Osaka Electro-Communication University Welcomes Two Game Company Professionals — Strengthening Design Education from Games to Products
Osaka Electro-Communication University welcomed two former Nintendo game developers, Professor Kenichi Sugino and Professor Goro Abe, in April 2026. This move aims to strengthen the university's game and design education, accelerating practical and multidisciplinary talent development.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 01:00
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Osaka Electro-Communication University (Neyagawa City, Shijonawate City, Osaka Prefecture / President: Kuninari Shioda) welcomed two professors in April 2026: Professor Kenichi Sugino and Professor Goro Abe, who have been involved in the production of global hit products and popular titles at a major game company.
Since establishing its Digital Game Department in 2003, the university has been a top runner in game education for 23 years. This spring, with professionals active on the front lines joining the faculty, the university will build a more practical and multifaceted educational system, covering everything from manufacturing to the social application of games, accelerating the development of next-generation talent.
## Professor Kenichi Sugino
## Professor Goro Abe
## [Key Points of This Announcement]
- ■ Professionals who have worked on global products and titles join: A designer of globally hit portable game consoles and a director who led innovative game production transition to the educational field.
- ■ Deepening education through the "Game and Social Design Program": In this new program, which views games as a means to solve social issues, research into "analysis of fun" and "experimental game design" will be promoted, leveraging professional insights.
- ■ Special lecture to be held at the summer open campus.
## [Profiles]
### Professor Kenichi Sugino / Department of Electronic-Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Design, Industrial Design. In April 1989, joined Nintendo. Started his career as a product designer in the portable game console development department. Involved in the design development of globally hit portable game consoles such as Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. Subsequently, as a design director, he was responsible for the development of DS and 3DS. Beyond product creation, he was deeply involved in nurturing product designers and recruitment activities.
### Professor Goro Abe / Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
Graduated from the University of Tokyo, School of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Nursing. In April 1999, joined Nintendo. Participated as a programmer and designer in 'WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!' released by Nintendo in 2003, and subsequently served as director for later series. Involved in the production of all 12 titles, leading the creation of surprising games. For titles created for new hardware, he has produced numerous unique mini-games under the motto of "wasteful use of the latest technology."
## [Overview of Summer Open Campus Special Lecture]
Date: July 12, 2026 (Sunday) 10:30 AM
Location: Shijonawate Campus
Lecturer: Professor Goro Abe, Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
Lecture Theme: Games溶けていく社会～日常を変える「遊び」の力 (Games dissolving into society ~ The power of 'play' that changes everyday life)
## [Related Links]
- PROFESSOR NEW FACE
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/special/newprofessor
- Department of Electronic-Mechanical Engineering (Robotics), Faculty of Engineering
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/faculty/engineering/eme/
- Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/faculty/isa/gs/
## [University Overview]
University Name: Osaka Electro-Communication University (President: Kuninari Shioda)
URL: https://www.osakac.ac.jp/
Location: Neyagawa Campus 18-8 Hatsu-machi, Neyagawa City, Osaka 572-8530
Shijonawate Campus 1130-70 Kiyotaki, Shijonawate City, Osaka 575-0063
Faculties: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Information and Communications Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Health Informatics, Faculty of Informatics
*Effective April 2027, the Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering will be renamed the Department of Applied Chemistry.
Enrollment: 5,758 students (as of May 1, 2025)
Since establishing its Digital Game Department in 2003, the university has been a top runner in game education for 23 years. This spring, with professionals active on the front lines joining the faculty, the university will build a more practical and multifaceted educational system, covering everything from manufacturing to the social application of games, accelerating the development of next-generation talent.
## Professor Kenichi Sugino
## Professor Goro Abe
## [Key Points of This Announcement]
- ■ Professionals who have worked on global products and titles join: A designer of globally hit portable game consoles and a director who led innovative game production transition to the educational field.
- ■ Deepening education through the "Game and Social Design Program": In this new program, which views games as a means to solve social issues, research into "analysis of fun" and "experimental game design" will be promoted, leveraging professional insights.
- ■ Special lecture to be held at the summer open campus.
## [Profiles]
### Professor Kenichi Sugino / Department of Electronic-Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Design, Industrial Design. In April 1989, joined Nintendo. Started his career as a product designer in the portable game console development department. Involved in the design development of globally hit portable game consoles such as Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. Subsequently, as a design director, he was responsible for the development of DS and 3DS. Beyond product creation, he was deeply involved in nurturing product designers and recruitment activities.
### Professor Goro Abe / Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
Graduated from the University of Tokyo, School of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences and Nursing. In April 1999, joined Nintendo. Participated as a programmer and designer in 'WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!' released by Nintendo in 2003, and subsequently served as director for later series. Involved in the production of all 12 titles, leading the creation of surprising games. For titles created for new hardware, he has produced numerous unique mini-games under the motto of "wasteful use of the latest technology."
## [Overview of Summer Open Campus Special Lecture]
Date: July 12, 2026 (Sunday) 10:30 AM
Location: Shijonawate Campus
Lecturer: Professor Goro Abe, Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
Lecture Theme: Games溶けていく社会～日常を変える「遊び」の力 (Games dissolving into society ~ The power of 'play' that changes everyday life)
## [Related Links]
- PROFESSOR NEW FACE
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/special/newprofessor
- Department of Electronic-Mechanical Engineering (Robotics), Faculty of Engineering
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/faculty/engineering/eme/
- Game and Social Design Program, Digital Game Department, Faculty of Informatics
https://www.osakac.ac.jp/faculty/isa/gs/
## [University Overview]
University Name: Osaka Electro-Communication University (President: Kuninari Shioda)
URL: https://www.osakac.ac.jp/
Location: Neyagawa Campus 18-8 Hatsu-machi, Neyagawa City, Osaka 572-8530
Shijonawate Campus 1130-70 Kiyotaki, Shijonawate City, Osaka 575-0063
Faculties: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Information and Communications Engineering, Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Health Informatics, Faculty of Informatics
*Effective April 2027, the Department of Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering will be renamed the Department of Applied Chemistry.
Enrollment: 5,758 students (as of May 1, 2025)