Toshiyuki Itahana Leaves Square Enix After 30 Years

Toshiyuki Itahana, the veteran character designer renowned for his contributions to the Final Fantasy series, has departed from Square Enix after more than three decades with the company. The illustrator, best known for his work on Final Fantasy IX, announced his exit online following the completion of projects marking the game's 25th anniversary.

Itahana's decision to leave came at the end of last year, as he reflected on his long tenure and future creative pursuits. In a personal message to fans, he expressed gratitude for the celebrations surrounding Final Fantasy IX, which originally launched in 2000 for PlayStation and has since been re-released on multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch. "Last year marked a major milestone with the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX, a truly significant event, and I was deeply grateful to see so many people celebrating FFIX," Itahana wrote. He highlighted his involvement in anniversary-related illustrations, supervision, exhibitions, merchandise such as acrylic stands, and a collaboration cafe in Osaka that continues to operate.

With those commitments fulfilled, Itahana described feeling a sense of accomplishment and readiness for...