's not a pretty place inside the walls of business here (yikes)

 

[BubblegumPatty]

Japan is just as sketchy as any other random country on earth. It's not at all unique in that.

 

[sabao]

Where exactly is it sketchy at? I lived in Fukuoka for 3 years, and greater Tokyo area for 1. If you're in Roppongi at night there are a lot of african guys trying to pull you into "private clubs", but you can just tell them to **** off in English and they'll just yell at you and try to get someone else. Even kabukichou is safer than 99.9% of anywhere I've been in the states. It's just dirty, covered in open containers by the morning time on the weekends, but they have it cleaned up by noon.

There are a few scandals I've read about and stuff like that, and yeah they keep it under wraps mainly. But to call Japan sketchy? Definitely not.

(And yes I've seen yakuza in Osaka twice, and both times at a tatoo place, but have never seen them anywhere at all. From what I've heard from collogues and friends they basically don't exist anymore unless you're a middle man selling drugs)

By many standards, Japan's unarguably one of the cleanest and safest countries in the world.

Lots of corporate shenanigans happen on the daily though.

In this case, it's cut and dry insider trading. Naka did himself very little favors when he attempted to sue Square Enix over the drama with Balan Wonderworld as well.

 

[romey]

true - clean and safe from the outside, but the underbelly gets darker the deeper you go... just how we like'em

 

[sabao]

true - clean and safe from the outside, but the underbelly gets darker the deeper you go... just how we like'em

Dig enough anywhere in the world, and you'll find it's nothing out of the ordinary.

Before anyone thinks I'm talking out of my butt, I've been living in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area for around six years now working closely with government, so I've seen/heard a fair share (See: Nissan/Ghosn, Dentsu/The Olympics, Kitagawa/Johnny's, 2023).

 

[romey]

Dig enough anywhere in the world, and you'll find it's nothing out of the ordinary.

Before anyone thinks I'm talking out of my butt, I've been living in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area for around six years now working closely with government, so I've seen/heard a fair share (See: Nissan/Ghosn, Dentsu/The Olympics, Kitagawa/Johnny's, 2023).

Yeah, it's a totally different place once the honeymoon wears off isn't it?
I'm up here in Hakodate and even in a smaller town it can get shady. 建前 is strong up here