Dr. Kawashima needs emergency brain surgery - he’s not taken a penny of his £11m Brain Training royalties
The amazing Dr. Kawashima, who is a real person not just a pretend Nintendo creation like Mario or Princess Peach, has not taken the Japanese equivalent of a penny from Nintendo for his smash appearance in the Brain Training series.
“Not a single yen has gone in my pocket. Everyone in my family is mad at me but I tell them that if they want money, go out and earn it,” said the brain specialist of his decision not to touch the Nintendo millions pouring his way.
The Dr. is allowed under the rules of his employer - the Tohoku University - to take half the cash for himself. But he’d rather not - “To hear this may put you off - but my hobby is work,” the madman said.
With royalties from the staggeringly successful BT series currently standing at a total of 22 MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS, Dr. Kawashima is clearly in no fit state to go around issuing mental advice to others.
Source: AFP
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January 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I don’t think his decision had anything to do with him being a madman. He really didn’t do anything for the games except give them his name, so he probably doesn’t think he deserves it. I guess that’s morals for you.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:42 am
No, he’s clearly a nutter! Thinks he’ll die of what he’s studying…. Sure, /that’s/ scientific….
February 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
His was not just a random name slapped onto the franchise. He was probably the one who designed every single minigame and rating system in those brain training titles, and just left the implementation to Nintendo’s programming monkeys. He sure as hell deserves all that money, although yeah, it’s very Japanese to say that you love your work to the point that you’re willing to throw your life away because of it. I won’t be surprised if he picked “work” over “sex” given the choice.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 am
I think this is an amazing story… Good to see some people in this world still value passion over money. Way to go Dr Kawashima!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:11 am
That is so rare to find someone in this world who still believes money isn’t everything. Well done sir! ( Of course I can well imagine his family might section him next week though! )