Yoshihisa Kishimoto passed away on April 2, 2026, at the age of 64.
His son, Ryūbō Kishimoto, confirmed the news through a message shared on the official Kunio-kun social media account. News of Yoshihisa Kishimoto’s death marks the end of a long career for the man who created the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun series.
His son expressed gratitude for the years of support from fans and provided a point of contact for anyone seeking further details. A private funeral service is planned for the family.
A Career Built on Arcade Innovation
Yoshihisa Kishimoto was a pioneer of the beat ’em up genre. He started his career at Data East during the early 1980s. He worked on early laserdisc titles before moving to Technōs Japan. There, he developed the games that defined his career and the industry.
| Title | Release Year | Role |
| Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun (Renegade) | 1986 | Director / Creator |
| Double Dragon | 1987 | Director / Creator |
| Super Dodge Ball | 1987 | Director |
| WWF Superstars | 1989 | Director |
| WWF WrestleFest | 1991 | Director |
| Double Dragon 4 | 2017 | Director |
Kishimoto explained that his own life as a high school delinquent served as the primary inspiration for Kunio-kun. The focus on street brawling and character-driven action moved into Double Dragon. That project introduced two-player cooperative play. This feature became a standard for the genre.
Official Family Statement
His son shared a direct message regarding his father’s passing:
I am the son of Yoshihisa Kishimoto, director of the Kunio-kun series. I am writing to inform you that my father passed away on April 2, 2026. Please feel free to contact me at any time for further details. I deeply appreciate all the information shared with Kunio-kun fans over the years. Thank you for your continued support.
Ryūbō Kishimoto later added that he was pleased to see how many people understood his father’s work so deeply. He encouraged fans to continue playing the games his father created.
